Lava Point is Zion's high-country campground: six primitive, tent-only sites perched at 7,890 feet off Kolob Terrace Road, about 80 minutes from the South Entrance. This is real dry camping - pit toilets and trash cans, but no running water, so you haul in every gallon yourself. The trade-off is a quiet, reservation-only camp that runs much cooler than the canyon floor, typically open May through September as weather allows. If your family likes doing things the simple, self-reliant way, this is the spot.
CAMP HERE IF: you want quiet, cool, primitive tent camping away from the canyon crowds, and you're comfortable hauling your own water. SKIP IF: you have an RV or trailer, a vehicle over 19 feet, or need showers, hookups, running water, or wheelchair-accessible sites - Watchman Campground covers those needs.
Tent only - 6 primitive tent sites
Lava Point Overlook nearby; Zion Canyon's South Entrance is about an 80-minute drive; the town of Virgin is over 20 miles away
Fine for self-sufficient families who camp simple: no water, pit toilets, and no store, so kids' snacks, drinks, and gear ride in with you. The cooler temperatures make summer nights easier on little campers.
May through September, the only window the campground is open - it runs much cooler than the canyon, so mid-summer is comfortable up here
- Bring all your water in jugs - there is none on site. - Reserve exactly 14 days out; there are only 6 sites and no walk-ups. - Book before you leave home - cell service is limited in the park. - Buy firewood in nearby communities; gathering wood in the park is prohibited. - Pack warm layers - nights at 7,890 feet run much colder than the canyon. - Keep your rig under 19 feet or you can't drive the access road. - Fuel up and grab ice in Virgin - services are over 20 miles away.
Tent-only, so no leveling blocks or hookups to worry about. The approach is roughly 20 miles of Kolob Terrace Road plus 1.4 miles on Lava Point Road, with unpaved sections that most vehicles handle fine in good weather. Keep the vehicle under 19 feet - longer rigs are not permitted on the road. Check-in is typically after 12:00 pm.
Primitive high-country camp, the opposite of a packed canyon campground: six sites, no hookups, no store, no cell signal. Expect quiet nights, cool air at 7,890 feet, and a seasonal camp host. If you need showers and a camp store, book Watchman instead.
Pit/vault toilets (seasonal) and that's it - no showers, no laundry. Plan a wipes-and-basin cleanup routine and hit real facilities in town; more services are in Virgin, over 20 miles away.
Campers treat Lava Point as the quiet alternative to Zion Canyon's busy campgrounds: six primitive sites, cool nights at elevation, and none of the crowds. The trade is self-sufficiency - no water, no showers, no store - which is exactly what fans of the place like about it.
Tent only - 6 primitive tent sites
Lava Point Overlook is close by; camp life here is the simple kind - campfires in the furnished grates and quiet high-country evenings
Recreation.gov - reservations required, no first-come, first-served sites (Booking: Bookable up to 14 days in advance - reserve before your trip, cell service is limited in the park)
No Pets Allowed
To Park Entrance
About 80 minutes' drive from the South Entrance of Zion Canyon; 25 miles (45 minutes) north of Virgin via Kolob Terrace Road
Elevation
7,890 feet
" Campers treat Lava Point as the quiet alternative to Zion Canyon's busy campgrounds: six primitive sites, cool nights at elevation, and none of the crowds. The trade is self-sufficiency - no water, no showers, no store - which is exactly what fans of the place like about it."
If quiet and cool air matter to you, yes. It's about 80 minutes from the South Entrance, but you trade the canyon crowds for six primitive sites at 7,890 feet where nights run much cooler than the valley.
No. RVs, campers, and trailers are not allowed, and vehicles longer than 19 feet are not permitted on the road to the campground. This is tent camping only.
No. There is no running water on site, only pit toilets and trash cans. Bring all your water in jugs - and pack extra, since the nearest services are in Virgin, over 20 miles away.
You need a reservation. All 6 sites are reservation-only on Recreation.gov, bookable up to 14 days in advance, and there are no first-come, first-served sites. Book before your trip - cell service is limited in the park.
A tent-only campsite is $25.00 per night. There are 6 primitive sites, each with a furnished fire grate.
Yes, in the furnished grates at each site - but seasonal fire restrictions are common, so check with a ranger or camp host first. Wood gathering is prohibited in the park, so buy firewood in nearby communities.
Typically May through September, as weather allows. The campground opens once the road is cleared of snow, and the posted snow closure runs from October into late May.
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