Mammoth Designated Dispersed Camping Area — Hotel in Parowan

​I stayed at Mammoth Designated Dispersed Camping Area in late October and was the only camper, which made for an incredibly peaceful and quiet visit. This is a great, free spot if you value solitude and a beautiful natural setting. ​The Good: ​This is an excellent, free campsite offering basic amenities, including metal fire pits and a picnic table at each site. The sites are well-spaced, offering a good degree of privacy, though it doesn't feel like a truly remote dispersed camp. My Ford Focus handled the drive down to the site perfectly fine. ​The area itself is beautiful, with striking geological features. I found gorgeous agate scattered throughout the campsite. As a bird watcher, I was happy to see and hear the variety of species in the area— common ravens, Stellar's jays, brown creepers, Clark's nutcrackers, and hairy woodpeckers. ​Areas for Improvement: ​Unfortunately, the campsite showed signs of neglect, particularly concerning basic Leave No Trace principles. Beyond the general litter—bottle caps, soda cans, water bottles, bread ties, and metal and aluminum foil left in the fire pits—there were aesthetic disruptions that detracted from the natural setting. I found a loose soccer ball, scattered painted rocks, and a painted picnic table. While likely fun for the kids who did it, the bright colors clash unpleasantly with the natural environment. I ended up filling a 10-pound ice bag with discarded garbage from around my site. ​Additionally, the vault toilet was severely full and unclean, desperately needing servicing. The creek, which runs through the area, was completely dried up during my late October visit. ​Summary: ​This is a very good option for a quiet, free weekend, but it requires patience and a willingness to clean up after others. I would camp here again, especially if I knew it...

So I want to give an honest review just based on the specific weekend we were there (September 10-12), because I don't see any review that break down the overall vibe of the place.

WEATHER It was low 70s during the day with a ton of tree coverage.

AREA It's easy to get to but the roads are gravel and you would be better off taking a higher profile vehicle. We have a truck so we took our time winding down into the valley below and we were just fine. The whole creek is surrounded by towering trees, the sound of birds, and of course the creek! PLEASE NOTE: Once you arrive at the base of the campground you can fork left or right. Go left. There are 4 spots that I counted along the creek, the others to the right are not BUT still beautiful.

POSSIBLE CONS So keep in mind this place is heavy with recreational vehicles and the campground is free, so free comes at a cost. We set up camp and enjoyed our first afternoon in the tranquil sunlight listening to the birds, until 11pm when a very large group of people came in and set up camping across from us. Now when I say large, they had 7 tents and two RVs....plus all of their quads and side-by-sides. They were screaming and enjoying themselves well into the morning hours and so I had hoped we could just sleep in and have a late breakfast by the fire. NO. All of their alarms starting to ring at 6am and so they began starting all of the recreation vehicles and creating large dust clouds before even the birds had time to wake up...waking up the entire campground.

Now I understand that is what this place is there for, recreational vehicles are great. I enjoy them myself. BUT not at...

We stopped at Mammoth Dispersed Camp as a quick overnight on our Southwest route, and while it wasn’t creekin’ like the name might suggest, the spot had its charm. Nestled near a quiet creek bed, the area felt open and cozy—perfect for stargazing or stretching out with a camp chair and a good drink.

You’ll see your neighbors, but they’re spaced out enough to keep things peaceful. It’s not total solitude, but it’s far from crowded. That said, choose your campsite carefully—especially if you’ve got kids or pets. Our site had a surprising amount of broken glass scattered in the dirt, which meant our dog had to rock his paw protection the whole time. Not ideal, but manageable with prep.

Overall, Mammoth offers a solid dispersed camping experience with a few caveats. Bring your own water, pack out your trash, and double-check the ground before settling in. If you’re chasing desert vibes with a touch of community and don’t mind a little grit, it’s...