River Camping Near Moab
Camping on a river beach is the reason most people take multi-day trips. It is also the part with the most rules, because these corridors are narrow, heavily used and slow to recover. Fire pans and portable toilets are not suggestions on these rivers.
Every overnight river trip near Moab requires a permit, and most require you to carry a fire pan and a portable toilet. On Ruby-Horsethief camps are reserved with the permit, so your itinerary is fixed before you launch. Human waste is packed out everywhere.
The Rules That Apply
- A permit is required for every overnight trip. Which one depends on the section. See the permits guide.
- Fire pans. Required on Labyrinth Canyon as a permit stipulation, and standard practice across these rivers. Fires go in a pan, never on the ground.
- Portable toilets. Required and carried out. This is normal on desert rivers where the corridor cannot absorb the use.
- Group size limits. 40 people in Canyonlands, 25 on Labyrinth, and 25 on Ruby-Horsethief including dogs.
- Caching supplies is controlled. In Canyonlands, adding food, water or gear along the route requires written notification to the district ranger, everything must be removed, and nobody may be paid to place a cache for you.
BLM limits groups there to 25 "heartbeats," which includes adults, children and dogs, with a maximum of two dogs per group. Dogs are charged the same as people. A party of 24 with two dogs is over the limit.
Camping by Section
| Section | How camping works |
|---|---|
| Ruby-Horsethief | Camps are reserved with your overnight permit, available 60 days ahead. Camping is limited across the 25 miles, which is exactly why the system exists. Your itinerary is fixed before launch. |
| Labyrinth Canyon | Free self-issue permit, up to 25 people. Fire pan and portable toilet required. Beaches along the meanders. |
| Stillwater and Meander | Canyonlands permit, up to 40 people, maximum 14 consecutive nights. Separate park river regulations apply. |
| Cataract Canyon | Canyonlands permit. Same group and stay limits. Camps between the rapids. |
| Desolation and Gray | BLM Price permit via the lottery. 84 miles gives plenty of camp options across four to six days. |
| Moab Daily corridor | Camping along this stretch is governed separately from day use. Confirm current requirements with BLM Moab on (435) 259-2100. |
Choosing a Camp
- Stop earlier than you think. Making camp with light left is worth more than the extra miles.
- Camp on sand or durable surface, not vegetation. Desert plant communities take decades to recover.
- Think about the morning sun. A camp that is pleasant at dusk can be brutal at seven the next morning in July.
- Check what is above you. Loose rock and dead limbs are worth a glance.
- Get boats properly secured. Levels change, particularly below dams and during storms.
A storm many miles away can send a flash flood down a drainage while the main river looks normal and the sky above you is clear. This is the single most consequential camp choice you make on a desert river.
Practical Notes
- Many people skip tents. It rarely rains, nights are warm in summer, and the sky is a large part of the point.
- Bring more water than the arithmetic suggests, or a filtration plan. Silty desert water is hard on filters.
- Shade is scarce. A tarp earns its space on summer trips.
- Nights get cold in autumn, well beyond what the daytime suggests.
- Pack out everything, including food scraps and grey water solids.
River Camping FAQ
Do I need a permit to camp on the river?
Yes. Every overnight river trip near Moab requires a permit, and which one depends on the section. See the permits guide.
Do I have to carry a toilet?
Yes on these rivers, and human waste is packed out. It is a permit stipulation on Labyrinth and standard practice throughout.
Can I choose my own campsite?
On most sections, yes, within the rules. On Ruby-Horsethief camps are reserved with your permit, so your itinerary is set before you launch.
Can I have a campfire?
Where fires are permitted they must be in a fire pan, never on the ground. Fire restrictions apply seasonally, so check current conditions with the managing agency before your trip.
Can I bring a dog?
On Ruby-Horsethief, up to two, and they count toward your 25-person group limit and are charged like people. Rules differ by section, so check before assuming.
Sources
Last reviewed: July 30, 2026. Regulations, operators and conditions change. Confirm current details with the managing agency or operator before your trip, and if something here is wrong, tell us.