In May I'll be spending a week tenting in the National Parks in Utah. Anybody have any advice on which ones are best. What's the ground like? very rocky? etc.

Thanks

Hi pleereed,

Which Utah National parks and what part of May?

We've camped in all of them many times. The developed campgrounds in the National Parks have pretty nice places to put tents or tent pads. I haven't done any back country camping.

May can get cold at night in Bryce.

Utahtea

Hi utahtea,

I will be coming in from LasVegas airport, so I'll hit Zion, Bryce, and Capitol Reef at least. Wish I had more time. I'd love to get to Arches too, but I'll have to see how time goes. I'll be there May 12-19. I won't be back country. I'm going solo and like to be around people. pleereed

Zion has two campgrounds very close to to each other.

South campground is on a first come, first serve basis only. It's a pretty level campground with a lot of big trees for shade. Ground is level and plenty of good places to set up a tent.

The other campground is Watchman. You can make reservations at this campground. It will fill up so if you're going to be arriving late you might want to make reservations for the first night. There is a tent only section loop.

There are two campgrounds at Bryce too and you can now make resevations here too. If you don't, please make sure you arrive early in the day to get a spot. It's been a while since we camped here, but the sites are nice...You won't have a problem.

Captiol Reef has two campgrounds right next to each other. The first one has bigger trees for shade and a lot of grassy area. Plenty of places to set up a tent and be comefortable. Both are nice.

If you go to Arches, I doubt you will be able to get into the campground. It fills up first thing every morning. You can now make reservations if you now you are going. The campsites are level but there are many with big sandstone walls and fins that make each site different.

May weather can be unpredicatable. Take some warm clothes for cool to cold nights.

Utahtea

Capitol Reef has a good one. I don't recall Bryce other than it was ok.
We did not camp at Capitol Reef last visit, but we drove through the campground and it looked to us like the best national park campground we have seen.
Of course one never knows until one sets up the tent.

Zion hit me as being sandy, tightly spaced, and crowded.
It will be way too early for Cedar Breaks. It is higher than Bryce and colde. In fact, it may still be snowed in. It was when we were there in mid May one year. In fact, one road was closed because of snow. It had not been plowed.

Expect it to be windy in April & May so use good stakes - not those flimsey 'wire' type. Also recommend tent with floor so it can be closed completly to keep 'critters' out. Lots of deer in Capitol Reef campgrounds. Don't miss any campfire presentations by the Park Rangers. The Parks are fantastic - Enjoy!

I've tent camped at several Utah parks. All that I am listing below have plenty of water, flush toilets, but no showers.

Watchman in Zion was okay, but not impressive. It was conveniently located, pretty crowded. There were some trees around and a good flat area to pitch the tent.

I can't remember the name of the campground we stayed in at Bryce (sunset?), but it was farther from the entrance than the other one. It was a nice area, less crowded than Zion, very pleasant with plenty of shade. I do think that the first campgound as you go in is better located for visiting the store, showers, etc. I agree that you should plan for freezing temps at night at Bryce.

I haven't been to Capitol Reef yet, but I've camped at Canyonlands in the Needles District at Squaw Flat. Those sites are really interesting, because they are next to a table-like rock outcrop that make for shade and some good rock scrambling if you like it.

I have also camped at Hovenweep. The campgound there is very nice, not so crowded, with good tent pads, although the surrounding area is rocky. It is convienently located for the ruins walk and the visitors' center. Utahtea has noted that there may be a lot of gnats there if it has rained recently.

The campground at Cedar Breaks was still closed in early June last year. We drove back down the hill a few miles toward the Kolob section Zion and camped at a National Forest campground in a pretty area, but very close to the road. The noise was the only downside. Otherwise it was a nice place, but might not be open in May. I think it had Cedar in the name also.

Hi Pleereed,

You're going to have a great time! We are having record breaking warm tempertures right now, so if this weather keeps up, be prepared for hot temps.

All good advice above. All the parks campgrounds are nice, but Zion is probably the least nice, just due to the fact that the environment is very fragile there and so many people over so many years right in the campgound. Capital Reef is excellent. this is prime time for the southern Utah parks, so make reservations. Otherwise, get there before 9am and "hover" for a spot.

Have fun! I'm going to Moab in April for camping in the Canyonlands Needles District and Horseshoe Canyon.

Dayle,

Horseshoe Canyon....I'm jealous!!!!
Will you do a trip report when you get back?

Utahtea

Utahtea,

I sure will. I'm really looking forward to it. I have friends who have been there, but this will be my first time.