The Colorado River region near Cisco, Utah sits at approximately 4,300 feet elevation, characterized by arid conditions with summer temperatures often exceeding 100°F and winter lows dropping below freezing. The landscape transitions from red rock canyons to high desert plains, creating diverse camping environments that offer varying levels of accessibility. The camping season extends from March through November, with extremes of both temperature and isolation defining the experience.
What to do
Hiking at Fisher Towers: This 2.2 mile trail leads to impressive viewpoints with minimal elevation gain. As Alan B. notes about Fisher Towers Campground: "Not only are you surrounded by the tallest desert towers in the entire US! The 'Titan' stands at just over 700' tall and is surrounded by other towers shooting into the hundreds of feet as well!"
Mountain biking at Sovereign Lands: Located about 20 miles from Moab, these trails offer technical terrain for intermediate to advanced riders. A visitor to the Dispersed Camping Outside of Moab mentioned: "Plenty of access to mountain bike trails in the area as well. Fire bans were in place at the time through summer to Nov 1st."
River activities year-round: The Colorado River corridor provides kayaking, rafting, and swimming opportunities. At Onion Creek, one camper reported: "Kayaking the Colorado River is always fun, might have almost died but still fun. We went during a hot week and boy was it hot. Hard to find shade other than the rock walls."
What campers like
Night skies and astronomy: The area offers exceptional dark skies for stargazing, especially during new moon periods. A camper at Hittle Bottom observed: "We went in Mid April and it was quite windy, but the weather was beautiful. When you go on the no moon days you can see all the stars."
Smaller crowds at northern sites: Campgrounds further from Moab typically have fewer visitors. At Lower Onion Creek Campground, one visitor mentioned: "The campground is about .75mi off the road, so it is very quiet with no road noise from Hwy 128. The road was freshly graded that day so it was smooth despite the rain."
River access points: Many campsites feature direct access to the Colorado River. A visitor to Dewey Bridge Group Sites shared: "Literally on the Colorado River. Bring lots of water and tarps for hot sunny days. You can dip in the Colorado River. Just be safe."
What you should know
Seasonal challenges: Summer brings intense heat while winter can bring snow and ice on access roads. A visitor to Knowles Overlook Campground warned: "Signage say high clearance 4x4 required, you could probably do it in dry weather slowly with 2 wheels."
Limited services: Most campgrounds have minimal amenities and no water sources. At Fisher Towers Campground, a camper noted: "There are picnic tables and metal fire rings, along with vault toilets, but there are no other amenities. So bring all your water and pack out everything."
Wildlife encounters: The area hosts numerous small animals including rodents, scorpions, and snakes. One camper at Hittle Bottom observed: "The critters are abundant, ants were awful, and apparently did bite according to our students that slept under the stars."
Tips for camping with families
River safety protocols: The Colorado River current can be strong and unpredictable. A visitor to Lower Onion Creek Campground cautioned: "The river is nice to hang out in and maybe take a swim (if you're a strong swimmer) the current was strong."
Educational opportunities: Several areas offer dinosaur tracks and geological features for children to explore. At Willow Springs Trail, a camper mentioned: "The kids loved climbing the rocks and bonus there is a trail with dinosaur tracks! Even with the crazy wind we still had fun!"
Temperature planning: Consider bringing shade structures for daytime use. A visitor to Dewey Bridge Group Sites advised: "Bring lots of water and tarps for hot sunny days. You can dip in the Colorado River. Just be safe."
Tips from RVers
Road condition alerts: Many access roads require high clearance vehicles. At Willow Springs Trail, one RVer noted: "Open dispersed free camping along a gravel BLM road. Went all the way to the end and the road was fairly smooth in our dodge promaster."
Size limitations: Several campgrounds cannot accommodate larger rigs. At Fisher Towers Campground, a visitor warned: "The campground itself is nothing special amenity wise. It is a small CG that is first come first served for 5 sites that hold 10 people max and cost $15. These sites are tent only so no RVs."
Early arrival strategy: Sites fill quickly during peak seasons. A visitor to Hittle Bottom recommended: "We arrived on a wed around 5pm in Sep and there were still a couple of tent sites available while all other campgrounds were full. They have fire pits so make sure you bring wood to make a campfire."
