Primitive campsites at Cathedral Campground
The Quick Take
Cathedral Campground is Capitol Reef's most remote overnight option, and that's precisely the point. Sitting at seven thousand feet along the Cathedral Valley Loop Road -- a rugged backcountry route that demands high clearance and occasionally four-wheel drive -- this tiny, no-fee campground rewards the effort with some of the most dramatic desert scenery in Utah. With only six sites, you're sharing the landscape with a handful of people at most, a stark contrast to the park's popular Fruita Campground down in the valley. There's no water, no hookups, and no cell service, just pit toilets, picnic tables, fire grates, and an unobstructed view of the Cathedral Valley monoliths. If you want a curated camping experience with hot showers and a camp store, look elsewhere. But if you want to feel genuinely alone in a landscape that looks like another planet, load up the water jugs and make the drive.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 6 sites are reservable.
What You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. No electrical hookups.
Accessibility
Accessible restrooms available. Terrain is uneven bare ground with some rocks. Unpaved Roads - 4WD/High clearance required
Pro Tips
Bring every drop of water you'll need -- the nearest potable source is back at the Fruita Campground, roughly 36 miles of unpaved road away. Plan on at least two gallons per person per day, more in summer heat.
Time your arrival for late afternoon so you can watch sunset light up the Temple of the Sun and Temple of the Moon formations, which are a short drive from camp and arguably the most photographed features in the entire park.
Call the Capitol Reef Visitor Center at 435-425-3791 before committing to the drive. The access road crosses a river ford that can be impassable after rain, and conditions change fast -- getting stranded out here with no cell service is a real possibility, not a hypothetical one.
Photos
NPSGetting There
Directions
The campground is located approximately halfway on the Cathedral Valley Loop Road. About 36 miles (57.9 km) from the visitor center. The roads to access the campground are unpaved and typically high clearance two wheel drive. Four wheel drive can be needed depending on conditions. Call 435-425-3791 and follow the prompts for current road conditions.
Get directions
