Zion National Park in Utah is most popular for its variety of outdoor activities year round and its beautiful scenery.

The main canyon is the most popular section of the park. The visitor center and Springdale, UT are surrounded by this part of the park. Popular trail-heads for Weeping Rock, Emerald Pools, Angels Landing, The Narrows, etc. are all found on the eight-mile scenic drive that is accessible by shuttle April through October, and by private vehicle the rest of the year.

Zion National Park offers lots of activities for everyone, hiking, climbing, camping, horseback riding, whitewater rafting and winter sports like cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The park is packed with wonderful scenery and scenic drives throughout the park. You will want a map of the park so you don’t miss out on anything. You can call 877-444-6777 for reservations or more info.

If you like hiking or canyoneering, the Subway (Left Fork of North Creek) is one of the best for spectacular views and scenery.

It is possible to see a variety of wildlife in the park and in the canyons. You may see skunks, ring-tailed cats, kangaroo rats, deer and big-horned sheep or peregrine falcons, eagles, wild turkeys, owls and quail are found in the canyons.

If you have camped, hiked or enjoyed any outdoor activity in the Zion National Park we would love to hear about it. Leave us a comment below.

Thompson’s Lake State Park, nestled in the mountains just four miles from the Helderberg Escarpment, is a popular campground and recreation area. It has wooded campsites, the park features a sandy beach, mixed hardwood and conifer forests, limestone outcroppings, and open fields. Recreational opportunities include a volleyball court, horseshoe pits, a playing field, swing sets, carry-in boat access, rental rowboats, fishing areas, and nature trails. Interpretive and recreational programs are offered for campers throughout the summer. During the winter, visitors can cross-country ski and ice fish.

 Location

Thompson’s Lake State Park is located 18 miles southwest of Albany.

68 Thompsons Lake Road

East Berne, NY 12059

Phone: (518) 872-1674

Fax: (518) 872-9133

 Recreation Activities

 Beach swimming, boating, fishing (and wintertime ice fishing) park-organized recreation activities, hiking and wintertime cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are the park’s major activities. The Emma Treadwell Thacher Center is located on Thompson’s Lake next to the campground and is accessible to campers. The center opened in July 2001 and offers exhibits, interactive displays, trails for hiking and skiing, and educational programs.

 Facilities

 Boat launch sites, boat rentals, campsites, dumping stations, a nature trail, a playground, playing fields, and showers are among the amenities available.

 Fees

 Most New York State Parks charge a vehicle use fee to enter the facility. Fees vary by location and season. A list of entry fees and other park use fees is available below. For fees not listed or to verify information, please contact the park directly.

Rowboats:

$8 per hour

$15 – 2 hours

$20 – 3 hours

$25 per day

Paddleboats:

$5 per 30 minutes

$10 per hour

$13 – 1.5 hours

$16 – 2 hours

$27 – 3 hours

Camping Misc. Fees:

$15/site ($4 amenity fee weekend & night before weekend)

$7 third vehicle fee

Interpretive Programs:

$2/person

Vehicle Entrance Fee:

$7 per car with beach

$6 per car without beach

North to South Rim so Close Yet so Far Away

The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long and the mile deep canyon separates the North Rim from the South Rim. Although the average distance across the canyon is 10 miles is take 5 hours to drive 215 miles between the park’s South Rim Village and the North Rim Village.

North Rim Campground

The North Rim is located on the “Utah” side of the Canyon, is harder to get to is more wild and secluded. The North Rim Park is only open from May thru October due to it’s 8,000 ft elevation and reservations are strongly recommended because of the shorter season that the park is open. After mid-October, weather permitting, a limited number of sites with limited services (potable toilets) will be available on a first come – first serve basis until the snow closes Highway 67.

There are no hook-ups but there is a dump station within the campground. Wood and charcoal fires are permitted in the provided campsite grills. Gathering downed wood is not permitted, wood can be purchased at the general store. There are coin operated laundry and showers at the campground entrance.

Campsite fees are $18 – $25 with a maximum of two vehicles, six people, three tents are allowed per site. A vehicle towing a trailer, pop-up, tent trailer, fifth wheel or motor home pulling a vehicle is considered two vehicles.

South Rim Campgrounds

The South Rim Campgrounds are the most popular campgrounds because they are open all year, has a local airport and rail service, is located on the “Arizona” side of the Canyon, close to Interstate 40 and easier to get to.

Mather Campground is open year-round, it is Located in Grand Canyon Village. This campground offers tent and RV camping. RV Camping, there are no hook-ups and there is a 30 foot trailer or RV maximum. Pets are allowed but must remain on a leash at all times and not left unattended. Wood and Charcoal fires are permitted in provided campsite grills only. There are laundry and showers located near the campground for a fee.

This campground is extremely busy during the summer months and reservations are strongly recommended from March 1 through mid-November. Fees are $18 per site per night, a maximum of two vehicles, six people, three tents are allowed per site. A vehicle that is towing a trailer, pop-up, tent trailer, fifth wheel, or motor home pulling a vehicle is considered two vehicles. Group sites are $50 per night, maximum of 50 people and 3 vehicles per group site.

During the winter mid-November through February 28 reservations are not available, family campsites are $15 per site per night and group campsites are $30, this is on a first-come first-serve basis.

Desert View Campground is open May through mid-October (Schedule will be updated in spring 2010) and has a total of 50 campsites located 26 miles east of Grand Canyon Village. This campground is on a first come – first served – self registration basis and will accommodate tents, smaller RV’s or Travel Trailers (30 ft maximum length). Fees are $12 per space, per night, there is a limit of 6 persons, two tents, or two vehicles or one RV/Travel Trailer per site.

There are no utility, water or sewer hook-ups, each site has a campfire grill for fires and cooking use and a picnic table. There are two water faucets located within the campground, restrooms have flushing toilets and sinks, no hot water and there are no showers.

Travel Village is adjacent to the Mather Campground and is operated by Xanterra Parks and offers RV sites with hook-ups. Advance reservations may be made by calling (888) 297-2757; for same-day reservations call (928) 638-2631. A dump station (closed during the winter months) is located near Mather Campground. Pets are allowed, but must be leashed at all times, and may not be left unattended.

Visit our Friends at U.S. National Forest Campground Guide for more information on campgrounds in the U.S.