City Of Rocks National Reserve
Described by California Trail emigrants as “a city of tall spires,” “steeple rocks,” and “the silent city,” this awe-inspiring landscape continues to captivate. Today, it beckons rock climbers, hikers, campers, hunters, and adventurers with its dramatic scenery, fascinating geology, and echoes of the Old West. The Silent City is ready for you to explore.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedStinson Creek Rx 2026
11 mi from the park's reference point · 450 acres
Within 50 miles, as of 2026-10-14. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Check the park's alerts and the managing office before you drive.
Fees & passes
Free. No entrance fee here.
City of Rocks National Reserve does not charge an entrance fee.
Hours
| City of Rocks National Reserve | Daily · All Day |
When to go
June draws the most visits here and February the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Campgrounds
| City of Rocks Campground | 67 sites | |
| $14 a night · City of Rocks National Reserve is open to camping year-round, though some sites may be covered in snow during the winter or inaccessible by vehicle. · Books through reserveamerica.com | ||
| Smoky Mountain Campground | 38 sites | |
| $28 a night · Quiet hours are between 10:00 pm and 7:00 am. There are flush toilets and showers open May-September and a vault toilet open year-round at the equestrian trail… · Books through reserveamerica.com | ||
Every campground here has its own page on Campsite Atlas, with site counts, hookups, rig limits and booking windows. All of them on one page → How park camping works
Visitor centers
- City of Rocks Visitor Center ↗Passport stamp
The Visitor Center for City of Rocks National Reserve and Castle Rocks State Park is located just outside the National Reserve in the community of Almo. Stop in to chat with a Ranger or pick up maps, guide booklets, and other informative resources.
Explore
Things to do
- Winter Camping1-14 Days
Immerse yourself in the solitude of the "Silent City".
Opens on the Park Service site - Explore the Night Sky
A day in the park doesn't have to end when the sun goes down! A whole new world comes alive at night and is waiting to be explored. The dark sky over City of Rocks is an excellent place to experience the beauty of the night.
Opens on the Park Service site - Become a City of Rocks Junior Ranger
Junior Rangers "Explore, Learn, and Protect" their national parks. Pick up a free booklet from the Visitor Center to learn about geology, nature, and history in City of Rocks National Reserve.
Opens on the Park Service site - Geologic & Historic Sites Driving Tour
A self-guided journey to discovering geologic wonders and historical sites in City of Rocks National Reserve. As you drive through the Reserve you will be able to view the featured rock formations and historic sites from your vehicle.
Opens on the Park Service site - Disc Golf at Castle Rocks30-60 Minutes
With the dramatic Castle Rocks landscape in the backdrop, this small three-hole disc golf course is fun for all ages and abilities. The lush grassy area of Castle Rocks Ranch has large shady trees that provide a welcome reprieve from summer heat.
Opens on the Park Service site - Rock Climbing in City of Rocks and Castle Rocks
Popular since the 1970's, City of Rocks granite is internationally renowned among climbers. There are over 600 routes here, both traditional and sport. Climbs vary from 30-600 feet, rating from the relatively easy 5.6 to the extremely difficult 5.14.
Opens on the Park Service site
Show all 12Hide
- Hunting in City of Rocks and Castle Rocks
City of Rocks National Reserve was formed in part to preserve traditional uses of the land. It is one of few National Park System units that allows hunting. State and federal land around the Reserve, such as Castle Rocks State Park, Sawtooth…
Opens on the Park Service site - Archery Course at Castle Rocks
This course at Castle Rocks State Park has more than 20 stations. Shot distance ranges from 20 yards to 60 yards depending on target size.
Opens on the Park Service site - Bike the Tea Kettle Trail30-60 Minutes
Tea Kettle Trail is a great mountain biking trail that runs between Bread Loaves and Elephant Rock. The trailhead can be accessed from the Bread Loaves group camping parking lot or the parking area next to Elephant Rock.
Opens on the Park Service site - Winter Photography
Capture spectacular winter views.
Opens on the Park Service site - Winter Birding
Spot over 40 species during winter months.
Opens on the Park Service site - Snowshoeing
Get out and explore the winter trails.
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
On the National Register nearby
- Granite PassSite · Burley · 8.9 mi
Forest Service trails nearby
These trails are outside the park on National Forest land, within 15 miles of City Of Rocks. Each one opens on Trailhead Atlas.
Distance is measured from the park's reference point to the nearer end of the trail.
Guidebooks for City Of Rocks National Reserve and the Rocky Mountains
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Sagebrush Steppe Vegetation Monitoring in Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve and City of Rocks National Reserve 2010 Annual ReportNational Park Service, 2013Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Wildlife
Seen this monthGolden Eagle 1×Research-grade observations within 25 km, last 30 days, via iNaturalist
Full checklist: 159 birds, 53 mammalsHide
Raptors & owlsAmerican Kestrel · Bald Eagle · Barn Owl · Burrowing Owl · Cooper's Hawk · Ferruginous Hawk · Golden Eagle · Great Horned Owl · Hen Harrier · Long-eared Owl · Merlin · Northern Saw-whet Owl · Osprey · Peregrine Falcon · Prairie Falcon · Red-tailed Hawk · Rough-legged Hawk · Sharp-shinned Hawk · Short-eared Owl · Swainson's Hawk · Turkey Vulture · Western Screech-Owl
Waterfowl & wadersAmerican Coot · American White Pelican · Black-crowned Night-Heron · Blue-winged Teal · Canada Goose · Cinnamon Teal · Great Blue Heron · Great Egret · Green-winged Teal · Sandhill Crane · Snow Goose
Shorebirds & seabirdsCalifornia Gull · Killdeer · Long-billed Curlew · Spotted Sandpiper · Wilson's Phalarope · Wilson's Snipe
Gamebirds & dovesDusky Grouse · Eurasian Collared-Dove · Greater Sage-Grouse · Mourning Dove · Ring-necked Pheasant · Rock Pigeon · Wild Turkey
WoodpeckersDowny Woodpecker · Hairy Woodpecker · Lewis's Woodpecker · Northern Flicker · Red-naped Sapsucker
Hummingbirds & swiftsBlack-chinned Hummingbird · Broad-tailed Hummingbird · Calliope Hummingbird · Rufous Hummingbird · White-throated Swift
Also on the checklistAmerican Crow · American Dusky Flycatcher · American Goldfinch · American Redstart · American Robin · American Tree Sparrow · Ash-throated Flycatcher · Bank Swallow · Barn Swallow · Belted Kingfisher · Black-billed Magpie · Black-capped Chickadee · Black-headed Grosbeak · Black-throated Gray Warbler · Blue Jay · Blue-gray Gnatcatcher · Bobolink · Bohemian Waxwing · Brewer's Blackbird · Brewer's Sparrow · Brown Creeper · Brown-headed Cowbird · Bullock's Oriole · Bushtit · Canyon Wren · Cassin's Finch · Cassin's Vireo · Cedar Waxwing · Chipping Sparrow · Clark's Nutcracker · Cliff Swallow · Common Nighthawk · Common Poorwill · Common Raven · Common Redpoll · Cordilleran Flycatcher · Dark-eyed Junco · Eastern Kingbird · European Starling · Evening Grosbeak · Fox Sparrow · Golden-crowned Kinglet · Grasshopper Sparrow · Gray Catbird · Gray Flycatcher · Gray Partridge · Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch · Green-tailed Towhee · Hammond's Flycatcher · Harris's Sparrow · Hermit Thrush · Horned Lark · House Finch · House Sparrow · House Wren · Juniper Titmouse · Lark Sparrow · Lazuli Bunting · Lesser Goldfinch · Loggerhead Shrike · Mallard · Mountain Bluebird · Mountain Chickadee · Nashville Warbler · Northern Goshawk · Northern Rough-winged Swallow · Northern Shrike · Olive-sided Flycatcher · Pine Grosbeak · Pine Siskin · Pinyon Jay · Plumbeous Vireo · Red Crossbill · Red-breasted Nuthatch · Red-winged Blackbird · Rock Wren · Rose-breasted Grosbeak · Ruby-crowned Kinglet · Sage Thrasher · Savannah Sparrow · Say's Phoebe · Song Sparrow · Sora · Spotted Towhee · Swainson's Thrush · Townsend's Solitaire · Townsend's Warbler · Tree Swallow · Vesper Sparrow · Violet-green Swallow · Warbling Vireo · Western Kingbird · Western Meadowlark · Western Scrub-Jay · Western Tanager · Western Wood-Pewee · White-breasted Nuthatch · White-crowned Sparrow · Willow Flycatcher · Yellow Warbler · Yellow-breasted Chat · Yellow-headed Blackbird · Yellow-rumped Warbler
Small mammalsBelding's Ground Squirrel · Black-tailed Jack Rabbit · Bushy-tailed Woodrat · Canyon Deermouse · Cliff Chipmunk · Columbia Plateau Pocket Mouse · Common Muskrat · Coronation Island vole · Deer mouse · Desert Woodrat · Golden mantled ground squirrel · Least chipmunk · Montane Vole · Mountain cottontail · Northern Grasshopper Mouse · Northern Pocket Gopher · Ord's Kangaroo Rat · Piute Ground Squirrel · Piñon Deermouse · Sagebrush Vole · Uinta Ground Squirrel · Vagrant Shrew · Western Harvest Mouse · Western jumping mouse · White-tailed Jack Rabbit · Yellow-bellied Marmot · common porcupine
PredatorsAmerican Badger · Bobcat · Coyote · Cross Fox · Long-tailed Weasel · Ringtail · Striped Skunk · Western Spotted Skunk · common raccoon
Hoofed mammalsMule Deer · Pronghorn · elk
BatsBig Brown Bat · Black Bat · California Myotis · Fringed Myotis · Hoary Bat · Little Brown Bat · Long-eared Myotis · Long-legged Myotis · Pallid Bat · Pinto Bat · Small-footed Myotis · mule-eared bat
Also on the checklistCatamount · cliff chimunk
Activities
Activity guides for this park Birdwatching in the national parks · Camping in the national parks · Fishing in the national parks · Hiking in the national parks · Horseback riding in the national parks · Rock climbing in the national parks · Skiing in the national parks · Stargazing in the national parks · Wildlife watching in the national parks
All 37 activitiesHide
Weather & climate
City of Rocks is located in south-central Idaho within the northern edge of the Basin and Range geologic province. Outdoor recreation can be pleasant from April through October. Summers are generally dry with 10 to 15 inches of precipitation in winter and spring. Summer temperatures range widely with night time lows occasionally approaching freezing and midday highs nearing 100° F; however, the typical range of low and high temperature is 45-85. Thunderstorms are common in the summer months (June - August)
Questions people ask
Does City Of Rocks charge an entrance fee?
No. City Of Rocks is free to enter.
Source: National Park Service
Is City Of Rocks open year-round?
Yes. The grounds are open 24 hours a day, year-round.
Source: National Park Service
Can I camp in City Of Rocks?
Yes. The Park Service lists 2 campgrounds in City Of Rocks: City of Rocks and Smoky Mountain. 2 take reservations through Recreation.gov.
Which City Of Rocks campgrounds have showers, hookups, or a dump station?
Showers: Smoky Mountain. Dump station: Smoky Mountain. Electric hookups: Smoky Mountain.
Source: Campgrounds
Do City Of Rocks campgrounds book through Recreation.gov?
No. City of Rocks and Smoky Mountain take reservations through reserveamerica.com.
Source: Campgrounds
How busy is City Of Rocks?
90,898 recreation visits in 2025, number 226 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Is there cell service at City Of Rocks?
At the park's reference point, FCC coverage maps show AT&T 5G and T-Mobile 5G. No reported coverage for Verizon. Coverage inside the park varies by location.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Is City Of Rocks good for stargazing?
Yes. City Of Rocks is a certified International Dark Sky Park.
Source: Dark sky parks
What is the weather like at City Of Rocks?
City of Rocks is located in south-central Idaho within the northern edge of the Basin and Range geologic province. Outdoor recreation can be pleasant from April through October.
Source: Weather & climate
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
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