Paria Contact Station/House Rock Valley Rd. camping?

[Damdifino]

I plan to be here this summer exploring The Wave-Wire Pass-Buckskin Gulch areas for a few days. What's my best bet for stashing my 23-foot travel trailer while I make daily driving/hiking excursions? I know of White House Campground and Stateline Campground, but there may be dispersed camping or other opportunities I'm unaware of. Boondocking is not a problem--I expect it--but I need advice about negotiating some of these roads with my rig. Any insight you can share would be helpful. BTW, I expect to be towing with my F350 this trip (looong wheelbase.) TIA

[2gypsies1]

Here's the official BLM site for obtaining permits for the area. Yes, you can get a permit via online and in person. This is an internationlly-famous hike so a LOT of folks will be trying for the limited number:

The Wave Hike and others in the area

There some very good information on the BLM site. Lots of good reading for ideas.

Hopefully, the moderator will move your post over to the Boondocking Forum for additional help.

[ClaireOKC]

So does this mean you only have 6-month type permits - ONLY?.....are they not doing the lottery at Kanab anymore?

SteveAE wrote:
2gypsies,

I see you are right, they no longer have the walk in permits (I referred to it as "lottery"...which it is) at the Paria Contact Station....maybe it isn't even staffed anymore??? OP should check on that if he wants to get water there. That is too bad as it puts folks a lot further out for hiking after trying for a permit in the morning. "Government logic" I guess.

Steve

[SteveAE]

2gypsies,

I see you are right, they no longer have the walk in permits (I referred to it as "lottery"...which it is) at the Paria Contact Station....maybe it isn't even staffed anymore??? OP should check on that if he wants to get water there. That is too bad as it puts folks a lot further out for hiking after trying for a permit in the morning. "Government logic" I guess.

Steve

[2gypsies1]

Be aware that if you're planning to do the Wave you need to do it online or show up in Kanab at the lottery office. It has moved. Only a certain amount of hikers are allowed each day. We were there to enter the lottery around May 15 and there were approx. 100 folks waiting for the 10 coveted spots. We got our two!! There is a lot of BLM land in the area for boondocking. Have a good trip and bring LOTS of water for summer hiking - more than you think you'll need. Don't ask me how I know!

[SteveAE]

Damdifino wrote:
Steve--great info! Thanks... Have a wonderful time, be safe.

You too.

[SteveAE]

BTW, some of the side roads (to hikes, not camps) off House Rock Valley Rd. have pretty deep sand. My Tundra was able to go places that my buddies F350 couldn't. Don't even try some of these roads without 4x4. Suggest you bring a portable electric tire pump in case you wind up letting air out of your tires.

Steve

[Damdifino]

Steve--great info! Thanks... Have a wonderful time, be safe.

[SteveAE]

Hi,

There is a great place.
It is a gravel pit, just above the Contact Station.
Turn off the hwy like you are going to go to the Contact Station. Then turn right (west) and wrap around the hill till you see a route headed up the hill. Go up there (walk it first to verify). Beautiful view, great solar and Verizon coverage from the top of the hill. Easy to get to the Contact Station for the morning lottery and to fill up with water (bring a couple 5 gallon containers). Good luck getting a Wave permit.

If the idea of a "gravel pit" doesn't float your boat, then just a short way down the Paria (same turn off as above) toward the Paria trailhead, is a nice dispersion campsite with a one or two small to medium sized Cottonwood trees. We chose not to stay there because, being right on the river, the dogs would have been constantly muddy...but happy.

You would have to go down House Rock Valley road quite a distance to find a even a fair spot, so I wouldn't recommend that option.

You could go up the Cottonwood road (Cockscomb), but that will put you a long way from the Contact Station for the morning Wave lottery.

There is a spot just on the East side of the ridge between the Contact Station and House Rock Valley road that might work.

You could go out toward the Old Paria Movie Set, but it would be a long way back to the Contact Station and other hikes.

Right out in front of the Contact Station (on the right as you turn off the hwy) is a OK place to spend a night or two. You could start there and then scout around.

Have fun. We'll be arriving in the Escalante area in a couple weeks ourselves. If you get bored of the Paria area (which is unlikely), feel free to come join us.

Steve

[Damdifino]

Thanks for the campground suggestions. If I may expand a bit on my original question, I'm actually looking for boondocking sites in the immediate vicinity of the Paria Contact Station. Given the size of my rig, I'm concerned about the navigability of House Rock Rd as far south as, say, Stateline campground--or any other nearby BLM sites.

[ClaireOKC]

We visited that area last year and it's gorgeous - but you already know that. We stayed at Cannonville, UT KOA and also the Wahweap Marina & Resort and for my money, the Wahweap was by far the nicer - it was more expensive, but nicer (sites more level, nice spaces between sites, full hookups. Even if you stay in Kanab, that's about the same amount of time away from the Coyote Buttes area.

As far as negotiating your way through with your trailer, you shouldn't have any problems. 89A coming out of Marble Canyon and to Kanab has some switchbacks, but if you're in Page, you shouldn't have to negotiate that with your trailer.