CCC Camps in Utah

More About the CCC

• Introduction to the CCC
• Organization of the CCC
• Who Were the Men of the CCC?
• CCC Work Projects
• A Day in the Life of an Enrollee
• The End of the CCC
• 1989 CCC Reunion
• The CCC: Then and Now

By the time the CCC ended in 1942, 116 camps had been built in the state of Utah and a total of 22,074 local men and 23,833 out-of-state men had been employed.

In 1933, the first CCC camp established in Zion National Park, NP-1, was located at Blue Springs in the Kolob Terrace area of the park. It was shortly followed by the creation of two camps in Zion Canyon. NP-2, also called the Zion CCC Camp, was created in 1934 and NP-4, or Bridge Mountain Camp, was completed between 1934 and 1935. They were located on opposite sides of the Virgin River, in an area near the present-day South Campground and Watchman Housing. 

During the summer months, due to the high temperatures in Zion Canyon, men would be moved to nearby National Park Service holdings, such as NP-3 in Bryce Canyon National Park and the "Stub Camp," or seasonal camp, at Cedar Breaks National Monument. The men would then be transferred back to Zion to work over the winter months.

 

ZION 7137: The CCC camps located in Zion Canyon were constructed in a horseshoe shape, with two main rows of structures and a courtyard area in between. This photo shows Camp NP-4, Bridge Mountain Camp, which was located on the east side of the Virgin River.

 

ZION 15933_402_05_02004: This photo shows camp NP-3 at Bryce Canyon National Park, which was occupied during the summer months. Once temperatures dropped, the men were transferred to Zion to take advantage of the milder winter weather in the canyon.

 

9 ZION 13506: When projects were a significant distance from the main camp, CCC enrollees would create temporary spike camps to reduce the amount of travel time required. Pictured here is the spike camp established near Jolley Wash.

 

ZION 7097A: The barracks where the men slept in Zion Canyon were plain but comfortable. Beside each bed was a small area where the men could hang their clothes and keep personal belongings.

 

ZION 15449: Regular reports were created to document the work projects completed by CCC crews. This report from July 1 to September 30, 1934, includes information about the establishment of Camp NP-2, which was located on the West side of the Virgin River.