Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area
Open
— Open year-round with 25 sites available for reservation and 83 first-come first-served sites. Limited to 14 consecutive nights per stay.
About
Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area sits in the dramatic Virgin River Gorge along Interstate 15, where the Virgin River has carved through sandstone and limestone formations at an average drop of 70 feet per mile. Managed by the BLM Arizona Strip Field Office, this 108-site campground provides access to two designated wilderness areas and diverse recreational opportunities in a Mojave Desert setting.
The campground operates with a mixed system: 25 premium sites available for advance reservation through Recreation.gov, while 83 sites remain first-come first-served using the scan-and-pay feature on the Recreation.gov app. Facilities include flush toilets, drinking water, picnic tables, grills and fire pits, paved access roads, and pull-through parking suitable for RVs. Eight ADA-compliant sites are available, and 12 sites feature shade shelters. The campground has no electrical hookups or dump station.
Recreational opportunities include the Sullivan Canyon Trail accessing the Paiute Wilderness, interpretive trails to Joshua Tree groves with viewpoint overlooks, and paths leading to the Virgin River for water play and wildlife viewing. The gorge connects the Colorado Plateau and Mojave Desert ecosystems, supporting endangered species like woundfin, Virgin River chub, and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. Rock climbing and canyoneering opportunities exist throughout the gorge. Nearby Cedar Pocket Wash offers slot canyon hiking through a high-clearance access road.
Directions
Located on Interstate 15 at Cedar Pocket Exit (mile post 18), approximately 20 miles southwest of St. George, Utah and 20 miles northeast of Mesquite, Nevada.
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