Red Cliffs Campground

Overview

Red Cliffs Recreation Area includes a campground, day use areas, a non-motorized trail system, and interpreted public use sites. Dinosaurs left their footprints, now visible in the sandstone. Ancestral Puebloans lived here in the 10th century, growing corn, beans, and squash along Quail and Leeds Creek. Mid-19th century pioneers farmed here, supplying the area’s silver miners with food. Located within the Red Cliffs

National Conservation Area, the Recreation Area is managed to conserve and protect the natural and cultural resources of the public lands.

Recreation

The Red Reef Trail follows Quail Creek into the Cottonwood Canyon Wilderness and is a very popular hike in the spring when seasonal runoff fills water pockets and plunge pools in the stream channel. There are many other trails in the Recreation Area that are scenic and enjoyable for hikers and mountain bikers, for shorter, moderately difficult rides. The White Reef Trailhead accommodates both large and small horse trailers, making it an ideal place for equestrians to start a longer distance ride on the Prospector Trial which connects to the equally popular Church Rocks Trail for extended riding.

Facilities

The Red Cliffs Recreation Area ‘s campground is open year round and includes 11 campsites with shade shelters (Campsite 4 has no shade structure), picnic tables, potable water, and grills. Sites 8 and 11 are accessible for visitors with disabilities, while sites 6,7, and 10 have pull-through parking. Only two vehicles are allowed per campsite. Accessible vault toilets are located between sites 5 and 7. Pets must be on a leash and under control at all times. Quiet hours are from 9 pm to 7 am.

Reservations are required for campsites and can be made at www.recreation.gov, or by calling 1-877-444-6777. First come first serve camping is not permitted and camping payment cannot be made on site.