suggestions: dry camp places/to do Moab, se utah

We stopped at Horsethief and it is not open. Had a chat with the "host"...lucky dog getting to just relax with campground all to himself. The free sites just beyond horsethief were taken and then it
got a little too rough for our c...turned around and overnighted at corner of 313/191.

Scored a site at Deadhorse for three nights for son to visit us.

Some #*&%(*#&%#* in the non group site beyond Lone mesa group site thought he deserved to take up the equivalent of two sites by spreading out his belongings: big trailer, atv, truck. Might go back
and join him:B just because he deserves it.

dcason wrote:
I laughed at the "if anything"...know what you mean on that one.
Donna

Good! ;)

Sometimes, I just want to sit in the lounger and read, or nap...well nap. So, often, all I'm looking for is a place where other people ain't! :)

LS

Thank you all.
Yes, I guess I should say what we are interesting in doing. I laughed at the "if anything"...know what you mean on that one.

We like to hike; hubby is more into canyons than I am...but hiking is good! We do anywhere from a couple of miles to 8 miles per day...so
bring it on:)

Enjoyed our boondocking near Goblin Valley.

OHHHH, there was a sign on the kiosk for little wild horse canyond and bell canyons that read something like: area is closed sorry for the inconvenience. hahah...there were many people walking by that sign. The only thing that didn't happen was...toilet paper...bring your own....we gave up one roll:)

Donna

In terms of Grand Staircase/Escalante, try heading down Hole in the Rock Road. There are spur roads off the main road where you'll find camping spots. There are a variety of interesting hikes in this area, including Peekaboo and Spooky. If there are gates, just park and walk. Check out this webpage for info on various hikes in this area (Listed under Escalante River). You probably can't get into Lower Calf Creek Falls, but most of the rest might be accessible, even in you have to walk a little further because of a closed gate (I just don't remember if there are gates near the trailheads or not).

If it has a gate, it has to be closed, if it doesn't...

To answer the OP's original question. Horse Thief BLM campground is open (we were there). It can be reached by taking the Dead Horse State-Park/Canyonlands Island in the Sky road and following the signs.

That being said, the TP is not being replaced, the garbage is not being picked up, etc.

Len is correct. Dispersed campsites cannot be closed. Only places that can be closed (ie; gates or fees-for-sites) are closed. The rest of the National Forest areas are wide open, just as always.

The places I noted above are not fee campgrounds, so they are open. I really like the Castle Valley Overlook location.

2gypsies wrote:
Sorry to say that boondocking areas around there are mostly federal land so with the closures you might have problems. Looks like you'll have to look for private parks or state parks. What a mess this is causing folks!

They can only close offices and facilities. They can't keep us off our land. BLM, FS, etc., are employed to manage it for us.

LS

2gypsies wrote:
Sorry to say that boondocking areas around there are mostly federal land so with the closures you might have problems.

The place I stayed didn't have a gate.

Sorry to say that boondocking areas around there are mostly federal land so with the closures you might have problems. Looks like you'll have to look for private parks or state parks. What a mess this is causing folks!

In the Moab area:

We camped up on a point, at the south end of Sand Flats Road. Just inside the national forest, with no fees. It is a primitive campsite, at the Castle Valley Overlook.

N 38.575524° W 109.345847°

It is a drive to get there, but it is beautiful.

Or, you could try up towards Kane Springs. Access is on Kane Springs Road, on the SW side of Moab. Some new campgrounds there. No shade there, but this time of year you should be okay. 38.485873° -109.604678°

Or, in the Sand Flats area (up the hill, east of town, where mountain biking rules), there are a number of campgrounds. It is not national anything there - local recreation area. Don't know what the fees are for those campgrounds, though.

Good luck!