FREE Legal Boondocking in Moab, UT

4runnerguy wrote:

Probably most of the traffic that you saw on the Willow Springs Road is for the Klonzo mountain bike trail head around three miles in from the highway. Can be 20+ cars parked there at any one time, with some coming and going much of the day.

That very well could be. I didn't notice if these cars were carrying bikes.

2oldman wrote:

4runnerguy wrote:
.. Unfortunately, Willow Springs Road is well known and absolutely packed much of the time. It is on state lands and I understand the state is looking at trying to control the overuse out there.

I stayed there in November. I remember thinking "why is there all this traffic"?

Turns out the WSR is a back road into Arches park, where, if you have a vehicle suited to take that road, you can go into the park free.

We ride our mountain bikes on a loop that starts at the visitors center, heads up through the Bar M trails and comes out on 142 before entering the park. We continue on into the park, coming to the main road at the Balanced Rock parking lot. From our experience, there's about 10 cars heading out of the park for every car headed in. Don't know that many people are going in that way to avoid the fee.

Probably most of the traffic that you saw on the Willow Springs Road is for the Klonzo mountain bike trail head around three miles in from the highway. Can be 20+ cars parked there at any one time, with some coming and going much of the day.

boogie_4wheel wrote:
Nice and flat but was clay, so beware of you are in there during rain.

We've seen quite deep ruts on that road from people driving on it when wet. I imagine without 4x4, it's easy to get stuck there.

Stayed on 142 a few weeks ago. Easy to get a rig in there. The wash is traveled and beat down enough that you shouldn't have to worry. Didn't explore around the area, stayed West of where the road first forks. Nice and flat but was clay, so beware of you are in there during rain.

4runnerguy wrote:
.. Unfortunately, Willow Springs Road is well known and absolutely packed much of the time. It is on state lands and I understand the state is looking at trying to control the overuse out there.

I stayed there in November. I remember thinking "why is there all this traffic"?

Turns out the WSR is a back road into Arches park, where, if you have a vehicle suited to take that road, you can go into the park free.

Bumpyroad wrote:
lots of pull offs along 128 on the river.
bumpy

Camping is not allowed at any of the pulloffs on UT 128 along the river. Camping only in designated campgrounds and campsites and those are beyond full during the Jeep Safari Week.

lots of pull offs along 128 on the river.
bumpy

Please take the time to add those sites at freecampsites.net

Oh, there's boondocking alright around Moab. One just has to know where to go and make sure you're not in a restricted area. Map

On BLM 142, about 2 1/2 miles in from the highway, there is a sign prohibiting camping beyond that point, so look for a spot before that.

Besides the Klondike Bluffs Road, a little over six miles further north is the North Klondike Bluffs Road. About a mile or so in there is a pit toilet. Another mile in there's another near the trailhead for the dinosaur foot prints. Keep an eye out for signs prohibiting camping in a couple of places out that way.

Of course there's dispersed camping along the first mile and a half or so up the Willow Springs Road which turns off of US 191 just short of two miles north of the intersection with UT 313. Do watch for the left turn about 1 1/2 miles in. No camping on that road. Besides, it's got a sandy wash to cross. Unfortunately, Willow Springs Road is well known and absolutely packed much of the time. It is on state lands and I understand the state is looking at trying to control the overuse out there. Nothing has happened yet, however.

But if you use the above map in conjunction with Google maps, you can pinpoint some obvious camping sites not within the restricted areas. You may not be quite so close to town, but at least it's a camping site.

One more hint: If you can find a boondocking site south of town, getting in and out of Moab is much easier. Heading back into Moab from the north (Arches, etc.) in the afternoon/evening can mean waiting in a mile or two long line of cars.