The best camping near Zion National Park

The knife-sharp ridge that soars to Angels Landing might be daunting, but it’s best to tighten your laces, grab the safety chain, and avoid looking down as you make the final push between two sheer cliffs. Your reward? A bird's-eye view of ruddy cliffs rocketing above the Virgin River and its riparian greenery. Yep, Zion Canyon is a captivating place, dotted with natural attractions straight from a fantasy novel: weeping rocks, hanging gardens, hidden pools, and a serpentine river trail through a tight canyon known as The Narrows. A striking sandstone formation dubbed The Watchman overlooks its namesake campground beside the town of Springdale.

• Best for ditching the crowds: Lava Point is a primitive campground off Kolob Terrace Road in a far-flung corner of the park.
• Best for hikers: South Campground connects campers with the Pa’rus Trail and the Watchman Trail.
• Best for year-round camping: Watchman Campground offers first-come, first-served campsites in winter.

1. Campsites in South Campground are available by reservation only. They can be booked up to two weeks in advance at www.recreation.gov. The campground is typically open from March through October.
2. Watchman Campground is open year-round and sites are available by reservation at www.recreation.gov from mid-March through November or December depending on location. Reservations can be made up to six months in advance. Sites are first-come, first-served the rest of the year.
3. The six primitive sites at Lava Point Campground are first-come, first-served.

May through September is high season, so expect very heavy crowds and temperatures that consistently exceed 100°F. Wildflowers begin to bloom in spring, but the Narrows may be closed if heavy snowmelt raises the level of the river. March crowds can be heavy with spring breakers. October and November are a pleasant time to visit with slightly lighter crowds than summer. Fall foliage hits its peak in the lower canyon in late October and early November.

• Entry into Zion Canyon is by shuttle only from mid-February through late November, and then again over the December holidays. This means your personal vehicle is not allowed in the canyon or along the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive unless you’re staying in Zion Lodge. Shuttle reservations are required and must be made ahead of time online.
• A free shuttle links the park with various stops in the adjacent town of Springdale.
• Large vehicles require a permit for travel through the narrow Zion-Mt Carmel Tunnel, which leads to Bryce Canyon National Park.

For killer views and tranquility, camping near Red Cliffs National Conservation Area is unbeatable. Experience a Red Cliffs camping adventure filled with spectacular hiking, striking red-rock landscapes, and native wildlife encounters.