Posted by jeff miller on August 26, 2011 at 8:46 PM
Hi heading out for a trip going to Zion, Bryce and the north rim over an 8 day period of time. We've got campsites booked on all nights accept for the second night driving up from Vegas. My question: Does anyone have a favorite campground or site coming from the south that would be a good camp area? (I know this isn't Tripadvisor, but I trust fellow photographers more than anonymous folks.) Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by Jeff Hackett on August 26, 2011 at 10:30 PM
About 9 miles before the national park gate there is a free public campground by the Virgin River, a sandy area on the flood plain.
Posted by jeff miller on August 26, 2011 at 10:45 PM
Thanks for the suggestion Jeff, is this really a campground or just a turn-out area?. I'm looking on the NatGeo map for Zion and I'm not seeing a campground symbol or other indicator. What do you think about Coral Pink State Park? Thanks again for your help.
Posted by Jeff Hackett on August 26, 2011 at 11:37 PM
It is not marked except maybe by a cone on the road, and I apologize for using the word camground in my last response, because it isn't an official campground, it is a small tract of BLM land and even the park rangers will tell you that you can camp there if you bring it up to them. It has in the last few years become 'discovered' and even a portable latrine has been there. It is dispersed camping, no formal sites. A few years ago I camped there and there was only a few other campers, but as I said it has been discovered now. As for Coral, I have not gone there mainly because of the Weeble Knievels and their ATV's. Hope this helps.
When I was there in June, that site had been closed and the gate locked -- closed due to high impacts. I don't know if that's a temporary thing or permanent.
I wouldn't recommend Coral Pink unless you're off season; otherwise, it's often full with off-roaders.
If you're on your way from Vegas, try the single campground in Arizona off of I-15 in the Virgin River Gorge ("Virgin River Canyon", I think), or Snow Canyon State Park just north of Saint George. The state park is named after the Snow brothers, not any weather phenomenon...
Posted by jeff miller on August 29, 2011 at 10:15 PM
Mark thanks for the update on the campsite. I saw the Snow Canyon State Park on the map could be a possibility. We may try to add one more night at Watchman if we can. Thanks again. Jeff
Discussion
5 repliesWhen I was there in June, that site had been closed and the gate locked -- closed due to high impacts. I don't know if that's a temporary thing or permanent.
I wouldn't recommend Coral Pink unless you're off season; otherwise, it's often full with off-roaders.
If you're on your way from Vegas, try the single campground in Arizona off of I-15 in the Virgin River Gorge ("Virgin River Canyon", I think), or Snow Canyon State Park just north of Saint George. The state park is named after the Snow brothers, not any weather phenomenon...