Zion National ParkF12
Campsite #F12 at Watchman Campground, Zion National Park, UT
$35
Tent Site #F12
| Walk-In | 6 people |
| 19 ft | Back-In |
| 1 | good |
2/25
2/27
Campsite #F12 Features: Walk-In access, Back-In parking, Picnic Table, Tent Site, Pets Allowed
Campsite Reviews (25)
4.0 out of 5
| 5 star | | 48% |
| 4 star | | 20% |
| 3 star | | 16% |
| 2 star | | 8% |
| 1 star | | 8% |
@JohnS6889697 · Camped on Sep 20, 2025 at Campsite #F12
Nice campground with good spacing between sites, nice and convenient bathrooms, very near the Visitors Center and shuttles.
@StephenK359283 · Camped on May 5, 2025 at Campsite #F12
First Ill mention the people. Other campers were friendly and respectful adding a positive vibe. The Rangers are fantastic, everyone I interacted with was knowledgable, friendly and exhibited a caring attitude for both Zion and my time there.The campground (F Loop) was the perfect balance of well maintained and leave it natural. I loved it. The Visitor Center was nice. I wish they had longer hours or some additional hours when theyd be open after the shuttles have stopped running for the day. My experience tent camping at Watchman was great.
Good
@TimS7118881 · Camped on May 4, 2025 at Campsite #F12
This campground is more crowded with less amenities than other campgrounds. BLM campgrounds in the area are better and cheaper. No showers just like the other BLM campgrounds (except there is a flush toilet - when it isnt clogged) and for some reason the canopy built over the site is about 50% coverage of wood rather than a regular roof. Maybe they couldnt decide whether to give shade/sun or coverage from rain or not. For the difficulty of getting a site here and the crowds - just go nearby to a BLM campground like Pyramid ridge instead.
Some Coverage
@MarieClauB362A · Camped on Apr 29, 2025 at Campsite #F12
Our camp site was very quiet, offered a nice view, and was close enough to our car for a walk-in site. We had a great time at Watchman campground. It was just a short walk away from the shuttle to go to Angels Landing and very close to the services offered in Springdale.
@JacquelinA7448 · Camped on May 4, 2024 at Campsite #F12
Beautiful walk-in sites, very calm and conveniently located.
Major Issues
@PatC0BD9FC544D · Camped on Apr 29, 2024 at Campsite #F12
The walk in tent sites were wonderful! Good planning re. Placement and distance between sites.
@MaureenC982054 · Camped on Mar 3, 2024 at Campsite #F12
Even though quiet hours at the campground are supposed to be from 10pm to 8am, shuttlebuses would start running their engines at 5am, very close to the F loop. And a garbage truck came through the campground at 6:30 one morning making a ton of racket. Why the shuttlebuses need to run their engines for 2 hours generating all that pollution and noise in a beautiful place is beyond me.
Good
@ValerieAA1753C · Camped on Oct 19, 2023 at Campsite #F12
Stunning views, even the RV section was quiet and peaceful, and the walk-in sites were great
Excellent
@BarbaraD378395 · Camped on Oct 7, 2023 at Campsite #F12
Restroom was not open due to renovations and we were not told that when we registered. We had to drive to the nearest bathroom because of a painful knee. Very noisy parking lot nearby with alarms going off
@Christine33606 · Camped on Aug 12, 2023 at Campsite #F12
Fantastic view and tent location, like individual island. Clean and flat, easy to install everything and with deers greeting every morning. Some distance to the car but not an issue with some organisation.
@Katherine16020 · Camped on Jul 24, 2023 at Campsite #F12
Site F012 is remote and secluded. We enjoyed watching baby and mama deer in afternoon. However, since this site is so far from parking, this remoteness could be a problem if you're planning to bring a lot of gear. Most important is that there was huge fire ant colony, and ants were all aver this site. We checked other sites and there were no signs of ants. At night, ants retreated, but roaches appeared from under the bear proof metal box. Make sure to shake your gear well to make sure not to pick up some. We stayed there in July and probably pick season for both insects.Otherwise, we loved location of campground as it was close to the brewery and shuttle stop.
Some Coverage
@MarissaF488569 · Camped on Apr 21, 2023 at Campsite #F12
We stayed in loop F (tent only) . Not only did we have amazing views, we had shade cover and a close shared fire pit!
Good
@jeremyg1254575 · Camped on Apr 7, 2023 at Campsite #F12
Love the walk-in sites! Pros: Easy walk to the Zion Shuttle/Visitor Centre, slightly more "remote" feeling (even though the car is 500 ft away), easy to meet fellow campers at the communal fire pit. Cons: Side effects of the above benefits (communal fire pit - very near site F12 - gets loud when there's campers drinking & during the day car alarms are frequently going off in the visitor center parking lot as visitors set them off to find their cars). The biggest problem specific to this site (F12) is a nest of western harvester ants in the NW corner of the site. They're only active during the day and have a very painful bite. Set up your tent along the southern edge of the site!
@ChrisO1464949 · Camped on Dec 24, 2022 at Campsite #F12
Watchman Campground is open year-round, and an absolutely beautiful* spot for a base camp for taking biking/hiking day-trips. Thank you Watchman CG staff for such a clean CG! Unfortunately, the Visitor Center and Shuttle Parking is adjacent to the CG. When I visited from 1/25-1/26/2023, I heard car alarms and/or horn honking every 30 seconds to 5 minutes that lasted for 5-30 second intervals of sound, which was awful (I kept track). These sounds lasted from time I arrived (4:30pm) until people cleared out after the last shuttle back from the park. I am not sure if this car owner behavior was a two-day abnormality, but I have not experienced anything like it before. The car alarm sounds can be avoided if you are gone from camp during the day and return to camp late enough. This would be a 5/5! perfect place without this problem of car alarms and horns. If I was looking for a campground to stay at to relax for the day in quiet, I would definitely find a different CG. I wish the Park could/would issue monetary fines for sounds like these; doing so, would make a significant impact in reducing the amount of sound pollution.
@DeanaJ2CD46B53 · Camped on Aug 25, 2022 at Campsite #F12
Quiet. Sunshade and trees provided needed shade
@MichalSB4BA299 · Camped on Jul 31, 2022 at Campsite #F12
Wonderful sorrounding we just missed showers a lot. They are about 5 minutes walking from the campsite.
@MattR9175718 · Camped on May 30, 2022 at Campsite #F12
Fantastic across the board. Great facilities and staff. Quiet and super convenient
@BenjaminD24014 · Camped on May 7, 2022 at Campsite #F12
I hate rec.gov. What a waste of resources this sight is. Such a pity. I was forced to rent two campsites because of stupid rangers not allowing one extra person at our campsite. The idiots in the government wont even let people enjoy their own land and parks. Shame on this whole corrupt system.
@KimberlyW93778 · Camped on Mar 4, 2022 at Campsite #F12
Its a great location. Walking distance to the shuttle and downtown.
@ParamveerS347 · Camped on Oct 19, 2021 at Campsite #F12
Great experience. Definitely rent the pants and shoes if heading to the narrows. Easy shuttle system to get to the hikes. I planned very little prior to this trip and had an amazing experience.
Good
@ErinJ209 · Camped on May 9, 2021 at Campsite #F12
This was a great location, we loved that it was a short walk to the camp site and to the visitor center. We had our own designated parking spot so it was guaranteed. It was lovely! However, there was a HUGE red carpenter ant hill in the middle of the campsite and needless to say ants EVERYWHERE. honestly I am not afraid of ants or bugs, I'm from the pacific north west, but if we would have camped there we would have been crawling with them. We decided to stay at a hotel in springdale instead. Usually camp rangers in CA monitor pest control and either mark the campsite unusable or move the pest. In such an incredible place, the standards should be higher. Thank you.
Excellent
@AmberC335 · Camped on May 1, 2021 at Campsite #F12
I like the campsites here better than at the South Campground, and the location/views can’t be beat!
Some Coverage
@AmberC9992904 · Camped on May 1, 2021 at Campsite #F12
I like the campsites here better than at the South Campground, and the location/views cant be beat!
@JaceyW354 · Camped on Apr 29, 2021 at Campsite #F12
Loved this site! Definitely the best in the park.
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