Camping in Utah is something everyone who is avid about the outdoors or has a love of natural beauty needs to experience. The state’s natural beauty stems from a combination of lively deserts, forested and snowy mountains, incredible iconic rock formations and other awe-inspiring features and landscapes you have to see to believe.
There are 13 national parks in the state and 7 national monuments, ranging from deep winding canyons to scenic hills and mountaintops. Take a few days to try to see as much as you can here – whether you live in Utah or are just visiting, you are sure to be surprised by its natural wonder and its beautiful outdoors landscapes.
Here is a guide to the five best places to camp in the Beehive State:
Zion National Park
Zion National Park is one of the most well-known parks in Utah, and for good reason. Zion was the first national park in the state, and it has some of the most iconic sights in the country.
Originally called Mukuntuweap National Monument in 1909, it was changed to Zion National Park in 1919. The park has two prominent canyons, Zion and Kolob canyons. Their brilliant layering of pink, grey, white, and red rock form a fantastic colorful cliff face extending for miles. Zion National Park is also home to the Grand Staircase, a massive rock formation stretching from Zion National Park to the Grand Canyon.
Camping in Zion National Park is competitive due to the huge number of visitors wanting to stay and experience the park no matter the time of year. You will need to book your stay far more in advance than you might think, but pricing for camping in and around the park is about standard with some private campgrounds offering other options.
Twin Peak Wilderness
If you would like to camp somewhere with the isolation of the wild without being too far from the city, check out Twin Peak Wilderness, just 30 miles outside of Salt Lake City. Here the adventurous camper will have many opportunities for wilderness camping.
The area has a number of lakes tucked into the mountainous region and many trails weaving in and out of the grassy and rugged hills. There are two canyons serving as borders to the wilderness area, Little Cottonwood and Big Cottonwood Canyon. Superior Peak and Dromedary Peak are located here serve as the wilderness’ namesake
There is plenty to explore and get lost in in Twin Peaks, but as with camping in any wilderness area, be sure that you are as prepared as you can be. Make sure you have all of your gear with you, including survival equipment, and be ready for the weather and terrain. The best part is, Salt Lake City is close by and has lots of things to do and ways to relax when you want to venture back to civilization.
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Antelope Island State Park
Antelope Island State Park is about 2 hours away from Salt Lake City near Ogden, Utah and is the largest island in the Great Salt Lake at about 15 miles long and 5 miles wide. While access to the Island is only available from a bridge, the island is not a traditional island in as far as that it does connect to the mainland at its southeast end.
Because of this, deer, desert animals and, of course antelope, all call the island home. There are also bison and dozens of different species of birds. The island is a great place to spend time for avid birdwatchers.
Camping on the Island is plentiful and easy. Bridger Bay campground has 26 sites available while White Rock Bay has 20. There are also options for tent and rugged camping on the island as well.
Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park
These two parks are grouped together because they are essentially right next to each other centered around the town of Moab. While the beauty of Arches National Park can be found above ground in its mighty rock formations, the Canyonlands, as the name might suggest, is divided by rivers into four sections of countless canyons and diverse wildlife.
You have probably seen pictures of the famous rock arches of Arches National Park. The park is full of formations that could have been sculpted rather than formed naturally, and is host to a number of different desert animals and life.
The Canyonlands do not have as much going on above ground, but the Utah winds still left their mark here just as they did in Arches. Rivers separate this area into four sections: Island in the Sky, named for immense Mesas that rise above the cloud layer and offer scenic vistas, The Maze, named for the winding canyon landscape, the Needles, named for its rising rock formations, and Horseshoe Canyon.
Camping at Arches and Canyonlands is easy with the city of Moab being right in between them. Canyonlands is about 30 miles away, while Arches is about 6 miles away. There are plenty of options in the city to choose from, but you will have to pay a fee to enter the park.
Clearly, if you love the outdoors and camping, Utah should be a destination for you in the near future. The state has some of the most spectacular nature and sights in the country and each park brings its own unique features to the table. Make sure to add the Beehive State to your list of upcoming camping trips.
TREVOR VENEGAS is a freelance writer and photographer. Check out his photography portfolio.
