Best Tent Camping near Cedar City, UT
Primitive tent camping is abundant near Cedar City, Utah, with options ranging from remote dispersed sites on BLM land to established walk-in tent campgrounds. Kolob Road BLM Dispersed camping offers creek-side tent sites with established fire rings and decent site separation, while Lambs Knoll Climbing Site provides 8 designated walk-in tent sites with access to a vault toilet. Additional options include Candy Loop Camp and Leeds Canyon for those seeking more secluded backcountry tent camping experiences.
Most tent sites near Cedar City feature dirt or gravel surfaces with minimal site development. The primitive areas typically lack amenities, with Lambs Knoll being one of the few tent camping areas providing vault toilets and trash service. Campers should pack in all water, as most locations have no drinking water available. While fires are permitted at many dispersed camping locations, seasonal fire restrictions frequently apply during summer months. At established walk-in tent sites, space is often limited, with one camper noting that Lambs Knoll "has about 8 very small walk-in tent designated sites for free camping." Roads to primitive camping areas often require high clearance vehicles, and some locations have steep access roads not suitable for larger vehicles.
Areas farther from town offer deeper seclusion and less noise pollution. The BLM sites along Kolob Road provide access to creek-side camping with natural sound barriers. "Surrounded by the beginning mountains of Zion, I had the campground to myself with multiple sites next to the creek," one visitor shared about Kolob Road BLM Dispersed. Temperature variations can be extreme, with reports of overnight temperatures dropping into the 30s even during June at higher elevations. Many tent camping areas serve as convenient basecamps for nearby hiking trails, including those leading into Zion National Park. Tree coverage varies significantly between sites, with pine forests providing natural shade and privacy at locations like Uinta Flat Dispersed Camp, while other areas offer more exposed settings with panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.