The new accessible sites mean more Americans can get outside on public lands. A $200,000 Foundation investment brought the first campground to one of Eastern Utah’s beloved recreation areas.
Just in time for Labor Day Weekend and the fall camping season, members of the public were treated to a grand opening celebration of new facilities at the McCoy Flats Campground near Vernal, Utah, on Sept. 3, 2026. The project created the first overnight camping facilities at the popular McCoy Flats Mountain Bike Trail System and nearby off-road vehicle opportunities. The new campground includes three walk-in sites and with expanded access for visitors with disabilities, so more Americans can get outside and enjoy the wonderful outdoor adventures that can be experienced around Vernal Utah.
There are ample opportunities for Americans to enjoy their public lands in this region of Utah. And this site is a perfect launching point for a wide range of recreation activities for people of all backgrounds and abilities. Besides the 35 miles of mountain biking trails and off-roading opportunities, the trails lead hikers to amazing views, herds of Pronghorn, the Green River, and Dinosaur National Monument, which is just down the road.
The Foundation for America’s Public Lands contributed $200,000 to Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to help fund Utah Conservation Corps youth crews which carried out much of the work at the site. Other partners in the construction funding included the Utah Outdoor Recreation Initiative and the Bureau of Land Management.
“We are so grateful to the Foundation for America’s Public Lands for contributing $200,000 to our brand-new McCoy Flats Campground. The foundation’s contribution funded youth crews with Utah Conservation Corps to do much of the finishing work,” said BLM Green River District Manager Elijah Waters. “Because of the foundation’s generosity, crews worked since June to spread gravel, install picnic tables and fire rings, construct connecting trails, and build the campground’s boundary fence. The foundation has truly helped BLM’s newest gem sparkle.”
“The Foundation for America’s Public Lands is working hard to expand recreation access to the outdoors for visitors of all abilities, so more Americans can get outside and enjoy their public lands, and this project is a great example of that commitment,” explains Michalea Hancock, Program Officer with the Foundation for America’s Public Lands.
The Foundation is working to ensure that all Americans can get outside to enjoy, care for, and connect with their public lands. Since its founding, the Foundation has helped leverage $2 million in total impact for accessibility projects on BLM-managed lands, including ADA/ABA-compliant improvements to trails, facilities, and recreation sites, benefiting families, veterans, people with disabilities, youth, and other visitors to BLM recreation areas.
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION FOR AMERICA’S PUBLIC LANDS
As the official charitable partner of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Foundation for America’s Public Lands serves as a convener, partner, and fundraising catalyst to help ensure the health and stewardship of America’s public lands and waters today, and for the future. To learn more, visit americaslands.org.
The Foundation funds projects that solve real-world problems for local communities and public lands. To date, the Foundation has leveraged more than $20 million in 88 on-the-ground projects across the country. Support for these investments is made possible by federal and state funding, as well as the generous backing of charitable partners and donors.
