Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area

Overview

The Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area is located along Interstate 15 approximately 20 miles southwest of St. George, Utah and approximately 20 miles northeast of Mesquite, Nevada. It's accessed from the Cedar Pocket Exit (mile post 18). The overnight-use fee is $8 per site per night and the day-use fee is $2 per vehicle. Overnight use is limited to 14-night stays. The recreation area currently has 25 of the best sites only available through recreation.gov reservations. The remaining 83 sites are first come, first serve (FF) payable onsite by using the Scan and Pay feature on the recreation.gov app. Please come prepared by either making a reservation here before arrival OR having the recreation.gov app installed with login setup to pay onsite with the scan and pay option. 

Recreation

The Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area provides many recreational opportunities for hiking, wildlife viewing, water play, and more. It is surrounded by two designated wilderness areas. The Paiute Wilderness east of Interstate 15, and Beaver Dam Mountains Wilderness to the west. The Sullivan Canyon Trail starts within the recreation area and heads into the heart of the Paiute Wilderness. 

The campground and day-use areas also both have scenic trails leading to the Virgin River. The Virgin River is occasionally runnable to small whitewater boats during spring runoffs. Please check for information on the fish barriers and flow conditions prior to running.

Additional hiking opportunities are available. A short drive on the Cedar Pocket Road (directly across the interstate from the campground) leads to the Cedar Pocket Wash Trailhead. This trail leads down a steep path to the narrows of the Cedar Pocket Wash and is a nice short stroll through a Joshua Tree forest. Several other trails can be accessed along this road or from hiking trails within the recreation area. A trails map is viewable on the site's restroom kiosks or can be downloaded as a PDF map or to the Avenza app. 

The Virgin River Gorge is also frequented by rock climbers and canyoneers. Additional information about recreation available in the area can be obtained by calling the visitor center at 435-688-3200.

Facilities

Campsite Amenities (108 overnight sites) - 14-night stay limit

• Paved access road
• Pull-through parking
• Drinking water
• Flush toilets (ADA compliant at middle restroom)
• Picnic table
• Grill and/or fire pit
• Vehicle or RV parking
• 8 sites that are ADA compliant
• 12 sites with shade shelters

** The campground has no electrical or waste dump hook ups. **

 

Day-Use Amenities - daylight hours only

• Paved access road
• Pull-through parking
• Drinking water
• Flush toilets
• Shade shelters
• ADA compliant sites
• Access to Sullivan Canyon Trail in the Paiute Wilderness
• Access to interpretative trail
• Trail access to the Virgin River

Natural Features

The Virgin River Gorge, where the Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area resides, was cut by the Virgin River. Though the Virgin River is relatively small, it is incredibly steep, dropping an average of 70 feet per mile - 10 times steeper than the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. This steepness, caused by the uplift of the Colorado Plateau, has given the Virgin River the ability to cut throug