Courthouse Rock Campground

The Courthouse Rock Campground is located near Courthouse Rock, approximately 16 miles north of Moab, Utah. The area served as a reliable campsite for Old Spanish Trail traders, a halfway point between two water sources, the Colorado River and Floy Wash. Other groups, including Native Americans and the Elk Mountain Mission of 1885, also traveled through and camped here. The campground is surrounded by an open landscape of blackbrush and sagebrush hills with large rock formations in the distance, and is comprised of 10 campsites that can accommodate large RVs and trailers. There is no vegetation or other shade. Be prepared October to March for lows below freezing, and from June to August for highs from 95 to above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Cell service is available at the campground. Each campsite has a gravel parking area for two vehicles (a vehicle pulling a trailer counts as two), a picnic table, a fire ring, and close proximity to a vault toilet and trash receptacles. There is no drinking water or electricity hookup. Campsites 5 and 6 are for equestrian users, with horse corrals, trailer parking and riding options available. Paleontologists have found a treasure trove of dinosaur remains in the rock formations of the Moab area, and the record of dinosaurs and other ancient animals here is one of the best in the country. The Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite is a short walk from the campground, with interpretive panels that describe the unique dinosaur tracks that can be seen, and the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Bone Trail, one mile from the campground, showcases dinosaur bone still encased in rock. Courthouse Rock and the Monitor and Merrimac rock formations set the backdrop for the campground. The town of Moab is a hub for recreation, where tour operators offer guided hikes, rentals and evening entertainment. The area abounds with trails, dirt roads and canyons waiting to be explored, with numerous OHV and mountain bike trails in the immediate area as well as options for equestrian users and hikers. Arches and Canyonlands National Parks and Hovenweep and Natural Bridges National Monuments are nearby, along with the Manti-La Sal National Forest and the La Sal Mountain Loop Road, which provide interesting exploration opportunities and cooler temperatures during the summer months.