I am planning a trip for mid april from southern va to moab utah. We plan to do alot of rock climbing near or in arches national park. Any locals got any good info on places to camp. I will have my rtt on my 5th gen t4r and possibly 1 ground tent. I would really like to stay away from the crowds. I have never been to utah and dont really know what to expect.Any help is great.
Moab
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99problems
New member
Moab, bro!
Hey bro, you stoked for Moab?!
Burnout marks on geological formations!
(sorry I couldn't help myself)
https://youtu.be/FcfnCdnvjSw
Hey bro, you stoked for Moab?!
Burnout marks on geological formations!
(sorry I couldn't help myself)
https://youtu.be/FcfnCdnvjSw
Jetboy
New member
Hate to say it - but you're at least a decade late to try to camp alone in moab. Or rock climb alone for that matter. Every hipster with a van left Yosemite in about 2010 and moved to Moab.
The reality is that it is so busy now that either this coming season or the next they are going to start requiring you pre-arrange an entrance pass just to get into the arches park gate. As in you have to go online 6 months ahead and reserve your access pass at arches because it is so crowded that you can't go see anything because you can't park at any of the parking lots. Its really that crowded now. If you had gone 10 years ago you wouldn't recognize it.
I would not anticipate camping anywhere alone that's within easy driving distance of Arches. I would not plan on arriving on a Friday and camping anywhere within an hour unless you have a pre-arranged spot in a campground. If it's within a week either way of Easter - I would either reserve a campground spot or go somewhere else.
That said - there is primitive camping up the river on the Colorado a few miles out of town. There is primitive camping outside of Moab along what's known as the "brand" trails. That's pretty reliable if you get there on a Thursday. You can find some places in the sand flats recreation area ($10ish fee)- also where many of the popular slickrock trails and the slickrock MTB trail is. There are large fields of group camping - be ready for lots of F-dudes in diesel trucks and atv engines 24hrs a day - along Kane Creek.
If you want really primitive camping your best bet would be to go south to the entrance of the Needles area of Canyonlands and find a primitive spot in the BLM land there. But that's about 2hrs drive each way.
Not trying to be a downer here. I love Moab - but so do a billion other people now too. I go to southern Utah usually at least 4-5 times a year because I live a few hours away. Just trying to give you realistic expectations.
Good luck! Have fun!
The reality is that it is so busy now that either this coming season or the next they are going to start requiring you pre-arrange an entrance pass just to get into the arches park gate. As in you have to go online 6 months ahead and reserve your access pass at arches because it is so crowded that you can't go see anything because you can't park at any of the parking lots. Its really that crowded now. If you had gone 10 years ago you wouldn't recognize it.
I would not anticipate camping anywhere alone that's within easy driving distance of Arches. I would not plan on arriving on a Friday and camping anywhere within an hour unless you have a pre-arranged spot in a campground. If it's within a week either way of Easter - I would either reserve a campground spot or go somewhere else.
That said - there is primitive camping up the river on the Colorado a few miles out of town. There is primitive camping outside of Moab along what's known as the "brand" trails. That's pretty reliable if you get there on a Thursday. You can find some places in the sand flats recreation area ($10ish fee)- also where many of the popular slickrock trails and the slickrock MTB trail is. There are large fields of group camping - be ready for lots of F-dudes in diesel trucks and atv engines 24hrs a day - along Kane Creek.
If you want really primitive camping your best bet would be to go south to the entrance of the Needles area of Canyonlands and find a primitive spot in the BLM land there. But that's about 2hrs drive each way.
Not trying to be a downer here. I love Moab - but so do a billion other people now too. I go to southern Utah usually at least 4-5 times a year because I live a few hours away. Just trying to give you realistic expectations.
Good luck! Have fun!
Wow didn't realize moab it was like this. So much for all of my research. I might have to look into other options.
Bijan
New member
There are spots to camp at Sand Flats Recreation Area....where Fins N Things, and Hell's Revenge are.
I've taken my 4Runner out there twice now. Stumlbed across the Fins n Things at the end of the last one, so I haven't taken it there, but have gone through the "back entrance" to arches, which is a fun couple miles. Sand Flats would be cool to visit, but can't speak to staying there. There's also a "local" swimming hole with some mild cliff jumping here, Skydive Moab which I tried this past year (absolutely breathtaking), and good local food (I recommend Milts). The drive in from Denver to Utah is by far one of the coolest parts.
For camping, I'd actually recommend going to Goblin Valley Utah State Park about a few hours away. There's an open valley you can camp, and I stayed right underneath a plateau (see pics). It's pretty barren there, with quite a few acres of open spots. Hiking and rock climbing is available there, but I haven't done either myself (there was a chance of rain and we didn't want to risk the slot canyons). There's also camping on the Arhces NP back entrance. Stayed there one night. High clearance vehicles required.
Back entrance to Eye of the Whale Arch
Plateau near Goblin Valley. Camped on the opposite side of this.
Campsite
For camping, I'd actually recommend going to Goblin Valley Utah State Park about a few hours away. There's an open valley you can camp, and I stayed right underneath a plateau (see pics). It's pretty barren there, with quite a few acres of open spots. Hiking and rock climbing is available there, but I haven't done either myself (there was a chance of rain and we didn't want to risk the slot canyons). There's also camping on the Arhces NP back entrance. Stayed there one night. High clearance vehicles required.
Back entrance to Eye of the Whale Arch
Plateau near Goblin Valley. Camped on the opposite side of this.
Campsite
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I don't know a lot about Utah, but I've lived there for 1 year, and during that year explored a lot.
As previous posts mentioned there are barely any places near Moab that are not crowded. But 2 hours from there can you get to a pretty remote locations. One of those places is The Needles in Canyonlands Park. In 2016 I did no make any reservations for labor day weekend and had no trouble finding a camping spot in the park.
Two hours away from Moab there is Natural Bridges National Monument (one of the darkest places for star gazing). I've been there 2-3 times and barely saw any people. There are only about 20 campsites so you would need to reserve in advance. You can take a drive from Natural Bridges to Mexican Hat; there are lots of unpaved roads along the way with primitive camping and very cool steep gravel road with sharp edges called "Moki Dugway". At the bottom of that road there is "Valley of the Gods".
I might be around that area during April as well.
Good luck with the trip.
Valley of the Gods
Moki Dugway
As previous posts mentioned there are barely any places near Moab that are not crowded. But 2 hours from there can you get to a pretty remote locations. One of those places is The Needles in Canyonlands Park. In 2016 I did no make any reservations for labor day weekend and had no trouble finding a camping spot in the park.
Two hours away from Moab there is Natural Bridges National Monument (one of the darkest places for star gazing). I've been there 2-3 times and barely saw any people. There are only about 20 campsites so you would need to reserve in advance. You can take a drive from Natural Bridges to Mexican Hat; there are lots of unpaved roads along the way with primitive camping and very cool steep gravel road with sharp edges called "Moki Dugway". At the bottom of that road there is "Valley of the Gods".
I might be around that area during April as well.
Good luck with the trip.
Valley of the Gods
Moki Dugway
atchcraft
New member
Byob
I’ve been there 5 times now and I absolutely love it. I even got to climb Lions Back, back in the day. But, like [MENTION=118321]Jetboy[/MENTION] said, it isn’t the quaint little adventure town that it used to be. It’s still awesome and we’ll worth the trip, don’t get me wrong. I love European tourist, swarming in UTV’s as much as the next guy.
Set your mind to go where the masses can’t and here’s a pro tip: bring your own booze. Especially if you like good beer... Listen to me now, believe me later.
I’ve been there 5 times now and I absolutely love it. I even got to climb Lions Back, back in the day. But, like [MENTION=118321]Jetboy[/MENTION] said, it isn’t the quaint little adventure town that it used to be. It’s still awesome and we’ll worth the trip, don’t get me wrong. I love European tourist, swarming in UTV’s as much as the next guy.
Set your mind to go where the masses can’t and here’s a pro tip: bring your own booze. Especially if you like good beer... Listen to me now, believe me later.
Crowded or not, you have to experience Moab at least once. It's a cool place. I've gone in the years past in April time frame and crowds weren't bad at all (except Jeep Safari--that gets a little crazy). Feb-March is best, I think. No lines, plenty of parking. We drove right up to Arches, parked close by the trailhead, hiked, and headed out.
I mountain bike and it's great to have Moab so close. However, I like southern Utah (St George) much better for that.
I mountain bike and it's great to have Moab so close. However, I like southern Utah (St George) much better for that.
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Thanks for all the imput guys. You have definatley helped out in my research. Im going to visit alot of places mentioned. 1 place that has really caught my eye is maple canyon utah. From the pictures ive found the rock climbing there is amazing. The rock is unlike anything i have ever seen. It is literally mountains of cobble stone river rock naturally glued together. Anyone on here have any info on that area of central utah. Again thanks so much for all of your useful beta.
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SirWilliamGoes
New member
I've had a blast both times I've gone to Moab the first time I was ask to find some BLM land outside of moab to camp and it was really nice but I can't remember where it was here is the video from the first time and you will see the spot in there.
https://youtu.be/XSkHUsSphco
The second time I went we stayed inside the same flats recreation area. I found it to be crowded both times but not too bad at all and was still alone for the most part. Here's the video fromantic the second time
https://youtu.be/Mgoo5HsWiE8
Hope the videos help you in knowing what to expect when you get there. Have fun.
https://youtu.be/XSkHUsSphco
The second time I went we stayed inside the same flats recreation area. I found it to be crowded both times but not too bad at all and was still alone for the most part. Here's the video fromantic the second time
https://youtu.be/Mgoo5HsWiE8
Hope the videos help you in knowing what to expect when you get there. Have fun.
We camped for free on BLM land near 313 a couple of years ago, virtually alone. Arches is really close. Look here: https://freecampsites.net/#!146177&query=sitedetails and here https://freecampsites.net/#!10779&query=sitedetails
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atchcraft
New member
I love that site. We use it to help plan most of our road trips.
Same here, why pay for camping unless there is no alternative?
Utah_4runner
New member
My wife and I went down to Moab when we first got the 4runner at a pretty busy time and had good luck camping around Klondike Bluffs right outside of arches. There is even a back trail that leads you into arches legally from Klondike Bluffs. Check out this map to see what I am talking about https://www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/upload/ARCHmap.pdf
Primitive camping is always the way to go! Just check out the BLM maps to see where it is acceptable.
Primitive camping is always the way to go! Just check out the BLM maps to see where it is acceptable.
sn_85
Senior Member
Ignore what people say about it. Just go. Obviously if you go during Easter Jeep Safari or Cruiser Fest then it will be a cluster. There is just so much stuff to do that you can't even touch a fraction of it during one trip. I goto Moab 3-4 times a year and there is not one time that I've went and didn't have fun.