Cedar Mesa Campground

Overview

About Cedar Mesa Campground

Why stop

Red Canyon trail starts at the campground
Remote setting beside the Waterpocket Fold

Heads up

No water on site; facilities are basic
The access road can require high clearance

Map

Where it is

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Full map

CampgroundCedar Mesa Campground38.00718, -111.08454

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Plan your stop

Before you go

Getting there and settling in

The campground is about 23 miles south of Utah 24 on Notom-Bullfrog Road. Bring all your water: none is available here. Sites aren’t reservable. Each site allows up to eight people and two vehicles. The campground is open year-round. The road is usually passable in a two-wheel-drive vehicle, but high clearance is sometimes needed. Check with the visitor center before driving out for an overnight stay.

2 active Capitol Reef alerts

CautionFlash-flood hazard in canyons and washesHeavy rains can cause sudden flooding in Capitol Reef’s canyons and washes; do not hike or drive through floodwater.Official details
CautionE. coli advisory for Fremont River and Sulphur CreekDo not swim in the Fremont River or Sulphur Creek or get water in your mouth: NPS reports elevated E. coli in both waterways, and Utah DEQ has issued a warning advisory. - DEQ reports Sulphur Creek E.Official details

Capitol Reef alerts

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone — Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Capitol Reef Tour Guide

Your drive to Cedar Mesa Campground, narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Capitol Reef National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

See the Capitol Reef audio tour

Recorded for this place

Cedar Mesa Campground and Red Canyon

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“Cedar Mesa Campground is coming up, a five-site primitive base for exploring Red Canyon. Choose it for a simple overnight stay; sites are first come, with picnic tables, fire grates, and a pit toilet, but no water.”

Plays as you drive up to Cedar Mesa Campground in the Parkwolf Capitol Reef Tour Guide.

More about Cedar Mesa Campground

A remote place to campCedar Mesa Campground is a five-site primitive campground in Capitol Reef’s remote Waterpocket…

Cedar Mesa Campground is a five-site primitive campground in Capitol Reef’s remote Waterpocket District, at about 5,500 feet beside the Waterpocket Fold. It’s a good fit if you want a simple overnight base for Red Canyon; skip it if you need water or services. Each first-come site has a picnic table and fire grate, and there’s one pit toilet.

Walk into Red CanyonThe Red Canyon route starts at camp and crosses pinyon and juniper before reaching a broad box…

The Red Canyon route starts at camp and crosses pinyon and juniper before reaching a broad box canyon. It begins across sagebrush flats, climbs a low ridge with the Henry Mountains in view, then follows an old dugway into the canyon. Farther in, cottonwoods line the sandy wash beneath high Wingate sandstone walls, with gray-green and lavender Chinle clay at the end. The Red Canyon walk is a strong reason to make the long drive.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Capitol Reef

All Capitol Reef wildlife maps

50 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 6 PMSighting map

322 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 6 PMSighting map

70 sightingsMarmotMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

13 sightingsCottontail RabbitMost seen around 7 PMSighting map

33 sightingsTurkeyMost seen around 6 AMSighting map

14 sightingsRavenMost seen around 9 AMSighting map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Capitol Reef. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.