Horsethief Campground
Campsites are tucked in the pygmy pinyon-juniper forest on the mesas above Moab, yet offer great views. Individual sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The campground has four loops: Appaloosa, Buckskin, Cayuse, and Dapple. Appaloosa, Buckskin, and Cayuse loops have 56 campsites that can accommodate RVs. Dapple loop has 28 tent campsites with no generators allowed. The area has many mountain bike trails and 4WD roads nearby. The campground is close to Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park. Individual Sites: 83 (limited to 10 people & two vehicles per site). Group Sites: 5 (reservable). Water: No. Toilets: Yes. Hook-ups: No.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
The group site has its own page: Horsethief Group Sites.
More like this: first-come in Utah · reservable in Utah · dark sky in Utah
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Amenities & rules
| Fees | $20.00 per site per night camping fee payable at self service fee station at campground (only exact cash or check accepted) |
| Stay limit | 14 nights in a 30 consecutive day period |
| Dark sky | 8.9 miles from Dead Horse Point State Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From the center of Moab (at Center and Main) head north on Hwy. 191 to Hwy. 313. Turn left (west) on Hwy. 313 and drive 12 miles. You will see the campground sign on the right. Turn on the gravel road and you will see the campground entrance on your left.
| Nearest town | Moab, Utah |
| Coordinates | 38.5843° N, 109.8142° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- There are five group campsites available for reservation through Recreation.gov.
- (Note: this is a different recreation site from the "Horsethief Camp" located in the Needles, CA area).
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 7.9 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Canyon Voyages ↗ | 14.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 1.4 miGemini Bridges Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 2 miMagnificent 7 Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 13.9 miMoab Day Use Sites ↗Day use
Public land it sits in
Labyrinth Canyon Wilderness begins about 10.1 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 10.1 miLabyrinth Canyon Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Bureau of Land Management · 54,643 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
On the National Register nearby
- Denis Julien InscriptionSite · Moab · 9.3 mi
- Dalton Wells CCC Camp–Moab Relocation CenterSite · Moab · 10.8 mi
- Rock House–Custodian's ResidenceBuilding · Moab · 11 mi
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 Horsethief 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 Horsethief Campground?
$20.00 per site per night camping fee payable at self service fee station at campground (only exact cash or check accepted)
Source: Recreation.gov
How long can I stay at Horsethief Campground?
14 nights in a 30 consecutive day period
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Horsethief Campground good for stargazing?
Dead Horse Point State Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park, is 8.9 miles away. Skies that dark carry for miles; a moonless night here should show the Milky Way.
Source: DarkSky International
Is there cell service at Horsethief Campground?
FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is the nearest town to Horsethief Campground?
Moab, Utah.
Source: Getting there
What if Horsethief Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Horsethief Group Sites (under 0.1 mi), Cowboy Camp (2 mi, first-come), and Lone Mesa Group Sites (3.6 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby