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GordonThree's avatar
GordonThree
Explorer
Feb 10, 2015

Bryce / Zion in September...

So, do I need to be online at Midnight, February 28th so I can reserve a campsite in Zion for September? $210 (plus fees) to blanket a spot for two weeks isn't that bad, change my arrival date when it gets closer and just eat the fees. That's how the game is played, right?

The Zion website claims their park is routinely sold out through the end of November, wow!

I want to take a ~3 week drive out west, but I find the rigid planning and meeting reservations and deadlines too stressful... I have enough of that at work, why must I also do it on vacation? The masses enjoy structure I guess...?

Southern Utah is mostly desert, but it looks like there's a million rules in place in terms of what you can't do, like just drive down a dirt road and pull off to camp for the night, or can you and it's just not widely talked about (wink wink?)
Boondocking
Dry Camping
Public Lands

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  • SteveAE's avatar
    SteveAE
    Explorer
    Feb 10, 2015
    Gordon,

    There are tons of great places to camp in S. Utah that don't require a reservation....and where you won't have neighbors either. The trouble with Zion (and all the N. Parks) is you are competing with the masses. If camping shoulder to shoulder is your thing, then go for it. But if you want more room, then you have to get out and explore. Since you asked, at Zion there used to be a nice boondocking area just a few miles west of town, in the wash (watch the weather). At Brice, also go west (actually, east works too). Just before you drop into Red Canyon, there will be a little rest area on the south side of the road with a gravel road behind it that goes to a nice little forest campground. If that is full (there are only about four sites), cross the hwy and explore out the road that goes north.

    You will find both of the above sites (and a lot more) here.

    Have a great trip,
    Steve

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