Pine Valley Recreation Area

Location

DIXIE NATIONAL FOREST
Open in Google Maps ↗

Policies

Check-in

02:00 PM

Check-out

11:00 AM

Max stay

14 nights

Pets

Allowed (per listing)

Campfires

Allowed (per listing)

About

Pine Valley Recreation Area sits at about 6,900 feet in the Pine Valley Mountains, where stands of ponderosa pine and oak give way to mountain mahogany, juniper and sagebrush a noticeably cooler alternative to the low desert around St. George. The reservoir at the heart of the valley draws anglers for shoreline rainbow trout fishing, though flotation devices (canoes, paddle boards, inner tubes, etc.) are not allowed on the lake. Hiking and equestrian routes radiate out from the recreation area into the adjacent Pine Valley Mountain Wilderness, with trails ranging from short 2-mile jaunts to extended 35-mile routes; some of those trails also permit mountain biking. If you're planning a longer outing, remember that the greater Dixie National Forest supports activities such as auto touring, wildlife viewing and winter sports, but within the recreation area OHV/ATV use (including street-legal machines) is prohibited they must be trailered in if you bring them. Pine Valley is roughly a 75-mile, 11/2-hour drive from Zion National Park and is reached from the St. George area by following Highway 18 toward Central and then Forest Highway 35 toward Pine Valley. The recreation area contains six overnight family campgrounds, two overnight group areas and four day-use group sites, plus an amphitheater, for a total of 63 campsites. Site types include 50 locations suitable for both RVs and tents, seven equestrian sites and six tent-only sites. Specific loops include Crackfoot (23 sites), Dean Gardner (24 sites), Yellow Pine (6 sites) and an amphitheater site; the Effie Beckstrom group area consists of two overnight group sites, each built to hold about 80 people. Dean Gardner, the Equestrian campground and Yellow Pine accept reservations, while Mitt Moody, Crackfoot and Ebenezer Bryce operate on a first-come, first-served basis; all group sites (including Thomas Forsyth day-use areas with four group picnic areas sized for 35 150 people) are reservable. Campsites come equipped with picnic tables, fire rings with grills, utility tables, tent pads and concrete site pads; vault toilets and drinking water are provided, and the recreation area also offers volleyball courts, horseshoe pits and large paved parking areas. Fees and seasonal opening dates are not listed here, so check the Dixie National Forest or recreation.gov pages for current rates, reservation windows and any seasonal restrictions before you go.