Best Equestrian Camping near Virgin, UT
Are you in need of a campground near Virgin, UT? Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Virgin. Discover great camping spots near Virgin, reviewed by campers like you.
Are you in need of a campground near Virgin, UT? Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Virgin. Discover great camping spots near Virgin, reviewed by campers like you.
$35 - $50 / night
"Right next to the virgin river, and beautiful views of the whole landscape and the amazing ridges of Zion. Site Includes potable water, flush toilets, picnic table, and fire pit."
"I was at a walk up site, there are 4. Website says it’s 180 to 360 feet from where you park your car."
"This off the beaten path campground near Zion National Park is a great place for those looking for a more relaxed time."
"The host Bill was very kind, we were able to take a 2 hour horse back ride around the ranch which is a must! The ranch is huge and you can pick and chose which ever spot you like."
"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."
"Small falls, with camping right next to it. It takes a 4x4 for get here...cars or vehicles with low clearance BE WARE! You won't make it."
"The campground is located away from the resort features which we appreciated, so that is was a little more of an authentic camping experience."
"We were just looking for a place to sleep, checked out the first camping outside of Zion east entrance and decided to check out the next closest one according to info from the Zion ranger."
$40 - $200 / night
"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."
"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."
"Close to the road but not too noisy. It's about 45 minutes to the Zion visitor center. Gas stations & restaurant close by."
"Decent spot right off the highway. Lots of places to pull out off of the main dirt road. Camping next to the river keeps the sound of the near by highway almost un-noticeable."
$21 - $42 / night
"Horse stables away from tents and didn’t smell at all. Restrooms really clean. Can’t wait to go again"
"Has a gorgeous, peaceful stream running a very short walk from the sites. I spent most of my time walking through shaded woods along the stream and collecting water for boiling along with firewood."
"Some gunfire in distance. Said permit may be required on sign. Even with rain roads were ok."
"Fair bit of trash around hillsides where people are shooting."
"Close to the road and everything you need: full hookup etc.
Shade is hard to find. Restrooms are small and noise from the road is right there.
Good stay however, with reliable WiFi."
"Small campground, close to Zion NP. Flat spots, quite small though. Full hookups, pull through. No firepit or BBQ on spots, but two BBQ's on the side of the sites."
"It’s quiet and has a creek and trees Lots of sand so don’t get stuck, you can go to Belly of the Dragon before anyone due to camping next to it!!"
"Near belly of the dragon cave hike."
Best campground in zion!! Right next to the virgin river, and beautiful views of the whole landscape and the amazing ridges of Zion. Site Includes potable water, flush toilets, picnic table, and fire pit. This is the first campground you’ll see going into Zion. Visitor center is only a 5 minute walk.
You still need a reservation even in August because it’s still very busy and full! I was at a walk up site, there are 4. Website says it’s 180 to 360 feet from where you park your car. Very little shade but my site was right next to the Virgin River so was able to listen to the soothingwater all night long!
Even in August you must have reservations because it’s still busy and full! I was at a walk in sight, of which there are four. The website says these sites are 180 to 360‘ from where you can park your car. Not much shade, but this camp site is right next to the Virgin River so I was able to listen to it’s wonderful soothing sounds all night long.
Cars start lining up at 5:00 a.m. in hopes to snag a first come, first served site... but it's worth it. You join the line in your car, shut it off, and watch the early morning stars while you wait a few hours for the ranger to let you know when a site is available. Once you're in, you'll notice the Virgin River runs through the campground (and there's easy access to it) and the river is lined with large (for the desert) Cottonwood Trees. These trees allow for some shade, but expect your site to be in full sun for most of the day. Do your hikes early in the morning to avoid crowds and the heat... then wade in the shallow river in the afternoons. It's an easy walk across the bridge to the store (firewood, food, beer, etc.), but bring your park pass with you, as the store is right outside the entrance and to you will need it to come back in.
This campsite is conveniently located inside Zion Park. It is nice because unlike the other campground it is on a two week rolling reservation so you don’t have to plan 6 months out—downside is it fills up quickly. We camped in a tent spot right by the trail and a short walk to the virgin river. Pros: decent shade (for Zion) and easy access to the water. Cons: ridiculous amounts of ants (from what I could tell most of the spots near the trail/river have that problem). I was stoked to wake up under the red cliffs and be able to relax in the river for sunset. Ants were definitely a headache but considering the views we made the most of it. Also plenty of deer roam through the campground adding to its beauty.
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.
Right inside the gates shortly after the visitor center. This was a nice campground along the Virgin river but like the rest of Zion it is packed full of people. Sites are pretty close together and you really don’t have privacy. From the shuttles you could look into the tents of some of the campers. Our site was close to the road and was pretty loud with people constantly walking through it. It was nice to be in the park and near the river but just a little too busy for my taste. Had pretty nice bathrooms though and a community water pump.
I love South Campground when I go to Zion. Recently, they switched over from First Come First Serve to a 2 week reservation system ($20/night) so be aware of this when you want to go. You can check for cancellations, which is how I got in the last time at the last minute. You can't beat the views at sunset, you get to look up at the watchmen and be in awe. It is worth one morning doing the Watchman overlook trail, and also pulling your camping chair into the virgin river behind the campground after a day of hiking and walking.
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.
Utah offers stunning landscapes and diverse terrains, making it a fantastic destination for horse camping enthusiasts. With a variety of campgrounds equipped with horse-friendly amenities, you can enjoy the great outdoors alongside your equine companions.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Virgin, UT is South Campground — Zion National Park with a 4.4-star rating from 91 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 17 equestrian camping locations near Virgin, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring