The anasazi area of SE Utah is an area where you could spend a decade. Every wash and canyon has a ruin about 1/2 mile apart. There's even a little-known piece of Bridges Nat Mon across the road from Grand Gulch. Not to mention that Bluff is a nice town and Cow Canyon is a good restaurant, book store, and fine art gallery. But, back to topic...
Utah 261 runs from approximately Mexican Hat up to Utah 95, near Bridges Nat Mon. A note on the map says, "steep grades, switch backs" but don't let that stop you. I had no problem taking a 27' Overlander up the cliff, and I think no problem for a 31'. Just smile at the sign on the roadway. 261 is paved, except for the road up the cliff. I like the Mulley Point overlook, looking over the Goosenecks of the San Juan. It's 3.8 miles down a gravel road, the first west turn (left) after you climb the cliff heading north--the road splits right away, stay left. Another mile or so north along 261 there is a dirt road heading west that has a number of meadows (if you think of sagebrush as making a meadow) along it.
If you want to park for Grand Gulch (and the Ranger Station is full), go all the way to the north end of 261. In the SE corner of the intersection with 95, there is a several football fields big area about 1/3 mile down a gravel road (OK for 27' and maybe longer, but it does have some blue whale sized hummocks), great for several days of unhooking and camping. At the same intersection, a dirt road continues north, but I recommend against it. I couldn't negotiate it all the way with my 18' Caravel, but it is more private for tent camping.
BTW, you see Utah 316 down near Mexican Hat. That road leads to the Goosenecks State Park--never been there but it would be worth a look. NE of there you see Valley of the Gods, the road is dirt, but it's a nice scenic loop if you're not towing. Another spot I haven't looked at is the Sand Island Campground across the river from Bluff.
............OK, I just went and looked at the campgrounds tab. Maybe I'm having a male day, but I see lots of campgrounds with hookups and spaces, but in the 15 posts for the "West," I saw only one possibility as a boondock and it was a park service campground(s)(?), I think. So maybe we ought to have a boondocks tab so this info doesn't get submerged as new threads come on line. What say ye?
I like the idea of a boondock tab! BTW, I wasnt correcting you, being selfish and wanting to be able to find these sites again without looking a 7,437 threads with the word boondock in them, I was trying to figure out if the campground link wasnt a tad better (for me ).
__________________ "If a man does not have an ideal and try to live up to it, then he becomes a mean, base and sordid creature, no matter how successful." Letter to his son Kermit, quoted in Theodore Roosevelt by Joseph Bucklin Bishop, 1915
I pulled our 25' Excella up those cliffs last September. You're right, it is do-able, hardest thing was getting started again if you had to stop. Loose gravel didn't provide much traction. Once on top, we drove back about 3 miles and found a wonderful large pull-out on the east side of the road. We pulled in and spent the night. Great place. The next morning, it was off to Bridges Nat. Monument.
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2002 Toyota Tundra Not that Bob Thompson, the other Bob Thompson!
Here is an old mining trail, its located off US 24. The turn-off is between Buena Vista & Leadville, about 25 miles south of Leadville, or about 9 miles north of Buena Vista, turn east on County Road 387. Go about 0.3 miles to County Road 371, and turn south on 371. Continue about 4 miles, State park on right. No hookup, no bathhouse but it does have a toilet. Fee is about $15. Arkansas River is a one minute walk from the park. You have great views, ultra quiet. Abandoned railroad trestle, gold panning, fishing and mountain biking.
These County Roads are 1 lane, good but unpaved, so take your time.
I saw a few campers who found a nice spot along the Arkansas and boon-docked for free; next time I may do this!
BTW, you see Utah 316 down near Mexican Hat. That road leads to the Goosenecks State Park--never been there but it would be worth a look. NE of there you see Valley of the Gods, the road is dirt, but it's a nice scenic loop if you're not towing.
NOT towing? What do you mean NOT towing?
Valley of the Gods -- last drive-by pinnacle when entering from the SE... For me, VOG was one of the highlights of the trip!
Because technically, Boondocking isn't at Campgrounds. Great pics here and a great idea starting a thread. I wish some of these pics were in my recent Boondocking article in Airstream Life.
__________________ Sterling - 1972 Sovereign Intl (RB) Eddie - 2003 Ford Excursion (6.0L PSD) Prodigy Brake Controller / Equal-i-zer Hitch / Honda EU2000i x2 Airstream Life Contributor WBCCI 4CU #5661/AIR #5661
I would like to see Boondocking alongside but separate from Campgrounds in the Tabs at the top of the page. OR, combine the two, but make the Tab title "Campgrounds/Boondocking." Boondocking fills a different though similar use than Campgrounds. We seem to already have enough information to begin an informative base for the category. Moderators or Andy R, would you open or change such a Tab and enter these items? I think you would see LOTS of use of it. Thanks. ~G
__________________ maxandgeorgia 1995 Airstream Classic Limited 30' ~ Gypsy Chev Silverado 2500HD Duramax/Allison, 4X4, Crew Cab WBCCI #5013 AIR #2908 WDCU Go, Mizzou...Tigers on the prowl!
Y'all should come to Gods country...When the snow melts..... We have a ton
of places to pull off and camp. Just up Trailcreek road right past Sun Valley
resort is a nice campground but go beyond that and there are many, many
places to pull off on good roads by the creek and streams and what views! From
most areas you can see The famous Baldy ski area. Go north out of town and many
camp grounds but lots of places to pull off. Out of Stanley, Id. (SOOOO
gorgeous) head toward Boise and pull off in a meadow and you will wake up
with a herd of Elk in camp.....you will not be disappointed promise!
Happy Trails, Betty & John
What a great thread! We plan to take our first big trip with our 22' CCD this summer. After stopping at the Grand Canyon we plan to head into Colorado, with boondocking on the agenda. This thread will be a great resource.
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Wayne
2002 22' CCD
1997 Dodge Ram 1500 5.9L
Thanks for starting this thread. And great pix. As an Easterner, I'm still not at east with just pulling off the road and camping, the way you can out West, but this is giving me encouragement for my next trip out there.
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