When it comes to camping in Canyonlands National Park, frontcountry sites are at a premium. Some appear ridiculously hard to land. That's why during most of the year you can't just arrive in the park at mid-day expecting to snag one.

Island in the Sky District

A campsite at Willow Flat Campground, Island in the Sky District, Canyonlands National Park / NPS file

The Island in the Sky Campground (Willow Flat) is just a short walk from the Green River Overlook and what some consider the finest spot to view sunsets from. Here you'll find a dozen sites (which includes one ADA accessible site) on a first-come, first-served basis.

Sites include picnic tables, fire grates and vault toilets. No water. Maximum RV length is 28 feet. Group size limit is 10 people and 2 vehicles. Fee is $15 per night. Willow Flat typically fills every day from late March through June and again from early September to mid-October.

If you're unsuccessful landing a site here, there are two nice campgrounds at Dead Horse Point State Park, which lies on the route to the Island in the Sky; the 50-site Devils Garden Campground in Arches National Park, though those sites can be a devil to land, too; and a good number of campgrounds on Bureau of Land Management lands in the area. Click here to find out more about area camping possibilities.

Needles District

Needles District campsite, Canyonlands National Park / NPS file

The Needles Campground, perhaps the most popular campground in the park thanks to its location, offers just 26 sites (5 tent only), which includes two ADA accessible sites. The fee is $20 per night and sites are first-come, first-served, with Loop B sites reservable up to six months in advance, March 15 - November 15, via recreation.gov online or calling 1-877-444-6777.

For some that means spending the night before in Monticello, the closest town to the Needles, and heading out at daybreak to make the not-quite-50-mile-drive (~80.5 km) to the campground. For others that means camping in the off-season, which can fall between mid-October to mid-March. The height of summer can offer some relatively easy availability, but it gets awfully hot in the park this time of year, with daytime highs approaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 C).

The payoff, however, is gorgeous. Campsites set amid sandstone outcrops that provide a good measure of privacy, awesome vistas, and some of the darkest skies in the National Park System. And you'll also find a nice smooth road that leads you past such interesting points as Wooden Shoe, Roadside Ruin, and Pothole Point.

If you're too late for a Needles District campsite, just east of the Needles entrance you'll find the Canyonlands Needles Outpost, which also offers campsites as well as gas, a store (with limited merchandise), and a small restaurant.

Needles District Campground amenities include bathrooms, fire grates, picnic tables, tent pads and water available year-round. Group size limit is 10 people and 2 vehicles. Maximum RV length is 28 feet.

The Needles District offers three campsites for groups that may be reserved for nights between mid-March and mid-November through recreation.gov. The Dutch Oven Group Site can hold up to 50 people, the Wooden Shoe Group Site can hold up to 25 people, and the Split Top Group Site can hold up to 15 people. Nightly fees vary per group site and number of people, ranging from a low of $70 per night to a maxiumum of $225 per night.

Horseshoe Canyon and the Maze

There is no formal campground on the rim of Horseshoe Canyon, though there are area where you can pitch your tent, and there is a vault toilet. There also is no campground in the Maze.

Backcountry Camping

Camping beneath the stars in the backcountry of Canyonlands National Park / NPS - Emily Ogden

Thinking of really getting away from it all out in the backcountry of Canyonlands? That’s going to take some planning and a permit.

Canyonlands country is rugged country, and traveling into the hinterlands via bicycle, motorcycle, or high-clearance 4x4 is a unique experience. It can also be an expensive experience exceeding $1,500 if you end up having to be towed out of this remote landscape.

According to Canyonlands park staff:

Backpackers should be prepared for extreme temperatures, lack of water sources, and difficult to follow, and sometimes technical routes. Having the skills to navigate using a topographic map and compass or GPS, along with a knowledge of the trails is a must for a safe and fun backcountry experience.

When planning a backcountry camping trip in Canyonlands National Park, backpackers should expect to travel no more than 2 miles [3.2 km] per hour, and plan to carry a minimum of 4 liters (1 gallon) of water per person per day. Add additional time and water to your backcountry trip when temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit [26.7^oC]. Four-Wheel-Drivers and mountain bikers should plan to travel less than 7 miles [11 km] per hour. Due to the difficult terrain and need for route-finding, travelling in the backcountry after dark is not recommended.

All backcountry camping requires a permit, which can be reserved online at recreation.gov. Overnight Backcountry permit reservations will be available four months in advance for each of the following seasons and will close two days prior to the trip start date. On the opening dates, permits are released at 8 am Mountain Time. The season dates are:

• March 10 - June 9 (opens November 10)
• June 10 - September 9 (opens February 10)
• September 10 - December 9 (opens May 10)
• December 10 - March 9 (opens August 10)

For more detailed information regarding permit fees, general regulations, and backcountry safety, click the Backcountry Camping link above.