Best Tent Camping near Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef National Park offers multiple dispersed tent camping options outside the park boundary, with several primitive sites located along the Fremont River and nearby backcountry areas. Fremont River Dispersed Site provides tent campers with riverside locations and natural settings without developed facilities. Additional tent camping can be found at Burr Trail Road Dispersed Camping and Spencer Flat Dispersed Camping in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, where campers can find more secluded sites.
Most tent sites in this region are primitive with no developed facilities. The Fremont River sites feature sandy tent pads suitable for ground tents but require campers to bring all necessary supplies, including water. Burr Trail Road camping areas have variable road conditions, with some sections requiring high-clearance vehicles to access the better tent sites. Fires are permitted at many locations but subject to seasonal restrictions. A recent review noted, "Right along the little Fremont river but also right off the road. Zero cell service. Can pull a small trailer into certain areas but probably wouldn't with an RV. Nice sandy area for my tent with a little fire ring someone had made with rocks." All dispersed camping follows strict pack-in, pack-out protocols with no trash facilities available.
The terrain around Capitol Reef provides tent campers with exceptional stargazing opportunities and relative solitude compared to the park's developed campgrounds. Spencer Flat Dispersed Camping sits on sandy surfaces with tent sites offering views overlooking small canyons and washes. As described in feedback on The Dyrt, many sites at Spencer Flat provide "great sunset and sunrise views" despite the occasional high winds due to the elevated location. Tent campers should prepare for variable weather conditions, particularly at higher elevations where temperatures can drop significantly after sunset. The backcountry tent sites near Horse Canyon require free permits but reward campers with greater privacy and natural settings. During summer months, higher elevation tent sites like those along Hell's Backbone provide cooler temperatures than the valley floor.
