Utah / San Juan County / Needles District / Canyonlands National Park

The Needles Campground

Open — Open year-round. Loop B reservations available mid-March through mid-November; Loop A is first-come, first-served only. In winter, vault toilets are available but water and flush toilets are seasonal. Stage 1 fire restrictions currently in effect.

About

Located at the end of Utah Highway 211 in the remote Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, this campground offers 26 individual sites nestled among Utah juniper and pinyon pine at approximately 4,900 feet elevation. The campground is divided into two loops: Loop A with 14 sites available first-come, first-served year-round, and Loop B with 11 sites reservable up to six months in advance from mid-March through mid-November. The Needles District was named for the colorful spires of Cedar Mesa Sandstone that dominate the landscape. Spring brings flowering prickly pear cacti, yucca, and desert wildflowers that add vivid color to the red rock desert. The campground provides access to an extensive trail system with opportunities for long day hikes and overnight backpacking trips to features like Confluence Overlook, Druid Arch, the Joint Trail, and Chesler Park. This is a remote location with no cell coverage, limited services, and no nearby towns. The campground is best suited to tents and small, self-contained campers with a maximum combined length of 28 feet. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. Two accessible sites are located in Loop A. The nearest communities are Moab (1.5 hours) and Monticello (1.25 hours).

Directions

From US Highway 191, drive 40 miles south of Moab or 14 miles north of Monticello, then take Utah Highway 211 west for approximately 35 miles to the park entrance. Continue on the main park road for about 3 miles until you see campground signs. Turn left into the campground. Highway 211 is the only paved road in and out of the district.

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