## Overview

 The Needles is a remote district located within the southern portion of Canyonlands National Park in southeastern Utah. The Needles District is 1.25 hours driving time from Monticello, Utah, and 1.5 hours from Moab, Utah, and sits at an elevation of approximately 4,900 feet.\_\_ The Needles Campground offers limited services and are best suited to tents and small, self-contained campers and RVs. If you are looking for group campsites, visit the [Needles District Group Campground][1] page. You may book individual campsites in Loop B up to six months in advance for dates within the peak seasons \_\_\_ March 15 - May and September - October.\_\_ Loop A is available first come, first served only.\_\_ Please, also read \_\_\_Facilities\_\_\_ below and the \_\_\_Need to Know\_\_\_ tab for important information.\_\_ 
## Recreation

 The Needles District\'s extensive trail system provides many opportunities for long day hikes and overnight backpacking trips. Foot trails and four-wheel-drive roads lead to such features as Confluence Overlook, Druid Arch, the Joint Trail and Chesler Park.
## Facilities

 The Needles is a remote district with limited services and no cell coverage. The Needles Campground and group sites are best suited to tents and small, self-contained campers and RVs. A seasonal campground host (spring and fall) is located in Loop A of the campground.\_\_\_\_ Individual Campsites: Drinking water and flush toilets are available in the campground. Picnic tables and fire rings are provided at each site. There are no RV hook-ups. The campground does not have electricity, showers or a dump station. Maximum vehicle length is 28 feet. If you are looking for group campsites, visit the [Needles District Group Campground][1] page. 
## Natural Features

 The campground contains stands of Utah juniper and pinyon pine. Flowering prickly pear cacti, yucca and other desert wildflowers dot the landscape in the spring, adding to the vivid colors of the surrounding red rock desert. The Needles District forms the southeast corner of Canyonlands National Park and was named for the colorful spires of Cedar Mesa Sandstone that dominate the area. The park is within an arid, high desert environment with hot summers and cold winters. 
## Nearby Attractions

 Southeastern Utah offers breathtaking scenery, hiking, road and mountain biking opportunities, rafting and scenic driving routes. Arches and Mesa Verde National Parks, the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park, Hovenweep and Natural Bridges National Monuments and Dead Horse Point and Edge of the Cedars State Parks are all within three hours drive of the Needles Campground. Moab, Utah, (1.5 hours away) offers numerous restaurants, shops and museums.
## Charges &amp; Cancellations

 Individual Campsite Cancellations: A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night\'s use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee.\_\_ Group Cancellations: Customers who cancel a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night\'s use fee.\_\_\_\_ Changes or Cancellations within the Cut-off Window: Once a reservation date has begun, customers cannot change a reservation using the online system or through the Call Center (see below for early departures). If the location is staffed, on-site personnel may or may not be able to assist with changes or cancellations (check with local staff).\_\_\_\_ Camping no-show: Customers who do not arrive at the campground or group facility by check-out time (10:00 AM) the day after the scheduled arrival date or does not cancel the reservation by check out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date will be assessed a $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night use fee. If the no-show service fee is greater than the reservation amount, the customer will not be charged any additional service fees. In addition, the campsite will become available to other customers at this point. Make sure to plan accordingly to avoid any unexpected changes to your travel plans.\_\_ Early Depatures: An early departure occurs when a customer spends at least one night of their reservation at the facility but leaves the facility prior to the reservation departure date. If a customer departs prior to the scheduled check-out date, they may be eligible for a partial refund. Early departures are treated as a cancellation of the remaining days. There will be no refunds for days used prior to the departure date, regardless of whether the customer was present for all those days, i.e., the customer arrived a day late. \_\_Campers must notify the facility that they are leaving early, as required by local policy. If a customer requests a refund for an early departure after the facility check-out time has passed, the customer will not be refunded for that night and is eligible for a refund on any additional nights that will not be used. Field location procedures may vary depending on agency policy. 

[1]: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10060971

Split Top Group Campsite — Canyonlands National Park

So peaceful and less traffic than island in the sun. Didn’t see a single tour bus. Newer bathrooms a plus. If you want to get away from it all this is it.

Peaceful retreat

We have stayed here on a few separate occasions and each time we were able to hike 10+ mile trails to new and less visited wonders.

The campsites were great for two people and all included a permanent fire ring. In almost all campsites there is some sort of fun rock form you can scramble around on!

Nearby are miles and miles of trail that can take you to Druid Arch and the confluence of the Colorado and Green rivers to name a couple. If you have a high clearance 4x4 vehicle there is also Elephant rock road right next to the campground. The world class Indian Creek climbing area is also ~30 mins away with numerous other desert towers in the area including the famous 6 shooter tower.

In short if you stay here you'll have weeks of recreational enjoyment no matter how you choose to enjoy the outdoors!

Fantastic camping next to amazing trails

We had a group site reservation though Rec.gov but do not use their longitude and latitude for your gps. If you do it will take you onto an Atv trail that looks like a road and is not clearly marked and very dangerous. However that actual campsite was awesome. There was no one for miles and our large group loved that. There is no water in the area and the ony shade was the shelter so it was hot. Its in a canyon area and gave the children alot of area to run and climb.

We stayed at the group site near hamburger rock

The recent is just amazing. Really hot in the summer. Kinda crowded

So many canyons to explore

It was a great decision to visit the Needles district after a few days in Island in the Sky. The landscapes were beautiful and we were lucky to nab a spot at the District Campground. The facilities were awesome - sites had some shade from being tucked into the rock formations. The restrooms were clean and had exterior space for washing dishes and water access. This would be a great place to set up shop for a few weeks and would be a great home base to explore the Needles. However, getting a site here can be tough!

Lovely sites with shade & water access

Vault toilets
Water available

This very private group site is nestled in a rock formation outside the campgrounds. Park rangers had to help us locate it because it wasn’t on the park maps. Our group of 15 loved being away from other campers and our teenagers loved climbing/exploring the rock faces. 

Wooden Shoe Group Site

Loved the solitude the the rocks. Rules were very stringent. We are out to camp, not told what to do. (Opinion) 

If you want zero noise and light, this is the place for you. 

Store is expensive, closed on Sunday. No cell signal except in the store. 

No, no, no music! 

This campground is in the middle of nowhere, in the best way. Although it is popular and was full when we were there, it’s a pretty small campground and spread out, so it didn’t feel crowded at all. Magnificent views of the needles, and the Chesler Park trail system connects to the campground (though this will add a mile or two to the trails, depending on your route). We were there  Sept 9-11, and the weather was perfect!  Site 25B is close to the neighboring site, but both sites are large with space to spread out. Loved this campground and will definitely be back!

Peace and solitude

This campsite is a bit off the main roads but that hardly matters because the views are amazing.  We were here in the early summer and was hot and that is probably and understatement.  It's dusty , we were glad to have a tarp under the tent.