Camping at Duck Creek

A recent camping trip took me, along with friends and family, to Dixie National Forest in southern Utah. mid July 2017. We camped at Duck Creek Campgrounds just off Highway 14.  From there we were able to canvas the forest to see what all Southern Utah had to offer.  From Navajo Lake, The Cedar Breaks, Panguitch Lake and everything in between.    

Duck Creek Campground is located in Dixie National Forest. Highway 14, Cedar City, UT 84757.  Its located just past Duck Creek Village and just before the turn off to Navajo Lake.  The campground has roughly 90 sites, some can be reserved ahead of time and others are first come first serve.  It will accommodate both tent and RV/Trailer camping.  Each site has a pad (Paved or gravel), a picnic table, fire ring, and some have a pedestal for a camp stove.  There are clean bathrooms with running water but no showers.  Best of all there is drinking water spouts located throughout the campground, roughly one for every 4-6 campsites. It kept our 5 gallon jug cooler full for all our water needs.  Each site is well maintained and some more private than others.  It is a campground though so expect to see and hear your neighbors.  The campgrounds do not allow ATV/OHV to drive trough the grounds, instead there is a separate entrance and parking lot for them so that the noise is not disruptive to campers.  this was a nice touch and appreciated.

The campground is perfectly located to explore the surrounding Dixie National Forest.  Navajo lake is about 5 miles away.  There are plenty of backpacking and day hiking trails.  Cascade Falls, Strawberry Point, and Virgin River Rim Trail.  The Cedar Breaks National Monument is  roughly 20 miles away and worth the drive and the half day you'll spend there.  As you exit the north end of the Cedar Breaks Park, you enter back into Dixie National Forest.  Immediately to your right is a Brian Peak.  Its a nice car drive to the top of the 11,000 ft summit were you can see for miles into Utah, Nevada, and Arizona.  Its a great place for photos.  Panguitch Lake is north of the campgrounds, about an hour drive.  Duck Creek Village is a small community to the east that has the basics to keep you going.  The gas station has ice and other supplies, there's a Hardware store for other needs and a few small restaurants and shops.  

The weather was perfect for camping, 80's during the day and 50's at night.  We saw a lot of heavy rain in the early afternoons during our stay but it usually only lasted about 30 minutes and would clear out.  It did hail twice.  Make sure you have good rain flies on your tents and and a dry place to wait out the storm.  

We were car camping, so we brought a lot of luxuries with us.  Multiple coolers, camp stoves, camping chairs and hammocks, air mattresses and easy ups.  We spent a solid week in Southern Utah, exploring, hiking and camping.  For my first ever visit to Utah, it certainly did not disappoint.  I can't wait to return to explore the surrounding area more.  Zion National Park, Byrce Canyon National Park and the rest of beautiful Southern Utah.