Dispersed camping near Kanab, Utah offers primitive options on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land within 20-40 miles of town. Located at approximately 5,000 feet elevation, these areas experience significant temperature drops after sunset, with overnight lows dipping below freezing even in spring and fall months. The terrain ranges from sandy washes near slot canyons to higher elevation forested sites, with most areas accessible via unpaved roads.
What to do
Dinosaur tracksite exploration: Visit the Moccasin Mountain Dinosaur Tracksite for a unique hiking opportunity near your camp. Located close to primitive tent campsites, this site contains fossilized dinosaur tracks in petrified sand dunes.
Canyoneering adventures: Water Canyon near Zion Glamping Adventures offers canyoneering opportunities. "If you go canyoneering with Red River Adventures in Springdale, they might just bring you right back to Water Canyon for your excursion," notes camper Deb L.
Stargazing: Many primitive camping areas near Kanab provide exceptional night sky viewing due to minimal light pollution. A camper at Zion Glamping Adventures remarked, "The stars at night at this place were simply unspeakably amazing. That alone made it worth the drive."
Wildlife observation: Early mornings and evenings are prime wildlife viewing times at higher elevation tent camping spots. According to a review at Great Western Trail Dispersed, "Drive carefully. Sometimes deers are crossing."
What campers like
Creek access: Several tent campsites near Kanab provide water features that enhance the camping experience. At Kolob Road BLM Dispersed, one camper noted, "Nearby river gives you that ambient sound to drown out the world." Another mentioned, "The little river by the site is very pretty."
Privacy between sites: Many dispersed camping areas offer good separation between campsites. At Kolob Road BLM, a camper observed that "the spots are decently spaced apart so nobody was too close," while another noted there are "about 6 spots, well separated by trees and distance."
Strategic locations: The camping areas serve as convenient bases for exploring nearby attractions. One camper at Kolob Road BLM called it a "Great subway launchpad" that's "Just 8 mins from the Left Fork subway trail head makes this spot ideal for those looking for an easy early start."
Natural surroundings: Primitive tent camping areas maintain natural features. A camper at Great Western Trail Dispersed described it as a "Quiet Wooded Campground" with "woods surrounding our site" and "lots of wildlife walking around our tent area at night."
What you should know
Road conditions: Access roads to primitive tent campsites vary significantly in quality. At Kolob Road BLM Dispersed, a reviewer warned, "strongly do NOT recommend TTs or any RV at this BLM spot due to steep downhill rd and no turnarounds! Tent or van nomads only due to no tt turnarounds!"
Site availability fluctuations: During peak seasons, finding available campsites can be challenging. A camper at Kolob Terrace Road reported, "Spring Break week every site was packed. We had to wait for someone to vacate before finding something that would work."
Permit requirements: Some areas near Kanab require permits for overnight stays. At Buckskin Gulch, a camper noted, "permit required for overnight stay. can be aquired at blm office in Kanab."
Connectivity issues: Cell service is inconsistent across primitive camping areas. A reviewer at Kolob Road BLM Dispersed mentioned "No Cell service as in a dead zone hole," while at Kolob Terrace Road, someone reported "Cell service is basically non-existent, but sometimes you might catch a bar."
Tips for camping with families
Weather preparation: Pack for temperature variations when tent camping with children. A review for Great Western Trail Dispersed mentioned it "is a great temperature in early August," but at higher elevations, temperatures can drop quickly after sunset.
Stream exploration opportunities: Several tent campsites offer safe water features for children to explore. A camper at Buckskin Gulch Dispersed mentioned that "the wash has water through it most often, so bring water shoes for this one."
Site selection priorities: For families, choose tent sites with natural barriers and room for play. At Great Western Trail Dispersed, a camper observed "there are parts of the road that require 4wd further back but otherwise not a bad drive down a dirt road, leading to nice tree covered, spaced dispersed camping!"
Day trip planning: Base camping location on planned activities. One family staying near Buckskin Gulch mentioned, "We were able to find a climbing area and hiking all within a mile from each other," making it convenient for mixed-age group activities.
Tips from RVers
Size restrictions: Many primitive camping areas near Kanab have limited space for larger vehicles. At Kolob Road BLM Dispersed, a reviewer warned that the area has a "Small tight area to get into" that's not suitable for travel trailers or RVs.
Road accessibility concerns: Unpaved access roads can pose challenges for RVs. At Kolob Road BLM Dispersed, one camper noted the "Road was easy to pull down and turn around in my Ford Transit," suggesting smaller camper vans may navigate the roads more successfully than larger RVs.
Campsite selection strategy: When RV camping in primitive areas, arrive early to secure suitable sites. At Zion View Camping, a camper observed a mix of "Small campers to class A's are here," suggesting varying accommodation possibilities depending on timing and site availability.
