Dispersed camping opportunities near New Harmony, Utah extend beyond the well-known sites around Zion National Park. The area sits at approximately 5,300 feet elevation, creating significant temperature differences between lower desert regions and higher-elevation camping spots. Fall temperatures typically range from 30-70°F, making it an ideal season for exploring the region's diverse camping options.
What to do
Fishing at Kolob Reservoir: This high-elevation spot (8,100 feet) offers excellent trout fishing with increased catch limits during certain periods. "The fishing is great! The trees are magical when they blow in the wind. You can rent kayaks and canoes from the mini market for a great price as well," notes one Kolob Reservoir visitor.
Hiking at Pine Valley: Located about 30 minutes from New Harmony, trails offer cooler temperatures and mountain scenery. "Neat campground with shade, water (recreation and potable), and fun trails to hike and explore," shares a visitor to Crackfoot Campground in Pine Valley.
Explore petroglyphs and dinosaur tracks: The Red Cliffs area contains ancient rock art and dinosaur tracks accessible via short hikes. "Apparently, you can hike through the slots to see petroglyphs and even dinosaur tracks," reports a camper who stayed at Red Cliffs Campground.
What campers like
Cooler temperatures at higher elevations: The significant elevation changes provide relief from summer heat. "Elevation 6800 ft Was 90s during day (a lot cooler in shade) 60s at night, so quite a drop in temp," explains a Crackfoot Campground visitor.
Access to water features: Many camping spots near New Harmony provide creek or reservoir access. At North Creek Dispersed Camping, "The stream is a great place to put some chairs and cool off. I will definitely be coming back here on my next Zion trip!"
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The area supports diverse wildlife that often visits campsites. "Cows came in to feed before sunset. Deer too. Coyotes could be heard at night," reports a camper at Crackfoot Campground, demonstrating the area's rich natural setting.
What you should know
Reservation requirements vary significantly: While some campgrounds require advance planning, others provide first-come options. "We stayed at Watchman in late October early November. Watchman is difficult to get a reservation for but worth it," notes a visitor to Watchman Campground at Zion National Park.
Cell service is inconsistent: Coverage varies widely across the region. At Zion River Resort, one camper reported: "There is virtually no cell signal in Virgin. Certainly not enough to even begin to create a hot spot. There is wifi (and we even had a booster on our site)...but there was still terribly connectivity."
Vault toilets at many dispersed sites: Basic facilities exist at some otherwise primitive areas. At Red Cliffs Campground, "There are two vault toilets nearby that were well stocked with TP but sometimes they smelled."
Tips for camping with families
Seek campgrounds with shade: Summer temperatures can exceed 100°F at lower elevations. At Zion River Resort, "With temperatures in the 100s all week, we appreciated the shade, the pool, and full hookups for AC. The cool Virgin River behind our site was a nice place to soak our tired feet."
Consider campgrounds with organized activities: Some facilities offer programming for children. Zion River Resort visitor noted: "Apparently they have a schedule of activities available, but we didn't do any of those."
Halloween camping is special: Some campgrounds have festive celebrations. "It was Halloween and many of the kids camped around us dressed up in costumes and went trick or treating. Many campers put up festive lighting and one even set up a full size inflatable castle which was a big hit," shared a Watchman Campground visitor.
Tips from RVers
Check tunnel height restrictions: Access to some areas may be limited for larger vehicles. A camper at Red Cliffs Campground warned: "You have to go under the interstate thru two narrow concrete tunnels, they are 11.9 high, so be careful, many large RVs, 5th wheels, Class As will not fit!!"
RV sites fill quickly during peak seasons: Arrive early or make advance reservations. At South Campground in Zion, a visitor shared: "As we left at 7 am on a Friday morning, 10 vehicles were waiting to grab a spot."
Consider site positioning: Campground layout affects privacy and sun exposure. One Zion River Resort visitor noted: "The spaces are VERY close together. We always feel crammed up next to our neighbors - the feeling of which is only exacerbated by putting your slides out."
Scout
