Posey Lake Campground
Posey Lake Campground is located next to its beautiful namesake lake high on the Colorado Plateau at an elevation of 8,800 feet. Visitors enjoy canoeing, fishing and exploring local trails.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in Utah · reservable in Utah · pets allowed in Utah · group sites in Utah
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 20 |
| Group sites | 1 |
| Host/management | 2 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 35 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
21 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 002 | Standard | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 003 | Standard | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 004 | Standard | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 005 | Standard | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 006 | Standard | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 007 | Standard | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 008 | Standard | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 009 | Standard | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 010 | Standard | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 011 | Standard | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 35 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The campground contains 21 single-family sites and one group site for up to 35 people. Drinking water is provided from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Facilities at this campground include accessible vault toilets, a fish cleaning station and two fishing docks. Roads and parking spurs are gravel.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | Late May to Early September |
| Forest | Dixie National Forest |
| Booking | Call 1-877-444-6777 visit www.recreation.gov Some single sites are available on a first come, first served basis. |
| Fees | for current pricing and availability, visit www.recreation.gov |
| Rules | Quiet hours between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Campfires in developed fire pits only. Fireworks are prohibited. Dogs must be on leash. ATV’s and non-street legal UTVs are allowed at the day use area on the south end of the lake and at campsites 2, 3, and 4. Street legal UTVs are allowed throughout the campground but must stay on roads and spurs. Maximum length of stay: 14 days |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Highway 12 in Escalante, turn north at 300 East at the elementary school at the Posey Lake/Hell's Backbone sign. Travel 14 miles to junction of Forest Roads 153 and 154, keep left and travel 2 miles to Posey Lake Campground. Site access can be difficult; about 14 miles of the road is gravel with some steep sections.
| Coordinates | 37.9417° N, 111.6936° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedFremont River Rd Piles Rx
45 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 11.4 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Escalante Outfitters ↗ | 12.7 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Arrival at Posey Lake
Trails nearby
- 0.4 miPosey Spur Trail1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.5 miPosey Lookout Trail0.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2 miBlue Springs Trail1.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.7 miThe Box Trail ↗8.8 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 3.7 miWest Fork Trail3.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.9 miHog Ranch Trail2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Box-Death Hollow Wilderness begins about 2.3 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 2.3 miBox-Death Hollow Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 25,635 acres
- 11.3 miGrand Staircase–Escalante National Monument ↗National Monument · Bureau of Land Management · 181,425 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Boulder Elementary SchoolBuilding · Boulder · 14.9 mi
- Coombs Village SiteSite · Boulder · 14.9 mi
Natural features
The campground is situated on a hillside above Posey Lake. A scenic forest of towering ponderosa pines covers the area. Clusters of aspens dot the landscape and summer wildflowers are abundant.
Recreation
Posey Lake offers rainbow and brook trout fishing, canoeing, kayaking and non-motorized boating. Two hiking trails begin at the campground. The Posey Overlook Trail is a mile long and leads to a beautiful overlook. The Posey Spur Trail connects the campground to the Great Western Trail, which provides excellent hiking and mountain biking.
Nearby
Posey Lake offers a cool escape from the surrounding desert landscape and is often used as a base to explore the surrounding region. The Escalante area of southern Utah offers breathtaking scenery nearly everywhere you look. Sightseeing along Forest Road 153 (Hell's Backbone) and Utah Highway 12, a National All American Highway, is very popular. The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Anasazi State Park, and the Escalante Petrified Forest State Park are all located in the area.
Guidebooks for Utah
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Posey Lake Campground?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Posey Lake Campground?
For current pricing and availability, visit www.recreation.gov
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Posey Lake Campground?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Posey Lake Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Late May to Early September.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Posey Lake Campground have?
23 sites, including 20 standard sites without power and 1 group site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Posey Lake Campground?
The longest site here provides 35 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Posey Lake Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Posey Lake Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Posey Lake Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Quiet hours between 10 p.m.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Posey Lake Campground?
Posey Lake offers rainbow and brook trout fishing, canoeing, kayaking and non-motorized boating. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Posey Lake Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Blue Spruce Campground (3.1 mi, first-come), Barker Recreation Area (6.8 mi, partly first-come), and Deer Creek Campground (19.4 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby