Camping
Courtesy of Neal Herbert, Canyonlands National Park Web Site

Your Visit

Canyonlands is primarily a backcountry park. Most visits involve primitive camping in sites along the trails, roads and rivers found here. Park visitation increases dramatically during the more temperate periods of spring and fall. Campgrounds and popular backcountry areas usually fill every night from mid-March to Memorial Day and, again, from Labor Day through mid-October. If you are planning to camp during these times, be prepared with a backup plan in case no sites are available. Backcountry permits and group campsites may be reserved in advance, but all developed campgrounds are first-come, first-served.

Camping in the Park

Canyonlands has two frontcountry campgrounds. Both campgrounds are available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Vault toilets, picnic tables, and grills are provided. Campgrounds typically fill up daily from late March through June and again from early September to mid October. The Needles District has an additional three campsites for groups of 11 or more people, which may be reserved in advance for a fee of $10.

Squaw Flat Campground (Needles District) - 26 sites - Drinking water available spring through fall - Fee of $10 per night (charged March through October) - Group size limit of 10 people and 2 vehicles per site - No reservations for individual sites

Willow Flat Campground (Island District) - 12 sites - No water - Fee of $5 per night (charged March through October) - Group size limit of 10 people and 2 vehicles per site - No reservations

Group Campsites (Needles District) - Squaw Flat (50 people, 10 vehicles) - Wooden Shoe (25 people, 5 vehicles) - Spit Top (15 people, 3 vehicles)

Camping Outside the Park

Dead Horse Point State Park, which has a 21-site campground, is located on Utah 313 approximately 35 miles from Moab, near the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands. Drinking water, flush toilets, picnic tables and grills are provided. Reservations may be made 3-120 days in advance by calling the Utah State Parks reservation office at (800)322-3770.

Private campgrounds are located in nearby towns and near the Needles District. For information on private campgrounds, contact the Grand County Travel Council.

Camping is allowed in many Bureau of Land Management (BLM) areas outside the park. Some restrictions apply. Contact the nearest BLM office for more information. Grand Resource Area (outside the Island): (435) 259-6111 San Juan Resource Area (outside the Needles): (435)587-2141 Hanksville Resource Area (outside the Maze): (435)542-2652

Lodging

There is no lodging in Canyonlands National Park. For information on nearby lodging, contact the Grand County Travel Council, or the Utah Travel Council.