Campvue

Reviewed: Feb 3, 2026

5 out of 5

I stayed here at Cathedral Gorge in the middle of summer to test out how uncomfortable the heat was that time of year... well, ok, not really. That's not really why I stayed here in August of 2025. I don't pass through this area often, so regardless of it not being an ideal time of the year to camp in a tent here, there were things that did make it comfortable. Now, as a native of Phoenix, AZ, I did not deal with temps in the 100's during this stay... it remained in the 90's during the day, and dipped to the lower 60's at night, so it was actually bearable, even in a tent. Especially at night. However, one thing that did save me was the sun shade shelter that this site has. In fact, all sites have one, and without it, I would've baked during the day. I was very grateful for that. You may note from the video of this campground that someone did an amazing job with the landscaping... not only does it look fantastic, the small trees also provide bits of shade too, and I imagine if they continue to grow and mature, they'll help keep campers cool for years to come. Site 6 is typical of all the sites here... they are spaced out just enough to not be uncomfortable or awkward, which is nice because privacy is a bit hard to come by in open desert terrain like this, where sight lines to neighboring sites are not blocked by woods or vegetation. I remarked on how well designed this campsite was. The tent pad area was clean, perfectly level, and bordered by paver stones. It looks nice and was functional. The site of course had a picnic table and fire ring, and it had a metal pole with a hook on the end, presumably to hang food items from, which if true, I suspect is to protect against small desert varmints (of which I saw none during my stay). This facility has flushing toilets and showers, which is amazing for such a remote place. I actually met the gentleman who worked on them in nearby Pioche, and can say he did amazing work. They were like brand new, clean, and some of the best showers I've ever used at a public campground. Kudos to him! This campsite, as with all, is within walking distance of Cathedral Gorge's well-known slots, or caves, which are carved into a unique, and strange, clay landscape. Unlike nothing I've ever seen or experienced, and probably the main draw for most to this park. Do come prepared though, as the nearby town of Panaca really has little in terms of food or services, but the towns of Pioche and Caliente are just a few miles away, so if you do forget something, you won't have too far to go. They did have firewood for sale using an honor system at the campground, but it was too warm for me to really enjoy one, so I passed this time. All in all, Site 6 was excellent. The campground and park is excellent. One of the finest places to experience camping in a desert.