We have the second week of May free, and we want to do some boondocking in a really remote area. (You know what I mean -- nobody around for miles, silent, empty.) Of course, my first thought was Utah, but there is a full moon that would ruin the stars, so I want to save Utah for darker skies. (The stars in Utah are world-class -- dry air, high elevation, very little light pollution.) And the Sierra will still be snowy, so that's probably out (since we will be getting quite a bit of snow over the next several days.) I'm kind of stumped -- I need some fresh thinking.So I am open to suggestions -- something within (say) 500 miles of LA? As always, your wisdom is appreciated!

Your are pretty close to the Kofa NWR north of Yuma. We were there recently and were all alone until the last full day when some idiot decided to park right next to us. We were on BLM land, outsied of the NWR, which is still close to the highway. You can go into the NWR and really get away but the roads are pretty rough. Might be getting a little warm then, though.LS

Point Sublime, North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Desertboy wrote:Montaña De OroHe said he wanted to boondock way away from people!

Where to go in the Far West for a week in early May?

40 Replies

LenSatic
Explorer
Mar 28, 2014
There ya go, Dan. We've narrowed it down for ya. ;)

LS
profdant139
Explorer II
Mar 28, 2014
Bob, that sure looks great -- but I bet that whole area north of Bridgeport will be snow-covered until roughly mid-May. There is a great campground up in the same area -- Obsidian. It is way back in the hills.
reasley
Explorer
Mar 28, 2014

Little Walker River valley, just north of Bridgeport. Several aspen meadows, all on the MVUM (Motor Vehicle Use Map) and therefor legal for dispersed camping.
pnichols
Explorer II
Mar 28, 2014
You might want try Oregon's high desert backcountry. Travel 20-25 miles North of Plush, OR in the outback. There's a lot of desert roads out there with heavy washboarding, but you just have to slow down and take your time. We boondocked in the area for rocks (Oregon Sunstone) ... the area is very remote and the night skies are spectacular.

You might want to also try the Dubinky Well area off Hwy. 313 in the Utah high desert. It's also way out there.
SteveAE
Explorer
Mar 28, 2014
Dan,

You would be welcome to join us in the North Escalante Canyons....of course, then you wouldn't be so alone.

We expect to boondock, first off the Old Shelfield Road (Little Spencer Flats area) East of Escalante, and then move over to the Burr Trail (East of Boulder).
We won't get too far off hwy 12 or the Burr Trail because we will be commuting to various hikes each day along those roads.

Steve
profdant139
Explorer II
Mar 27, 2014
I know for sure that the official website says that I can't take a trailer on the Toroweap road -- I already checked. Maybe take Road 22 south from Fredonia.

Or the mountains around Death Valley? Not too hot, not too snowy.

I was thinking about the Kennedy Meadows area of the far southern Sierra, which is not as high or as snowy as other areas. But, unfortunately, I can't see much to do there for us -- we don't ride ATVs and we don't fish. The hiking looks un-spectacular.

Keep those ideas coming!!
cewillis
Explorer
Mar 27, 2014
profdant139 wrote:
Cal Willis mentioned the North Rim -- is there a way in at that time of year? I think Highway 67 may still be closed, but maybe there is a back road?? It looks like there are some forest roads out of Kanab and Fredonia. Hmmmm . . . .

The 'official' word on 67 is mid-May, but is does vary depending on the snow, or lack thereof.

Yeah, there are ways in, but if I told you --
There's also (maybe) a road/trail that runs from the Toroweap road to the Point Sublime road. Somebody should investigate.
profdant139
Explorer II
Mar 27, 2014
Cal Willis mentioned the North Rim -- is there a way in at that time of year? I think Highway 67 may still be closed, but maybe there is a back road?? It looks like there are some forest roads out of Kanab and Fredonia. Hmmmm . . . .
RVnRobin
Explorer
Mar 27, 2014
Since your requirements are "nobody around for miles, silent, empty" "dry air, high elevation, very little light pollution" and you don't mention preferred temperatures... I would suggest the mountain ranges around Death Valley. You would still be in the national park and there are lots of remote camping spots. In early May the temperatures are not what they are in the peak of the summer. We know. We live at Furnace Creek.
Desertboy
Explorer
Mar 27, 2014
the bear II wrote:
There are some BLM sites around Barstow, CA. that allow you to get away from folks. Also at or near the border of California and AZ.

One that I've wanted to try is the Carrizo Plains Natl Monument west of Bakersfield and east of San Luis Obispo. There are a couple of first come first served camping areas that are little used.
Here's the website http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/bakersfield/Programs/carrizo.html

One that I've wanted to try is the Carrizo Plains Natl Monument / Times 2/ I liked that stretch myself, That's the road we take from Bakersfield to Cambria. And its remote.

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Where to go in the Far West for a week in early May?

40 Replies

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