pezvela
Jun 07, 2013Explorer
Boondocking around the Four Corners area-W/ JEEP IN TOW????
It's time to start planning our annual escape from the heat and humidity of the Sonoran desert along the Sea of Cortez. We generally leave our place in San Carlos, Sonora for the months of August and September. We have been know to leave as early as mid July and we usually return around October 15th.
This year we are targeting the Four Corners area of the US; generally, this is the area within a few hundred miles of the junction of the states of AZ, CO, NM and UT.
This year we are towing our Wrangler behind the TC, as I know this is good jeepin area.
The boundaries we are imposing on ourselves are this: as far north as a line from Moab to Grand Junction, as far west as a line from Capitol Reef to the Mogollon Rim area of AZ, as far south as I-40 from Flagstaff to Alburquerque, as as far east as a line from Albur. to Alamosa, Colorado. This is a general limit; if there is good area just outside this, let us know.
We do plan on hitting the Mogollon Rim area of AZ, which is technically outside of these limits, on our way back home in October, so we are interested in information in that area, too.
What kind of boondocking do we like? Generally, rather remote. We detach the Jeep when necessary and search out specific spots in it and them move the TC to the spot.
We prefer rather open locations that are kept comfortable from heat and bugs by breezes. We do tend to give preference to areas with trees as we live in the desert for 10 months.
But we absolutely love the high desert areas of eastern Utah. In the last two years, we did Muley Point, Valley of the Gods, Comb Wash, Burr Trail, Hole-in-the-Rock and some of Capitol Reef and that kind of area at elevation was great.
Naturally, if there are really special campgrounds or restaurants that shouldn't be missed, please mention them. As TC owner's know, we are going to have to take on water or dump about every 7-10 days. And we do like to hit the occasional country western bar on a weekend night if possible. It sure is great when you find good camping near a small city that has good CW music.
In areas we are unfamiliar with, we ALWAYS hit the local visitor's center or C of C for maps and advice. It's invaluable. We often get info of where we can boondock even in city limits, when it's late in the day. We spend a fortune on maps, Nat Geo, Delorme, BLM, NF, etc. A GPS, as well.
Our rig? It's a bit longer than many. 2000 F350 with a Lance 1030. We also have a Super hitch for towing the Jeep that reduces our clearance by a bit. 4wd.
We are very respectful of special camping areas that you might share, publicly or privately. We rarely make a fire but when we do, we use existing fire rings. And we dont dump gray water at camping areas. We are minimalist campers as TC owners often are. No offroading for the Jeep; dirt roads are plenty of excitement for us.
So, if any of you can recommend general OR SPECIFIC areas to consider within our boundaries, let us know.
PJ and Shelly from Ol' Mexico.
P.S. I do have one special spot to share that someone on this board recommended in the past two years. It is not a boondock spot and the CG, a BLM one, is only so-so. But the hike to the nearby falls is one of the most stunning day hikes I have ever made, and we have been over a portion of the Sierra Nevadas and the Wind River Range.
It is Calf Creek CG on Utah hwy 12 and the adjacent hike to the incredible falls nearby. The hike is about a mile or so and can only be rated easy. My tip? Get up EARLY, near first light and hike to the falls. You will likely have the place to yourself before any of your fellow campers make the trek. We did for a half hour on a busy summer weekend. The place is absolutely magical!
This year we are targeting the Four Corners area of the US; generally, this is the area within a few hundred miles of the junction of the states of AZ, CO, NM and UT.
This year we are towing our Wrangler behind the TC, as I know this is good jeepin area.
The boundaries we are imposing on ourselves are this: as far north as a line from Moab to Grand Junction, as far west as a line from Capitol Reef to the Mogollon Rim area of AZ, as far south as I-40 from Flagstaff to Alburquerque, as as far east as a line from Albur. to Alamosa, Colorado. This is a general limit; if there is good area just outside this, let us know.
We do plan on hitting the Mogollon Rim area of AZ, which is technically outside of these limits, on our way back home in October, so we are interested in information in that area, too.
What kind of boondocking do we like? Generally, rather remote. We detach the Jeep when necessary and search out specific spots in it and them move the TC to the spot.
We prefer rather open locations that are kept comfortable from heat and bugs by breezes. We do tend to give preference to areas with trees as we live in the desert for 10 months.
But we absolutely love the high desert areas of eastern Utah. In the last two years, we did Muley Point, Valley of the Gods, Comb Wash, Burr Trail, Hole-in-the-Rock and some of Capitol Reef and that kind of area at elevation was great.
Naturally, if there are really special campgrounds or restaurants that shouldn't be missed, please mention them. As TC owner's know, we are going to have to take on water or dump about every 7-10 days. And we do like to hit the occasional country western bar on a weekend night if possible. It sure is great when you find good camping near a small city that has good CW music.
In areas we are unfamiliar with, we ALWAYS hit the local visitor's center or C of C for maps and advice. It's invaluable. We often get info of where we can boondock even in city limits, when it's late in the day. We spend a fortune on maps, Nat Geo, Delorme, BLM, NF, etc. A GPS, as well.
Our rig? It's a bit longer than many. 2000 F350 with a Lance 1030. We also have a Super hitch for towing the Jeep that reduces our clearance by a bit. 4wd.
We are very respectful of special camping areas that you might share, publicly or privately. We rarely make a fire but when we do, we use existing fire rings. And we dont dump gray water at camping areas. We are minimalist campers as TC owners often are. No offroading for the Jeep; dirt roads are plenty of excitement for us.
So, if any of you can recommend general OR SPECIFIC areas to consider within our boundaries, let us know.
PJ and Shelly from Ol' Mexico.
P.S. I do have one special spot to share that someone on this board recommended in the past two years. It is not a boondock spot and the CG, a BLM one, is only so-so. But the hike to the nearby falls is one of the most stunning day hikes I have ever made, and we have been over a portion of the Sierra Nevadas and the Wind River Range.
It is Calf Creek CG on Utah hwy 12 and the adjacent hike to the incredible falls nearby. The hike is about a mile or so and can only be rated easy. My tip? Get up EARLY, near first light and hike to the falls. You will likely have the place to yourself before any of your fellow campers make the trek. We did for a half hour on a busy summer weekend. The place is absolutely magical!