Cedar Canyon Camping Area

public land records

Thin — A single weak source put this here. Treat the location itself as unconfirmed, not just the details.

Lake Meredith National Recreation Area (NPS). Camping page https://www.nps.gov/lamr/planyourvisit/camping.htm (read 2026-08-16, page "Last updated: February 4, 2026") states, verbatim: "There are 10 RV sites at Sanford-Yake with electric and water hookups. These sites charge a fee and are available by calling 806-865-3131 for a reservation." and "All other sites and campgrounds are FREE and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis." STAY LIMIT, verbatim: "You may camp at any location within Lake Meredith National Recreation Area for up to 14 consecutive days within a 30-day period, but no more than 60 days per year. Hunters may set up a camp between October 1 and December 31, with up to 30 days allowed annually per hunter. It is prohibited to leave your campsite unattended for more than 24-hours." FIRE RULE, verbatim: "Fires are permitted only in elevated, above-ground grills and existing fire rings; fires are not allowed in the backcountry." The page adds "Check this website for up-to-date alerts regarding fire bans" -- check for a burn ban before you go. Also verbatim: "Digging or leveling the ground for a camp is prohibited." ENTRANCE FEE: none -- the park's Fees & Passes page https://www.nps.gov/lamr/planyourvisit/fees.htm (read 2026-08-16) states "An entrance pass is not required to access Lake Meredith National Recreation Area." and "Lake Meredith National Recreation Area is a fee-free park." Coordinates from the NPS official GIS layer NPS_Public_POIs_Geographic (https://mapservices.nps.gov/arcgis/rest/services/NationalDatasets/NPS_Public_POIs_Geographic/FeatureServer/0, queried 2026-08-16 by UNITCODE). NPS description, verbatim: "This small cove lies between Fritch Fortress and Sanford-Yake campgrounds. The area features beach camping with no individual campsites. The camping area is soft during rainy conditions. Drive with caution when leaving paved roads." Amenities: "Large cottonwoods provide shade in this area"; "2 campsites". COORDINATE CAVEAT: the NPS POI layer has no campground point for Cedar Canyon -- because there are no individual sites, camping is on the beach. This pin is the NPS "Parking - Cedar Canyon" point (35.69500, -101.57209); the NPS "Restroom - Cedar Canyon" point is 60 m away at 35.69516, -101.57149 and the boat launch at 35.69524, -101.57307. Confidence is low for the exact pin, not for the existence of the camping area. Nearest incorporated town: Sanford, 2.3 mi (US Census TIGERweb Incorporated Places, straight-line to the place's internal point). == NIGHTSHIFT RE-VERIFIED 2026-08-20 (fire 1180, leftover backlog pass 6: TX/TN/MO/SC/VT) == Re-read https://www.nps.gov/lamr/planyourvisit/camping.htm (still stamped "Last updated: February 4, 2026") and https://www.nps.gov/lamr/planyourvisit/fees.htm on 2026-08-20. Both still carry the exact wording recorded above, verbatim: "All other sites and campgrounds are FREE and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis."; the 14-day/30-day and 60-day-per-year stay limit; the elevated-grill/existing-fire-ring rule; "Digging or leveling the ground for a camp is prohibited."; "An entrance pass is not required to access Lake Meredith National Recreation Area." and "Lake Meredith National Recreation Area is a fee-free park." The park Alerts & Conditions page (https://www.nps.gov/lamr/planyourvisit/conditions.htm, read 2026-08-20) lists NO alerts. Re-queried the NPS national POI layer (https://mapservices.nps.gov/arcgis/rest/services/NationalDatasets/NPS_Public_POIs_Geographic/FeatureServer/0, where UNITCODE='LAMR', 105 features returned, 2026-08-20). CEDAR CANYON HOLDS UP. The camping page still names Cedar Canyon as a camping area and still says, verbatim: "The area features beach camping with no individual campsites"; "Restroom with potable water and flush toilets near the parking lot"; "Large cottonwoods provide shade in this area"; "2 campsites". The POI layer still carries "Parking - Cedar Canyon" at exactly 35.69500, -101.57209 (this row's pin) and "Restroom - Cedar Canyon" at 35.69516, -101.57149, 60 m away. Free, first-come, potable water at the restroom. DECISION: approved. Remaining caveat unchanged - the pin is the parking lot, not a numbered site, because NPS says there are no individual sites here.

US DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center station locator, snapshot 2026-09-16. Straight-line miles to the nearest public, open, unrestricted station; restricted and planned units are shown but never counted.

On the agency's books. The land manager inventoried this site, so its existence is not in question — current conditions are. Nobody from here has camped it recently.