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Old 01-16-2015, 11:33 AM   #21
Rivet Master
 
2005 19' Safari
GLENDALE , AZ
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,453
GettinAway, if you are looking for peace and quiet, Dalton Springs is a great little NFS campground near Monticello, UT. In the summer, it's high enough in altitude that the weather is relatively cool (no air conditioner required), has picnic tables, fire pits (usually with firewood stacked next to the campsites, at least at the beginning of the summer) and very clean pit toilets. If you need supplies, Monticello is only a couple of miles straight down the mountain.

When we camped there last June, there was only three other RVs in the campground. Also, there is another campground about a mile or so farther up the mountain; and there was absolutely no one in there. See campground description at end of this post.

Monticello, UT is about 50-75 miles from the following, which makes for some great daytrips:

We have been to all of these attractions, and none will disappoint. Soaring Treetop Adventures is accessible only by train or helicopter, and train transportation is included; so separate tickets to experience the Durango-Silverton railway are unnecessary (a considerable savings). Soaring Treetop Adventures even has its own private rail car, so you don't have to fight the crowds or worry about last minute train reservations.

The whitewater rafting is lots of fun, and very safe. There was some kind of rafting event going on when we were there; and all kinds of funny looking, homemade rafts lined the banks. Plus, the participants mooned us on the train ride back from the all-day zip line tour (which included a gourmet lunch in the trees).

Drive the Million Dollar Highway from Durango to Silverton; then head out to the Old 100 Gold Mine, which is only a couple of miles up the mountain. A couple of old goldminers take you back into the tunnels for the full-immersion experience. Plus, you get to pan for gold and silver at the end of the tour.

The national and state parks speak for themselves. If you haven't been there, they are just amazing, with great photo opportunities.

In Moab, we always eat at the Sunset Grill on top of the valley rim. It's an pricey, upscale restaurant (great steaks, seafood, pasta and desserts); but it has the best view in Moab. For a great evening, arrive just before sunset. Plus, don't worry about about a dress code. Nearly all places in Moab are very tolerant of camping clothes as long as you don't smell too bad and bring lots of money.


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Dalton Springs (NFS) Campground
Monticello, UT

GPS/Google Earth coordinates: 37° 52.468'N 109° 25.878'W

Dirt interior roads and parking pads. Interior road had some potholes filled with water from Dalton Spring and/or recent rains. No sites are level, but OK with leveling blocks. Most sites have some shade most of the day. Wooden picnic tables and fire rings, with lots of (free) newly cut wood, stacked and ready to burn. Appears BLM cleared the campsites of dead/damaged trees from last winter, and cut the wood for campers. Water, pit toilets and trash dumpster, but no dump station.

TV service is weak, but signal is OK for ABC and marginal for NBC and THIS. Good cellphone & slow 2G broadband. (We passed the cell tower on another mountain a few miles north of Monticello.)

Rate: $10/night; $5/night with Senior Pass. Note: Water is available, but it is not potable. Also, there is no dump station, but I think there is one available in Monticello.

Campground is a short, 5-mile drive, straight up the mountain, west of Monticello. Road to campground is paved, and I think it goes to a lake and ski area up the mountain. Elevation 8,400 feet, which is 1,200 feet above the city of Monticello. Lots of Gambel oak and aspen, but no pines.

Weather on 06/01/14: 75/50, mostly sunny with a few passing clouds and late-afternoon light sprinkles. Mostly calm winds with an intermittent breeze and a few powerful gusts.

A herd of about a dozen deer frequently walked through our campsite, eating young tree saplings and grass. Dalton Springs has several seeps that drain into channels that flow through the campground and keep everything green.

This campground is a lot like Price Canyon; i.e., it feels remote. However, we can see Monticello down the hill. Lots of local traffic on minor highway/forest road that leads here.

Description from BLM Website: 8200 ft. elevation. 16 sites in an aspen and gambel oak grove. Nearby Blue Mountain ski area offers all kinds of winter sports, transforming into summertime mountain bike adventure. Mule deer may be seen in the campground. Newspaper Rock and the Needles District of the Canyonlands National Park are nice day trips.
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