A gray 4x4 Sprinter with a roof rack on a two-track through a wildflower meadow, cloud sitting on the mountains behind.

Forest Service campground

Panguitch Lake

Forest Service campground in Dixie National Forest, Garfield County, Utah. About 8,400 feet. 10.1 miles from Brian Head.

Managed by
Forest Service Dixie National Forest
Elevation
About 8,400 ft As the Forest Service states
Sites
50 44 standard non-electric, 3 group standard non-electric, 3 tent only non-electric
Longest rig
60 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov

Overview

Panguitch Lake Campground is located 14 miles southwest of Panguitch, Utah. Some of the state's largest rainbow trout are fished from the lake each year, and aptly so; "Panguitch" comes from the Paiute word meaning "big fish." Visitors also enjoy canoeing and exploring the Panguitch Lake OHV Trail System.

Recreation

Panguitch Lake offers great fishing for rainbow, brook, cutthroat and brown trout. Canoeing and kyacking are a popular activity. Two public boat ramps are located on the lake, one on the south shore and the other on the north shore at Wildlife Point. The Markagunt OHV trail system at Panguitch Lake offers 300 miles of routes and trails. Other activities include hiking, biking, horseback riding and hunting.

Facilities

The campground is located on both the north side and the south side of the highway. The Panguitch lake north is the larger of the two, with single and double campsites and three group sites. The south side is strictly for tent camping (no reservations).

Amenities include flush toilets and drinking water. There are no hook-ups available so please fill your tanks at the dumpstation just east of the campground prior to setting up. A horseshoe pit and a volleyball court are on-site, though campers must provide their own net and ball. An amphitheater near the Panguitch group site is available upon request. The campground road and parking spurs are paved.

Accessible sites area available on the north side of the campground.

No OHV access in or out of the campground including street legal, all OHV's must be trailered.

Natural Features

The lake is situated high on the Colorado Plateau at an elevation of 8,400 feet. A forest of ponderosa pines covers the campground, which lies on a hillside about a quarter-mile above the lake. Deer and elk are often seen in the area.

Nearby Attractions

Panguitch Lake has two public boat landings and is less than 5 minutes from the campground. Great fishing from both a boat and the shore or just hanging out on the beach is enjoyed by many! Panguitch Lake Campground is just 14 miles from Cedar Breaks National Monument, with hiking trails, guided tours, wildflower walks, star gazing and awesome views of the Cedar Breaks Amphitheater. Just outside Cedar Breaks is the Ashdown Gorge Wilderness Area, where hikers will find 10 miles of trails and the Twisted Forest, a stand of ancient bristlecone pine. Bryce Canyon National Park is 30 minutes away, with breathtaking scenery and excellent hiking and horse ridng opportunities.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • amphitheater
  • auto touring
  • biking
  • boating
  • camping
  • canoeing
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • kayaking
  • mountain biking
  • off road vehicle trails
  • photography
  • scenic drive
  • star gazing
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Panguitch Lake

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated March 1, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.