Best Tent Camping near Cannonville, UT

Public lands surrounding Cannonville, Utah offer numerous tent camping options, particularly in the nearby Dixie National Forest and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Great Western Trail Dispersed camping provides free tent campsites just 10-15 minutes from Bryce Canyon National Park, with sites scattered along Forest Roads 088 and 103. Spencer Flat Dispersed Camping in Grand Staircase National Monument features primitive tent sites with established fire rings and canyon views. For tent campers seeking established facilities, Kodachrome Basin State Park's Oasis Group Campground provides designated tent sites with amenities including drinking water and picnic tables.

Most tent camping areas feature natural surfaces ranging from soft sand to forest duff, requiring proper tent stakes and ground cloths. Roads to dispersed sites can become impassable during wet weather, with several campers reporting that Rock Springs Bench access roads turn to "slick clay" after rain. Forest Service roads typically allow standard vehicles when dry, though deeper sites may require high-clearance or 4WD vehicles. Campers should bring all necessary water, as most primitive tent sites lack potable water sources. Fire restrictions vary seasonally, with some areas like Spencer Flat prohibiting campfires year-round. Most dispersed camping areas enforce a 16-day stay limit and require pack-in, pack-out waste management.

Tent campers frequently mention the solitude and natural setting as highlights of backcountry tent camping near Cannonville. One visitor at Spencer Flat noted, "We found a beautiful spot overlooking the canyon with very soft sand and plenty of small dry trees," though cautioned about high winds at this elevated location. At Great Western Trail Dispersed camping, a camper reported, "Quiet, even with hunters coming through, could hear cows and coyotes, great for stargazing." Temperature variations can be extreme, with April temperatures dropping from 34°F at bedtime to 19°F by morning. Cell service is spotty but surprisingly available at some dispersed sites, particularly along Great Western Trail, where T-Mobile/Sprint users report good connectivity.

Best Tent Sites Near Cannonville, Utah (37)

    1. Great Western Trail Dispersed

    28 Reviews
    Fern Ridge Lake, OR
    10 miles

    "We decided to ask a park ranger where else we could camp, he handed us a map (in the pictures) and sent us on our way."

    "You do have to drive back a little ways (see map) but quite a few spots of varying sizes, pretty spread apart. There were a handful of other people there."

    2. FS500 - Dispersed

    6 Reviews
    Cannonville, UT
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 644-1300

    "Multiple sites with two on the edge. No one here. We stopped at the visitor center and got a free permit."

    "Easy to get to with 2 wheel drive when dry. Pretty tight turns between trees further back in the site where the big view is. Flat ground could be tough to find with a long vehicle or trailer."

    3. Rock Springs Bench

    4 Reviews
    Henrieville, UT
    7 miles

    "Gets pretty hot in the heat of the summer but great in the shoulder seasons.  Dirt access road that can get impassable when it rains (and believe them when they say impassable!). "

    "No problem with access for our 20’ BaseCamp

    About 5 or 6 sites in the area, several with pull through

    Beautiful views all around. Mostly quiet and away from it all."

    4. Forest Rd 294 Dispersed - Dixie National Forest

    7 Reviews
    Fern Ridge Lake, OR
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 676-9300

    "I love camping here because it is so close to Bryce but also away from having a camper right next to you."

    "You can hear cars passing on the nearby road but still better than having noisy neighbors and RVs. We got to the site around 10:30pm and there were no other campers around."

    5. Yovimpa Pass Campsite — Bryce Canyon National Park

    2 Reviews
    Bryce Canyon National Park, UT
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 834-5322

    "Perfect amount of shade, and wasn’t crowded at all. Will definitely come again!"

    6. Stoneview ranch

    1 Review
    Tropic, UT
    16 miles
    +1 (615) 428-4956

    $35 / night

    "I'd like to welcome Stoneview Ranch to the Dyrt, they have a great location near Bryce Canyon & Pine Lake.  Check them out and make sure to share some pictures of your stay."

    8. Pump Canyon Springs

    1 Review
    Henrieville, UT
    19 miles

    "Only really space for one small group. Used it as a day use spot. Cool rocks next to spot. Road in may be impassable when raining."

    9. Spencer Flat Dispersed Camping - Grand Staircase Nat Mon

    17 Reviews
    Escalante, UT
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 644-4300

    "In the beginning of March during the week I was the only one around. I would agree that there aren’t many spots available on this road; I counted like 6-8ish spots."

    "After staying in a couple National Park campgrounds on our Utah trip this was a great surprise of seclusion :) It was well maintained and just an all around great experience."

    10. Raven's Nest Utah Campground

    1 Review
    Panguitch, UT
    26 miles
    +1 (480) 234-7172

    $35 / night

    " On the 93 acres, there are many dry sites to camp for the wild and adventurous. Pick your site in the trees and set up your camp."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Cannonville, UT

1428 Reviews of 37 Cannonville Campgrounds


  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 2, 2025

    Tom's Best Spring Road Dixie National Forest

    Lots of spots off this road!

    Plenty of spots (though we were here on a weekday) and SO CLOSE to Bryce NP! The stars were beautiful at night - even got some photos with my phone. There were some cows but they mostly stayed clear of the road. Road was pretty level and easy for cars to get back (and there were spots right off the road). I already want to come back!

    There was a fire ban in July so bring your camp stove and leave no trace!

  • E
    Apr. 17, 2019

    Canyons of Escalante RV Park

    Beautiful backpacking trip

    Did an awesome 3 day hike of the hurricane wash. Hiked in, set up camp, explored further, slept first night. Left our tents and gear and did a day pack hike totalling 16 miles down and back up the canyon. Third day was back out. It was amazing...other than the extreme leave no trace rules (ALL waste carried out).

  • Stephanie W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 22, 2024

    Lava Flats Dispersed Camping

    Nice location in the trees

    This location has a handful of spots on both side of the main road. We saw some larger RV/motorhomes as well as basic tent camping. Fire rings are already set up for you and there is a dumpster for trash down the road next to the horse trail ride company going back towards duck creek village. Close enough to the village for buying basics, grabbing food or renting an atv. Drive to Navajo lake to swim or boat, 35 min to Cedar breaks, 35 min to red canyon, 45 min to Brian head, less than an hour to Bryce Canyon and 1.5 hrs to Zion. Only bad was the atv noise that starts super early. VERIZON COVERAGE!!! we were able to make calls, access the internet and watch steamed videos.

  • K
    Jun. 20, 2021

    North Campground — Bryce Canyon National Park

    Nicely spaced

    It’s true that they are full by noon! We arrived at 2pm and the whole place was full, so we got a hotel room in town and went back at 9am the next morning and got a wonderful spot in the tent only loop. Spots are nicely spaced and you don’t feel like you eavesdropping on your neighbors conversations. Flush toilets, but no showers in this loop. Fire rings, mostly level places for tents, picnic tables that are easy to move and space to park your car.

  • Meggy B.
    Apr. 23, 2023

    Lone Rock Beach Primitive Camping Area — Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

    Beach Camping

    Not sure if it’s the time of year or what but there were no entry or camping fees!

    This place is beautiful with tons of room for campers, trailers, tents, ORV’s, and you name it! Driving on the sand was a breeze and only had to use 4WD getting down to the water. Lots of clean private vault toilets.

    We scoped it out during the day and then arrived to set up at night- highly recommend getting to your spot before dark because it was pitch black out there.

    A bit windy at night but quiet and peaceful! Would definitely return!

  • Morgan Y.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 2, 2020

    Lone Rock Beach Primitive Camping Area — Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

    Camping on La Playa

    It's hard to beat the view of the wide open "campground" that is the beach at Lone Rock. Be prepared for the crowds, fifth wheels and ATVs and generators. If you can accept that going in, this is a great space to stargaze, paddle board and enjoy a drink in the evening. Pit toilet bathrooms are available within 300 yards of the shoreline. I think they have flush toilets further up the hill. Free RV dump and potable water available. Also note, wind can really kick up the sand, which absolutely nobody loves. And that sends a lot of garbage flying. Batten down them thar hatches.

    Leave no trace.

  • Rose B.
    Aug. 9, 2018

    Cedar Canyon

    Huge Group Site!

    Campsite was HUGE! 12 kids, 8 adults, 5 cars, 2 nights. We set up 9 tents and there was still room for more. Vault toilets and 2 water spigots were a very short walk away. 2 big picnic tables. 1 other table near campfire. 1 campfire. I wish the site had its own water spigot. Near highway and near cute little creek. Zero cell service but no one seemed to notice. 15 minutes from Cedar City. 20 minutes from the lake for fishing and boating. No showers. Great time was had by all! Will definitely go back!

  • Thomas B.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 10, 2019

    Lone Rock Beach Primitive Camping Area — Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

    All Fun and Games until..

    The dispersed layout is awesome, but has almost zero cover for any tent campers. Especially if youd like to camp next to the lake, which is the basic appeal of being there. Also beware of sand. Saw a car up past the door in a dune, stuck.

    The views are great, the water is extremely nice, and the vault toilets are good and plenty in number.

    The weather can be unpredictable. Things were going great until 40+ mph winds came through in a snap and lasted all night. We were blasted by sand and wind, then came rain for hours, and temps dropping fast and into low 40's. Piles of sand in the tent, sleeping bags, and every orafice of our bodies. It was brutal. Sunshade poles were bent into multiple U shapes and ruined. Tent held strong, but we did not. Saw clouds building on horizon the same as it had the day prior and we decided to make our escape quickly. The weather that day had a 20% chance of precipitation and no mention of high winds. So again, beware.

    If perfect weather, things could have be totally different- But really when is that ever the case?

  • Dylan T.
    Mar. 21, 2021

    Tom Best Spring Road FR117 Dispersed - Dixie National Forest

    Beautiful free camping

    The dispersed camping here is awesome. Flat spots for tents, developed fire pits, some good tree cover as well. Only about 20 minutes from the park entrance. My only complaint is that there was some road noise but other sites here may not have that issue.


Guide to Cannonville

Tent camping near Cannonville, Utah provides access to the unique geologic features of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Bryce Canyon. The area sits at elevations between 5,800-7,500 feet, creating significant temperature variations where nighttime temperatures can drop more than 30 degrees from daytime highs, even in summer months. Roads to dispersed camping areas consist primarily of dirt surfaces that transform dramatically after rainfall.

What to do

Stargazing opportunities: Forest Rd 294 Dispersed camping in Dixie National Forest offers exceptional dark sky viewing about 20 minutes from Bryce Canyon. One camper noted, "We got there at night and woke up to a great view! We were the only ones in the area and at night the stars were so bright and beautiful."

Wildlife observation: Great Western Trail Dispersed camping provides opportunities to spot local fauna. A visitor mentioned, "Lots of wildlife walking around our tent area at night. It's very clean with a few fire pits and is a great temperature in early August."

Hiking access: Spencer Flat Dispersed Camping serves as an excellent base for exploring slot canyons. As one camper shared, "Keep driving until you find the most epic spot on the ridge. There are dozens of them, so plenty to choose from. Perfectly dispersed and quiet, as we prefer! Very close to the slot canyons!"

Canyon exploration: From Rock Springs Bench, campers can easily access Kodachrome Basin State Park. A camper reported, "We came here on a Friday night in mid-June before exploring Kodachrome Basin State Park. I could not believe how close we were to the state park without having any other people around."

What campers like

Privacy and solitude: The dispersed areas provide significant separation between camping parties. At FS500 - Dispersed, campers appreciate the isolation: "Turned off the road at the top of the big hill instead of driving further and there's so many spots to camp at. Some right on the edge with a great view. Even with one other camper here it was really quiet."

Cell service availability: Despite the remote location, many sites have surprisingly good connectivity. One camper at FS500 noted, "Two bars of 5G on TMo and a sweet view," making it possible to stay connected while camping off-grid.

Sunrise views: Many campsites offer exceptional morning vistas. At Forest Rd 294 Dispersed, campers wake up to spectacular scenery: "We got there at night and woke up to a great view! We were the only ones in the area and at night the stars were so bright and beautiful."

Camp selection: Spencer Flat offers numerous sites along its access road. A camper advised, "The last campsite is about 2.2 miles from the start of the road. Theres a big dip in the road right after this one. That's where I stayed. In the beginning of March during the week I was the only one around."

What you should know

Road conditions: Access to Rock Springs Bench can become problematic in wet weather. One camper warned, "Dirt access road that can get impassable when it rains (and believe them when they say impassable!). Not a lot of dispersed camp sites, maybe 6 or 7 in this immediate area."

Sand challenges: The soil composition at some sites creates unique camping conditions. At Spencer Flat, a camper observed, "Although the sand wasn't a surprise, i was shocked at how much it stuck to everything LOL! But the site had lots of dedicated spots for camping and went on the quite a few miles."

Wildlife awareness: Some campsites have evidence of predator activity. At Spencer Flat, one camper reported, "We were nervous about mountain lions as we noticed a lot of tracks when we arrived, and saw even more next to our car in the morning as we were leaving."

Wind exposure: Many ridge-top sites experience significant wind. At Raven's Nest Utah Campground, visitors are advised: "Good shoes are a must. The walk to the sites isn't far unless you want it to be. Bring a tent, hammock, or sleep under the stars."

Tips for camping with families

Spacious sites: Some dispersed areas can accommodate larger family groups. At Spencer Flat, a visitor noted, "This spot had a fire ring, extra firewood, and enough spots for about 4-6 cars/tents. So a big group can easily fit here."

Educational opportunities: Wildlife sightings provide learning moments for children. One camper at Great Western Trail reported, "Many parking sites to camp! Enjoy the silence in the woods. No amenities. Drive carefully. Sometimes deers are crossing."

Site selection strategy: For families seeking more structure, established campgrounds provide facilities. At Raven's Nest, "On the 93 acres, there are many dry sites to camp for the wild and adventurous. Pick your site in the trees and set up your camp."

Access timing: Most campgrounds have specific arrival windows. At Raven's Nest Campground, campers should note "Arrival Time: after Noon and before 8PM unless arrangements are made ahead of time and Check Out is before noon."

Tips from RVers

Road clearance requirements: For RVs accessing FS500, approach with caution. One camper advised, "Scoped this out but a bit too narrow/rutted/angled for our small 20' trailer; amazing for tent and van camping."

RV site availability: Some areas have limited options for larger vehicles. A Rock Springs Bench visitor shared, "We've camped here several times during the spring, summer and fall in our 26 foot toyhauler. Gets pretty hot in the heat of the summer but great in the shoulder seasons."

Pull-through options: Certain areas accommodate easier RV parking. At Stoneview ranch, RVers will find a "great location near Bryce Canyon & Pine Lake" with big-rig friendly spaces and amenities like water hookups and sewer connections.

Weather considerations: Temperature variations impact RV comfort. Rock Springs Bench campers note it "Gets pretty hot in the heat of the summer but great in the shoulder seasons" for RV camping.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Cannonville, UT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Cannonville, UT is Great Western Trail Dispersed with a 4.2-star rating from 28 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Cannonville, UT?

TheDyrt.com has all 37 tent camping locations near Cannonville, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.