Hey guys! I will be traveling with the wife and kids to southern Utah at the end of the month. We would like to camp, hike and do some light 4 wheeling. Campgrounds have been booked for some time so we will be looking for some primitive camp sites on BLM land. Anyone have any suggestions? Will it be safe to leave the tent and trailer unattended while we are out for the day? First time there and we are stoked! Thanks fellow mudders!
Moab
- Thread starter Mahlon
- Start date
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Beef Basin would be one of many good places to explore on foot (ruins to hike to). The greater Bears Ears area (a little higher elevation & long needle pine country), Dark Canyon Wilderness too.
Buckeye Reservoir is a nice place to camp and plenty of good hiking too (La Sal range to the east of Moab).
Buckeye Reservoir is a nice place to camp and plenty of good hiking too (La Sal range to the east of Moab).
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The San Rafael Swell area would be a good area to research.
Adventure Base Camp might kill two birds with one stone for you. The owner, Tom, will even let you use the kitchen and bathroom if you post up on the property. Drive out Chicken Corners is not too tough, and has some beautiful views.
Otherwise just find any BLM land, there is always tons of great places out on Dubinky Wash Road. The Swell is a fantastic place to check out as well.
Otherwise just find any BLM land, there is always tons of great places out on Dubinky Wash Road. The Swell is a fantastic place to check out as well.
@Mahlon, I see you are from Nebraska. My wife and I are from Lincoln. If you need any additional information feel free to PM me. We are usually down exploring in southern Utah every other week, and have a bunch of great places.
I know you said Moab which is the on the east side, but if you get to the west side I really enjoy the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument (GSENM). Be warned however that end of May is Cedar Gnat breeding season and they are everywhere. But it is a great time to go weather wise. Kodachrome Basin state park has an excellent campground. GSENM is BLM land so we would would just find a previously used campsite when we were done for the day. They were plentiful and easy to find.
Here are a couple of my trip reports:
Southern Utah Tour - Expedition Utah
A visit to the GSENM - Expedition Utah
Here are a couple of my trip reports:
Southern Utah Tour - Expedition Utah
A visit to the GSENM - Expedition Utah
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Area BFE has primitive camping with a donation box at the entrance. Check their website for details. Also check their event schedule for your dates.
Most BLM sites except group sites are first come. I prefer Sand Flats personally but along the river is good too. Hard to plan a vacation around those though.
It's getting harder to find non-regulated primitive camping in the immediate Moab area. (For obvious reasons) If everything is booked you'll have to venture out a little ways to find it.
Your title indicated "Moab" so I only focused on that.
Most BLM sites except group sites are first come. I prefer Sand Flats personally but along the river is good too. Hard to plan a vacation around those though.
It's getting harder to find non-regulated primitive camping in the immediate Moab area. (For obvious reasons) If everything is booked you'll have to venture out a little ways to find it.
Your title indicated "Moab" so I only focused on that.
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- Thread starter
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Hey guys! The trip was awesome! As to be expected, the parks were a madhouse and I didn't choose to wait in the lines to get in. The line into Arches looked to be nearly a half mile long. Backed up clear into the main highway. Crazy! We spent our time out on BLM ground west on Kane Creek Road. I look forward to returning with more time to explore.
The 80 was nowhere near trip ready and we would have been miserable cooped up in the FJC. I opted instead to take the Quigley.
The best comment made on the trip was when we got to the road sign out on Kane Creek advising that it was the end of the maintained road and to enter at your own risk. My wife stated "that was a maintained road?" Lol.
The whole way up Hurrah Pass people stopped to check on us. They asked if we were lost or if we needed help. I would say that we were fine and they would exclaim "but you're in a van!"
Silly people, it's a 3/4 ton 4x4.
What an awesome time though! I look forward to our return.
The 80 was nowhere near trip ready and we would have been miserable cooped up in the FJC. I opted instead to take the Quigley.
The best comment made on the trip was when we got to the road sign out on Kane Creek advising that it was the end of the maintained road and to enter at your own risk. My wife stated "that was a maintained road?" Lol.
The whole way up Hurrah Pass people stopped to check on us. They asked if we were lost or if we needed help. I would say that we were fine and they would exclaim "but you're in a van!"
Silly people, it's a 3/4 ton 4x4.
What an awesome time though! I look forward to our return.
sad i can't see the pics 