Located in the heart of Canyonlands National Park’s Island in the Sky district, the Airport Campground is a remote backcountry camping area along the White Rim Trail, ideal for adventurers seeking solitude and stunning desert scenery. The campground consists of four designated sites (Airport A, B, C, and D), each accommodating up to three vehicles and 15 people, though sites are designed to be out of sight and earshot of each other for privacy. Situated at approximately 4,516 feet elevation, the campground offers expansive, open views of the surrounding red rock canyons, mesas, and buttes, with landmarks like Airport Tower visible nearby.
The sites are primitive, with no potable water, shade, or wind shelter, so campers must pack in all water (recommended 1 gallon/4 liters per person per day) and supplies. Each pair of sites (A and B, C and D) shares a vault toilet, though reviews note that toilets can be odorous. The ground is rocky and packed dirt, suitable for tents, but securing them can be challenging due to the terrain. The campground’s proximity to the Lathrop Canyon spur (0.8 miles east) provides road access to the Colorado River (3.5 miles away), though there’s no direct river access from the sites. A notable feature is the excellent stargazing due to the remote location and minimal light pollution, with one camper describing it as feeling like “being on Mars.” Access requires a high-clearance 4×4 vehicle, as the rough roads are not suitable for standard vehicles or large trucks with campers (e.g., a Ford 350 or Dodge 2500 with a big camper may face clearance issues). Permits are required for overnight stays and are highly competitive, especially in spring and fall, costing $36 for a reservation fee plus $5 per person per night.
White Rim Trail
The White Rim Trail is a renowned 100-mile loop through Canyonlands National Park’s Island in the Sky district, offering a bucket-list adventure for overlanders, mountain bikers, and 4×4 enthusiasts. This rugged, high-clearance 4×4 route circumnavigates the Island in the Sky mesa, winding along the “white rim” ledge between the mesa top and the Green and Colorado Rivers below. The trail showcases breathtaking vistas of red rock canyons, towering buttes (like Airport Tower, Monster Tower, and Junction Butte), and the rivers’ confluence, rivaling views from the Grand Canyon’s South Rim. Key highlights include Gooseneck Overlook, Musselman Arch, White Crack (with views of the Maze and Needles districts), and Murphy Hogback, which offers 360-degree panoramas.
The trail features a mix of wide dirt roads, sandy patches, and technical jeep trails with some cliff exposure, particularly at Shafer Trail, Lathrop Canyon Road, Murphy Hogback, Hardscrabble Hill, and Mineral Bottom switchbacks. It’s moderately difficult for vehicles and challenging for mountain bikes, with an elevation gain of approximately 9,160 feet. The route can be driven clockwise (starting at Shafer Trail) or counterclockwise (starting at Mineral Bottom Road), typically taking 2-3 days to complete, though hardcore cyclists may attempt it in one day. Permits are required for both day-use and overnight trips, with 20 designated campsites across 10 camping areas, including Airport Campground. No potable water is available, and high water on the Green River (May-June) can flood western sections, making a full loop impossible. The best seasons are spring (March-May) and fall (September-November) due to milder temperatures and more predictable weather, as summer is extremely hot and winter may bring closures.