Canyonlands National Park

Camping and Lodging

There is no lodging in Canyonlands National Park. Moab, Utah, 5 miles south on U.S. Route 191 offers numerous hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts, as well as commercial campgrounds, where showers may be obtained for a fee.

Camping

Park Campgrounds

The two front country campgrounds in Canyonlands National Park, Squaw Flat in the Needles District and Willow Flat in the Island in the Sky District, are available on a first-come, first-served basis only. The Needles District also has three campsites for groups of 11 or more people; group reservations are available. Vault toilets, picnic tables, and grills are provided. Have a back-up plan for finding a campsite outside the park if you are visiting during the peak seasons of spring and fall.

Park Backcountry Camping

There are numerous primitive campgrounds throughout the park and along 4-wheel-drive roads. Backcountry permits are required for all overnight stays in the backcountry. This includes backpacking, four-wheel drive or bicycle camping, flat water river trips on the Green or Colorado to the Confluence, and Cataract Canyon river trips. Permits are also required for day use by vehicles, horses, and bikes in Salt Creek/Horse Canyons and Lavender Canyon in the Needles District.

Reservations are highly recommended if you plan to visit Canyonlands National Park during peak season. During the spring and fall, demand for backpacking and four-wheel drive camping permits frequently exceeds the number available. Reservations must be made at least two weeks before a trip. The backcountry vehicle campsites along the White Rim Road are especially popular, and should be reserved at least six months in advance for peak times.

White Rim Camping

• Shafer Canyon
• Airport Tower Campsite
• Gooseberry Campsite
• White Crack Campsite
• Murphy Hogback Campsite
• Candlestick Campsite
• Potato Bottom Campsite
• Hardscrabble Bottom Campsite
• Labyrinth Campsite
• Taylor Canyon Campsite

For more information on permits, see Backcountry Permits.

Additional Camping

• 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 (800)322-3770.
  
• Private campgrounds are located in nearby towns and near the Needles District. For information on private campgrounds, contact the Utah 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.
  

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