car camping in the Swell

[regehr]

I know this is super broad question, but I'm looking for a place to car camp with my family in the Swell over Memorial Day weekend. I'm not exactly expecting solitude but would like to avoid the crowds a bit.

Some ideas I had were:
- off the Mexican Mountain road (I've heard that a lot of these sites have been closed off, is that true?)
- off the Buckhorn Wash road
- short spur roads near the end of the Hidden Splendor road
- off the Green River road, in the Keg Springs area

But I've been to these areas plenty of times and was looking for other ideas. Basically looking for some kid-friendly hiking and not listening to anyone's generator (or worrying that my loud children will be bothering people!).

 

[Bill]

Off the Green River road is going to be the best option for that. Moonshine, Colonnade, and Horseshoe can make for a pretty sweet weekend. Great camping around Keg Knoll but be warned that road is getting a bit rough. I used to consider this a "secret spot" of sorts but the word is out... last time we camped out there we had to share the area with a few groups.



Also, my kids always get a kick out of the Chaffin Ranch Geyser

Chaffin Ranch Geyser by Summit42, on Flickr

 

[regehr]

Thanks Bill, maybe we'll do that. I haven't camped out near the Colonnade trailhead but poked around that area a couple months ago and there are some great sites.

 

[DAA]

Have done a couple family car camping trips in the Prickly Pear Flat area, haven't ever had anyone else camped anywhere near us, last time there last summer, we didn't even have a single ATV ride by our camp all weekend. Note though, we DO get off the main road a bit, high clearance vehicle required type stuff. It's a bit more trafficked up where the cars can go.

- DAA

 

[regehr]

Thanks DAA, I am all about those high clearance tracks. I've been close to Prickly Pear Flat on all sides without ever having actually been there, so maybe that'll make a good target this weekend!

 

[Nick]

Bust out your Nat Geo Trails Illustrated Swell map and head out onto the lesser used roads deeper in the Swell and you should be good. Just avoid the epicenters - Goblin Valley, The Wedge, Head of Sinbad, etc. If you've got high clearance and a little time, I think you can get into some sweet spots out there no matter what weekend it is.

 

[Tyler]

If you want the Reef area, Deep in North Temple wash there are still some campsites un-taken (just as you get behind the reef two decent campsites on the right and left about 1/8 mile between them). No trailers can make it back that far, so you won't see them, however you will likely see a few ATV's rip by on the wash below.

I agree with Bill, the Keg Knoll area didn't have any loud people (i.e. trailers with generators), so it's a nice place.

 

[regehr]

Thanks folks!

 

[regehr]

We ended up at a site near the head of Cow Canyon due to the great views and rim hiking. We had some neighbors with generators (and, oddly, a chainsaw) maybe 1/4 mile away but they were friendly and didn't make noise late.

The northern Swell did not seem especially crowded on a gorgeous Memorial Day weekend, there were any number of tracks to nice campsites with nobody camped at them in the Prickly Pear Flat / Cedar Mtn area.

We did a long loop hike around Prickly Pear Flat, seeing the rock art panel and also the tremendous views from Kelsey's "ponderosa cove." Saw zero people. What a great area!

I'd rate the no-see-ums as light to medium-- they bugged the kids somewhat but weren't bad for the grownups.

Thanks again...

 

[regehr]