Manti-LaSal National Forest Nizhoni Campground is a charming spot that offers a rustic camping experience surrounded by nature. Each site comes with a fire pit and a sturdy picnic table, perfect for cooking up a meal or enjoying a cozy evening under the stars.

Visitors have praised the cleanliness of the facilities, especially the well-maintained vault toilets. The campground is known for its peaceful atmosphere, with wildlife sightings being a highlight—many campers have enjoyed watching deer roam nearby. One reviewer noted, “Loved watching the deer wandering around camp,” which really captures the serene vibe here.

The area is great for those who want to explore the outdoors, with plenty of hiking trails and beautiful scenery to take in. While the campground can fill up on busy weekends, there are dispersed camping options nearby if you prefer a bit more solitude. Just keep in mind that not all sites can accommodate large RVs, so check your vehicle size before heading out.

If you’re looking for a quiet retreat in the heart of nature, this campground is definitely worth considering. It’s a fantastic place to unwind and connect with the great outdoors.

## Overview

 Nizhoni Campground sits in the Manti-LaSal National Forest in southeast Utah, at the foot of the Abajo Mountains. 
## Recreation

 Popular activities include hiking, wildlife viewing and off-road vehicle riding. Several trailheads are nearby, including Shay Ridge, Aspen Flat and Red Ledges. The Abajo Loop State Scenic Backway passes by the campground. It leads from the desert floor and red rock canyons to steep mountains over 10,000 feet high, with overlooks and panoramic views. The byway is suitable for passenger vehicles from late spring through fall but is not recommended for large RVs.
## Facilities

 The campground contains two group sites that each accommodate up to 50 guests. Several single-family sites are available as well. Picnic tables and fire rings are provided, as are vault toilets and drinking water seasonally. Firewood may be collected in and around the campground. Roads and parking spurs are gravel. There is a 14 day stay limit at this campground. 
## Natural Features

 Towering Ponderosa pines forest the site, offering partial shade. Gambel oaks and sagebrush dot the landscape. The campground sits at an elevation of 7,000 feet, and summer temperatures range from 80-90 degrees during the day and 55-65 degrees at night. Mule deer, wild turkeys, Abert's squirrels and the occasional black bear may be seen in the area. 
## Nearby Attractions

 Other attractions in the area include Canyonlands, Arches and Mesa Verde National Parks, Dark Canyon Wilderness, Edge of the Cedars State Park, Lake Powell and numerous archaeological sites.

Manti-LaSal National Forest Nizhoni Campground

Join the fun near Blanding. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Blanding, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.

Blanding

The Best Camping Near Blanding, Utah

This beautiful, shady campground is at the end of a 9-mile County Road going north out of Blanding, Utah, but is well worth the trip.
Although high up in the Abajo Mountains, the site itself is level and easily accessible. It has the usual Forest Service amenities of picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets (no smell with new technology) and some potable water. The two campground hosts are friendly and knowledgeable about the area. There is a small Anasazi ruin about 2 miles away, but you can drive to within 1/2 mile of it. Even though this campground could be considered remote, the friendly vibe of the place makes it feel like home very quickly.

Charming Forest Service campground

I stayed here in May and enjoyed it very much. Each campsite has fire pits and cooking grates. The pit toilets were very clean and well kept. The campground does fill up on busy weekends but there are lots of other dispersed camping areas around.

On a side note the location that shows up on the map isn’t correct. The campground is actually on the south side of the main road. Not every site will fit the large trailers or rv’s but most will.

Wonderful quite place

We stayed here for two nights. We’re from Michigan so this was a totally different environment compared to what we’re used to. The wildlife was visible. There were tons of deer in the evening and we heard Coyotes howling during the night. At the site, you get a fire pit with a grate and a nice sturdy table. We were right next to the vault toilet which the hosts keep extraordinarily clean. By the group sites there was another bathroom. The sites were very spacious with a few group camp sites closer to the entrance. There were so many places to camp in the area and we were satisfied with our campsite. The drive in isn’t too bad once you warm up to it for a Michigan driver.. 😅

Nice rustic campground 

Very nice campground. We ended up here for one night and loved it. The sites were very nice, hosts were very friendly and everything very clean. Unfortunately there were some obnoxious campers with very noisy children, but that is no reflection on the campground, you will run into that anywhere. The host’s actually tried their best to move us away to a quieter spot. Loved watching the deer wandering around camp. We will definitely stay here again when in the area. The area is beautiful.

Very nice and secluded 

We stayed overnight at the Nizhoni campground as a pit stop. They have fire pits with grates. The grates are a bit small, but they're there. Water was still turned off due to the colder temps, I think.

Nice campground

This was a phenomenal experience. The campground is in really good shape, the bathrooms are clean, there’s plenty of water.
We loved being surrounded by pines and seeing all the deer go across the camp. It’s a beautiful location. 

The only note I’d have is the water isn’t tested and thus not necessarily recommended for drinking so either do at tour own risk or bring plenty of potable water with you. 

Photos of Manti-LaSal National Forest Nizhoni Campground

Real photos from real campers