Dispersed camping near Colorado City, Arizona offers access to public lands with unserviced sites that typically don't require reservations. The area sits at elevations between 5,000-7,000 feet, creating milder summer temperatures than lower desert regions while still experiencing winter snow at higher elevations. Primitive camping options exist on both Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service land with varying road conditions.
What to do
Paddle on Sand Hollow Reservoir: The red rock formations surrounding Sand Hollow State Park create a striking backdrop for water activities. "Great place even for a day trip and conveniently close to St. George. The scenery is something out of an outer space movie, making you feel more like you're on a distant planet of bright red sand, black mountains, and crystal blue water," notes David R.
Explore historical sites: Pipe Spring National Monument sits next to Kaibab Paiute RV Park and showcases regional history. "Pipe Spring National Monument is very close and worth a visit. At the time we visited, the gas station at the road entrance had much better gas prices than Kanab and Springdale if you're headed towards Zion," reports Meghan B.
Camp by a creek: North Creek offers cooling water during hot months with easily accessible sites. "Great flat sandy sites. Easy to set up! Creek was dry but trees were lovely!" mentions Peaches E. Most creek-side sites accommodate tents and smaller vehicles, with deeper sites available for those with high clearance.
What campers like
Free primitive sites: Dispersed camping along North Creek provides budget-friendly options near Zion. "Nice spot close to the main road and a 20 min drive to Zion NP," shares Jahro M. The area features multiple pull-offs with natural clearings suitable for camping.
Dark night skies: Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park offers excellent stargazing away from city lights. "Great campground for car camping or RV. The campground is a bit off the main highway, providing for peace and quiet at night. The showers are amazing. There is ATV use in the park, but everyone was respectful of quiet-hours," says Kristen L.
Early morning hiking access: South Campground provides a strategic base for Zion exploration. "Don't miss The Narrows: In the summer, catch a shuttle as early as 6 am so you can hike in without a lot of company and beat the heat. Shuttle line is long (think Disney) by 8 am but short in the early afternoon when it's hot," advises Mary S.
What you should know
Reservation timeline: South Campground works for semi-spontaneous trips with a specific booking window. "The campground used to be first come, first serve but is now reservable, with sites opening on a rolling basis two weeks in advance. This is great for a semi-spontaneous trip at a busy time of year - a little advance planning, but your site doesn't have to be booked months in advance," explains Carly E.
Water availability: Bring all needed water for primitive sites as most lack facilities. "Nice area, easy to get to, plenty of company. Here on a Saturday night and there are a lot of folks here, tons of tents. Got here mid afternoon and found a flat site by creek," reports Jenni I. at North Creek.
Cell service limitations: Coverage varies widely throughout the region. "There is virtually no cell signal in Virgin. Certainly not enough to even begin to create a hot spot. There is wifi (and we even had a booster on our site)...but there was still terribly connectivity," notes Reuben at Zion River Resort.
Tips for camping with families
Try seasonal events: Watchman Campground hosts unexpected family fun during holidays. "We experienced a first: It was Halloween and many of the kids camped around us dressed up in costumes and went trick or treating. Many campers put up festive lighting and one even set up a full size inflatable castle which was a big hit. Instead of expecting treats from unprepared campers, many kids took their own treats and handed them out," shares Rod D.
Seek wildlife viewing: Many campgrounds offer chances to spot local animals. "We had deer strolling through our campsite in the morning. Will definitely return," says Bonnie M. about her Watchman Campground experience.
Look for recreation centers: Some camping spots near Colorado City provide indoor amenities useful during weather extremes. "The clubhouse is like brand new, the staff is amazing! We stayed a week and needed a month to see everything," reports Debbie H. about Kaibab Paiute RV Park.
Tips from RVers
Consider river access sites: Zion RV and Campground positions vehicles near natural features. "Sites are large, staff is friendly and helpful by you are remote so minimal amenities. Personally I loved it gorgeous scenery and easy access to Zion," shares Melissa F. Most RV sites near creeks or rivers fill quickly during peak season.
Check actual amenities: Campgrounds may have different hookup configurations than expected. "Electric and water sites are very nice. Lots of long pull throughs, many over 100 ft. Close to level sites, good water pressure, solid electric, clean well maintained infrastructure. WIFI is marginal and only at the visitor center / souvenir store," notes Gene P. about Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.
Verify site size restrictions: Many campgrounds list maximum lengths that may be conservative. "Our sites (73 and 70) had a 19 foot maximum vehicle length listed on recreation.gov. We could tell from the online photos that our teardrop would fit just fine even without turning it sideways," explains Mary S. about South Campground.
