Top 10+ Equestrian Campgrounds near Hurricane, UT

Lits of space between campsites nice little reservoir also have campsites for horses

It feels almost like a hidden secret that I shouldn't divulge, but the lovely owners of this special little spot deserve to have a light shown on their little slice of heaven in Southern Utah. 

In an area rich with outdoor tourist attractions (Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon all within 90 minutes), it's hard to find a campsite that doesn't feel like a shoulder-to-shoulder Disney experience. Ethel's Hideout is laid out such that you never feel like you're crowded in by neighbors. This is a true cowboy camping experience in cowboy country. 

The campground is surrounded by public lands in every direction with views of incredible rock formations and the breath-taking Southern Utah landscape. If you're lucky, you can watch the cowboys moving cattle across the range. We got lucky enough to see this during our stay. 

There's no shortage of things to do nearby. Just ask the owners for some tips on where to go to find an adventure! As an insider tip, I found the nearby reservoir in Kanab to be the perfect spot for a morning jaunt.  

While they do offer horse stalls for travelers with horses, the campground is set-up for RVs and tents to maximize views and strikes the perfect balance of amenities with a boondocking-style experience. If you're looking for concrete pads and lines of RVs, this isn't the spot for you. But if you're hoping to find a truly special camping experience coupled with some light amenities, give Ethel's a visit. We love it here.

Very quiet campground and felt like we were alone. Can’t see other sites. Horse stables away from tents and didn’t smell at all. Restrooms really clean. Can’t wait to go again

If you want to have a reserved spot then this is a great place. It does take 40min to get to Springdale and about 4-5 miles of that is on a packed dirt road which we had to go fairly slow on. We were in a 2WD VW Jetta sport wagon, we made it, just had to go slow. Sites have plenty of space between them so you’re not on top of other people. Amazing view of canyon and stars. Port-a-potty’s were fairly clean. Each site had a fire ring. We got caught in high winds one day/night that nearly blew our tent down and covered everything in a thick layer of dust so beware. The dirt roads in the campground kick up a ton of dust when people drive by. No water, no showers, no cell reception either and we have Verizon. A guy on a horse came around to check if you had a reservation or not. That was the only type of check-in or out process there was.

I'd recommend this as an early spring camp outing. The temps climb quickly in Southern Utah in late spring. My kids had a blast in the sand dune area.

2.5 mike hike in, 300 ft elevation gain, easy trail to beautiful overlook of southern Utah. Camp is a sandy open area next to the overlook and cliffs of Snow Canyon State Park. Free to camp. Great for backpackers!

We stayed here after visiting Zion National park. The drive to this site was absolutely beautiful. The sunset over the mountains was breath taking. Our site was fully equipped with a fire pit, grill, picnic table and tent pad. The loop had a bathroom and running water. The host was there to help us find our spot and purchase firewood. Very friendly! Great place to stay in Western Utah.

Snow Canyon is a still relatively unknown place near St George, Utah. There is SO much to do around there and there are great hikes that leave from this campground which makes it even better. Padres canyon and three ponds are two of my favorites. There is rocks to climb on right around the site and lots more trails within a 5 minute drive. There are great restrooms, large group areas that include a pavilion which is always helpful when it is pouring rain while you are trying to eat with a large group.

Zion National Park lives up to its rating. This has to be one of the beautiful places in Western United States. The drive in from the Eastern entrance is simply incredible and full of epic photo ops. Zion reminds me of Yosemite Valley in some ways. The park is located near some large population areas in Southwest Utah and Nevada. So it can get very crowded at times, especially give the limited capacity of the roadways and parking. So you will need to plan your visit carefully.

The campground is easily accessible and located along the shuttle routes. The campground views are some of the best we have seen during our travels. The facilities are very good and hiking trails runs through the camp. Like many National Parks, you will not have much privacy at your site but the views and the hikes more than make up for it. The focus here is tent camping but you can park a small van or camper in many of the sites. The visitor center and park staff were outstanding. We also enjoyed the diversity of visitors from around the world. It’s clear Zion and Southern Utah is on a lot of bucket lists. This camp is very popular and full most of the year. So you will need reservations and a plan to beat the traffic coming into the park. We are planning to come back and spend more time in this beautiful place.

Toquerville Falls Utah. BLM area. Free off grid camping. Cool place to see. Lots of off road, 4 wheeler/side by side, dirt bike, Hiking to do in the area. This is NOT a 2 wheel drive adventure to see a water fall. It’s strictly 4 wheel drive only. Hike it first to end don’t ruin your vehicle for this. Steep. Slick. 2 ft rock boulderings straight drop offs and roads cut towards them. If too slick see ya. Trust. Walk it. 4wd is ok. 3.5 miles takes 45min slow Mo style. So walking speed? Almost. Walk it no 2wd.

The Narrows are gorgeous, and if you are ever in Utah I would highly recommend hiking here. It is a hike like no other. One of my favorite hikes I have ever done, and I have done a lot of hiking. We stayed at the Lower Narrows Camground, got up early in the morning and hiked the Narrows, and then came back to the campground and had some fun making smores and dinner. The campground is great, the spaces are a little small and it was pretty overcrowded. We knew going into it that it was going to be busy because it was next to the hike, so we werent surprised when we got there. We reserved our campsite 6 months in advanced. I would recommend this because when we got there all the spaces were filled. Very clean, and bathrooms on site. Loved being here, and cant wait to come back someday!

Last summer, during the pandemic I ventured out to Utah and camped at Zion NP in the South Campground. This is one of the largest and busiest park campgrounds that I've stayed at. Even with this, it felt wild and comfortable. Like all NP's there are bathhouse facilities, but no shower areas. See below for informative on this.

My site was directly on the Pa'rus Bike Trail, which was perfect for my riding through the park. The trail runs along the river and eventually up into the scenic drive into the actual park.

The views are spectacular during the day, and even better at night. I had a fantastic view over the bluffs of the stars and was able to get some great Milky Way shots. There are tons of night hikers that you can watch going along the Watchman Trail on the eastern side of the river...little dots of light dancing along the bluffs and ridges.

It is a 7 mile cycle ride up the drive to the entrance to the Riverside Trailhead and The Narrows. The bike ride has a long steady climb of 500 feet. This sounds daunting, but I made the ride on 3 occasions in 2 days. Early morning is best when it's hot out. You have to follow the posted cycle rules when riding up. Coming down can be exciting as you don't have to pedal for almost the full 7 miles. Stop along the way to see some of the Vistas you will not see if you are on the shuttle.

There is no recreational driving on the drive once you are past the Zion Lodge. You do have to watch for the busses and shuttles. And take plenty water and snacks if you plan on exploring the trails.

The campground is also located very near the town of Springdale. This is the location for Zion Outfitters, which is also where you can do the pay showers and laundry. The showers are located in the basement of the store and are controlled by tokens that can be purchased from the store, or at a kiosk at the entrance to the shower area.

There are several grocery stores as well as gift shops located in town. Bicycles are the main mode of transport for many people camping around the area. Eating out is quite easy as there are dozens of very delicious restaurants. My personal favorite is Sol Foods, a local grocery and deli. Their sandwiches are fantastic and the beer and wine selection is quite large and unique. I purchased several small meals from them to take on rides around town. There is always somewhere to stop and enjoy the view.

Check out the NPS.gov site for information on the shuttles into the park as well as the campground information. The area is very heavily traveled and there are tons of visitors, both camping and staying in the nearby hotels and lodges. Be prepared for slow travel by car through the town itself.

For drawbacks, I would suggest making sure your are prepared for the weather. I was there in mid September and the daytime temps were 95°-102°, with nights not going below 85°. There are few bugs in the majority of the park, however my site was in very close proximity to the Virgin River and did have the occasional small swarm of tiny flies.

Zion is one of the most beautiful parks I've been to. I would definitely recommend camping in the area, with the South Campground as my pick for where to stay. Reservations are required and you will need to book well in advance to make sure of a site as well as shuttle passes.

Roughly 10 mi out of Toquerville on Spring drive is The Falls. A really sweet place to stop, cool off, I saw some people swimming during the day, and just relax and take in the gorgeous canyon. Dotted with pinion pines this is a stark desert landscape that is freeing just to drive through, let alone set up and camp and drink in its essence. Road in varies in difficulty, if it is even hinting of rain I personally would find another place to go. Not just for the unpredictable road conditions, but flash flooding is a real danger. Watch the weather reports and take then into consideration when setting up camp. Ok, the fun stuff. Trailers would not be advised unless specifically made to handle the road in, so tent camping is the most prevalent, I have a rooftop tent, so it is perfect for this. Days are hot in late spring and summer, nights can get cold especially in the early spring. Be prepared for both. This is no potable water source, nor provisions to be had so go in with all you will need. Dark nights mean amazing stars an I mean amazing, bring some lounging chairs and a good wine and just lay back. Our site had a pre made rock ring and plenty of wood around to burn. It gets really dry, so be extra careful with the fire. Pack in pack out all garbage. Enjoy

IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW

-do not let dogs or small children drink the river water. Even for adults, you need to filter it. The river feeds out of Zion which is known to have algae spores that can be fatal when consumed. Bring plenty of water!

• pack in a bathroom system!
• MUST have a 4x4, high clearance vechicle. Do no attempt if not confident in this area!

I’m sure this place used to be amazing, but it’s obvious that it’s a party spot with no clean up efforts. Even the road in was littered with beer cans all 3 miles in.

Once at the falls and in the campsite areas, there is toilet paper, feces, and garbage everywhere. It’s a popular waterhole by day and party spot by night, so expect people to be bumping music, lighting fireworks, and parking in the river (which is also a crossing!) for photo ops. We camped on a weekend, and had people rolling in at 2am (which is insane, that road is not friendly after dark!) yelling and partying for an hour, then loudly driving back.

It’s a beautiful place so if you have the opportunity to go during the week, I’d recommend that. Remember to leave no trace and maybe even pack out extras!

Stopped here before starting the trek on Whitmore Canyon Trail to the Grand Canyon overlook. Great place to stay with LOADS of spots. Plenty of room for everyone and plenty of big spots for groups. Lots of cool hills and jumps for wheeling. Also just a couple miles from the petroglyphs.