Canyonlands National Park18
Campsite #18 at Needles District Campground, Canyonlands National Park, UT
$20
Campsite #18
| Drive-In | 10 people |
| 28 ft | Parallel |
| 2 | weak |
5/15
11/11
Campsite #18 Features: Drive-In access, Parallel parking, 28ft driveway, Fire ring w/ Grill, Picnic Table, RV Site, Tent Site, Trailer Site
Campsite Reviews (12)
5.0 out of 5
| 5 star | | 83% |
| 4 star | | 17% |
| 3 star | | 0% |
| 2 star | | 0% |
| 1 star | | 0% |
@JacobE3666447 · Camped on Apr 14, 2025 at Campsite #18
Amazing park and lovely campground. Each site in the campground has shade and ample space, and many have lots of privacy. The bathrooms were clean and stocked, electric lights would have been nice but just bring a flashlight at night. The park itself was a treat. The trails are all very well marked with cairns. The Peekaboo and Joint trails were our personal favorites for hikes, but you can't go wrong.
@DaveH8980161 · Camped on Apr 9, 2025 at Campsite #18
Great spot tucked by the rock. Good shade and very kind camp hosts. Water available in campground in the loop. A bit busy with elephant hill traffic and bikers passing by, but still a great place. Climb up on the rink for a great view.
@RonS1102629 · Camped on Nov 22, 2024 at Campsite #18
Great site
@WendyOE618917D · Camped on Oct 29, 2024 at Campsite #18
Loop B Site 17 - speed bumps close to campsite - noise from cars / bumps
@chads1663816 · Camped on Oct 12, 2024 at Campsite #18
Site offered a tremendous amount of space to spread out and enjoy the experience in the park.
@ChristyH916260 · Camped on Apr 25, 2024 at Campsite #18
We stayed at site 17. It's far from the bathrooms so we drove after hiking 9-14 miles each day. Has 2 tent pads and both were very level. Very private. Great view. Some shelter from the wind. Table and firepit both in great shape!
@EllenB1265836 · Camped on Sep 27, 2023 at Campsite #18
Beautiful campground and scenery, spacious campsites and great hosts.
@PaulD5437485 · Camped on Sep 13, 2023 at Campsite #18
The campground in the Needles district of Canyonlands is one of the most breathtaking, as well as peaceful, places I've ever camped. The sandstone ledges that form the roof of each campsite are very special (though beware, they are porous and not entirely waterproof!). The gentle flow of natural grasses, red and white stone and sky is a like a changeable painting, every day. Short hikes afford panoramic views. Our camp host was obviously so pleased to be spending the summer here it made us even happier. Though it's pretty far from Arches, the Needles site makes a great home base for exploring that park if you can't get a campsite there.
@MichaelW200 · Camped on Oct 15, 2021 at Campsite #18
I've always loved this campground - my first time here was 2004. Since then I've always driven to the Devil's Kitchen instead of using the campground and this is the first time in 17 years that I'm back at the campground after a dozen Jeep trips to the Kitchen, which I and my friends refer to as the "World's Best Campsites". We did that because the Elephant Hill road is the most fun 4x4 road I've ever been on and the campsites are, well the World's Best. On all the trips from the Kitchen, we'd hike mostly the same trails - drive down through the Grabens to the Joint Trail and loop through Chesler Park, while sometimes including the out and back to Druid Arch. I tell people that what is grand about Druid Arch isn't the arch, it's the view looking north up Elephant Canyon from the arch which is otherworldly and majestic.
But Squaw Flat is the better base for the best multi-day day-hiking you'll find. And the best of that is the Squaw Flat to Big Spring to Elephant Canyon and back to Squaw Flat loop. While a longer day hike, it is worth the miles and the double-ladder traverse is a joy, coming at the end of the traverse from Big Spring. On this trip during the first 2.5 hours I was alone until I ran into a lot of people coming to/from the Elephant Hill trailhead. I'd tend to avoid that trailhead and base hikes from Squaw Flat instead which is much less used despite being right at the campground. I guess people start at Elephant Hill because it is the shortest distance to Chesler Park, but the loop I described is simply grander and more interesting.
I just think the Needles is the best area in the park. Yes, I've been to the Maze - camped at the Dollhouse, the Maze Overlook, and just a few months at Cleopatra's and that is wonderful, and I've driven and camped on the White Rim a few times (favorite camping is the Hogback) , but the hiking is best in the Needles with the variety and the many loops.
But Squaw Flat is the better base for the best multi-day day-hiking you'll find. And the best of that is the Squaw Flat to Big Spring to Elephant Canyon and back to Squaw Flat loop. While a longer day hike, it is worth the miles and the double-ladder traverse is a joy, coming at the end of the traverse from Big Spring. On this trip during the first 2.5 hours I was alone until I ran into a lot of people coming to/from the Elephant Hill trailhead. I'd tend to avoid that trailhead and base hikes from Squaw Flat instead which is much less used despite being right at the campground. I guess people start at Elephant Hill because it is the shortest distance to Chesler Park, but the loop I described is simply grander and more interesting.
I just think the Needles is the best area in the park. Yes, I've been to the Maze - camped at the Dollhouse, the Maze Overlook, and just a few months at Cleopatra's and that is wonderful, and I've driven and camped on the White Rim a few times (favorite camping is the Hogback) , but the hiking is best in the Needles with the variety and the many loops.
@BrettH837 · Camped on Jun 30, 2021 at Campsite #18
Great campground surrounded by the Needles. Easy and tough hikes all around
@LarryE865 · Camped on May 26, 2021 at Campsite #18
I really don't want to say that these are some of the best campgrounds in Utah parks, because others will flock to them, but a really great experience. Clean, spacious, and perfect for access to all the great trails in the park!!
@DavidF764 · Camped on Apr 25, 2021 at Campsite #18
Squaw Flat is a small, quiet, beautiful campground.
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