Camp Under Zion's Watchman
Utah › Watchman Campgrounds
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Activities:
Chillin, Camping, Photography, Hiking
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Skill Level:
Beginner
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Season:
Year Round
Distance: only ¼ mile from the South entrance and a short walk to the main visitor center. Stunning views of the Watchman and open year-round. Very well-kept bathrooms and cold drinking water at the campgrounds. Spacious camp sites so you never feel too close to the group next to you.
Watchman Campground is one of the most popular campgrounds at Zion National Park. With a prime location only a ¼ mile away from the South entrance and gorgeous scenery right outside of your tent, including the tall sandstone cliffs that surround it, it’s easy to see why this campground is everyone’s first choice. Watchman Campground is also open year-round so you can enjoy the park any time of year. The facilities are very well-kept and include bathrooms with running water, fresh drinking water, picnic tables, fire rings, and plenty of room for your car and tent. There are also group camp sites that can accommodate from 9 to 40 people.
One of my favorite parts about this campground is waking up to an incredible view of the Watchman cliffs glowing red and orange in the morning sun. The campground is also a short distance from the Watchman Trail and Canyon Junction Bridge, a highly photographed viewpoint with the Virgin River, which carves through the canyon and the Watchman looming in the distance. No matter which direction you look, you won’t be able to escape the spectacular views that surround you.
Make your reservation for this amazing campsite here.
Pack List
- Camping supplies
- Tent
- Wood
- Tent
- Food
- Camera
- Tripod
- Lanterns & flashlights
The campground was super busy, with a lot of family seemingly vacationing for the week. However, we thoroughly enjoyed the chance to stay in the park and spend the evening in the shadow of The Watchman. If you're not looking for a quiet, secluded site, this is a great place to set camp.
3 months ago
I rolled up to this campground at 5:30AM after a long night of driving. It has some amenities: a toilet and drinking water. I wouldn't want to stay here again. Staking my tent was incredibly hard because the ground was hard as a rock. Second, there is very little cover from the sun and the heat in the summer will bake you. No where to hide. Third, the bathrooms haven't been renovated in a long time. Lastly, the sites are on top of each other and crowded to the max. It's more like a circus than anything else.
6 months ago
This campground is great! Superb amenities without sacrificing scenic views. If you're looking for solitude this may not be for you but this is definitely the spot to be in Zion.
9 months ago
You'll feel lucky to have a place to stay in the canyon, rather than driving or shuttling out to the nearby towns and campgrounds. Walking distance to the shuttle bus. Highly recommend getting reservations.
11 months ago
Zion is one of the most spectacular National Parks I've ever visited, but that can also make it one of the most crowded. It's pretty much impossible to stay at the Watchman Campground in the Summer, but in Fall/Winter the weather is perfect, the crowds are gone and there are plenty of open campsites. I camped at Watchman last Thanksgiving and it was perfect.
about 1 year ago
The scenery is unbeatable and the facilities are great. The campground is always pretty full unless you're there in the winter. It's a great place for time lapse and night photographers as well. The light from Springdale is enough to put some glow on the mountains without too much light pollution blocking the stars.
over 1 year ago
This is one of my favorite campsites. Plenty of spots to choose from during the winter season but it can get very overcrowded during warmer months. Plenty of sites to see all within walking distance
over 1 year ago
It's busy but actually fairly quiet. You used to be able to get a spot on walk-in during fall but now you'll likely need a reservation. If you pick the right spot you can setup your camera for night time-lapse of the Watchman.
almost 2 years ago
