This BLM tenting Utah oasis is an simple drive from Monument Valley the place John Wayne made so many well-known films. Once you camp on this space, you may really feel such as you stepped on to a western film set!
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Valley Of The Gods Tenting
It CAN’T Be Actual!
Though this space is so stunning, it feels pretend … relaxation assured, it is rather actual!
The Valley of the Gods is also referred to as a Miniature Monument Valley due to the gorgeous Cedar Mesa sandstone monoliths, gigantic pinnacles and extensive open areas … and CAMPING THERE IS MAGICAL!
Our Utah Highway & Recreation Atlas was my principal journey planning instrument for our Valley of the Gods tenting trip.
Utah Highway & Recreation Atlas
How To Expertise Valley Of The Gods
The greatest solution to expertise the Valley of the Gods is by taking your time driving the 17 mile loop (which is also referred to as San Juan County Highway #242).
The graded gravel and clay floor highway has a number of sharp turns, and crosses a number of washes that are simply drivable in excessive clearance automobiles but in addition could be cautiously pushed in a daily passenger automobile when the land is dry.
If the washes are working, it’s possible you’ll want a 4-wheel drive automobile for this journey.
Similar to any dust roads, the Valley of the Gods loop highway circumstances are impacted by native climate. Yow will discover the most recent info by contacting the BLM Monticello Discipline Workplace.
You’ll additionally need to discover Valley of the Gods by foot! Though there are no actual mountain climbing trails, there are loads of locations you’ll want to uncover by strolling.
Cautions Throughout Valley Of The Gods Tenting
- Due to the extensive open areas, you could discover it fairly windy when tenting at Valley of the Gods so you should definitely safe your gear in preparation for some substantial wind gusts. You may need to maintain the wind in thoughts as you do your planning for the kind of tenting meals you need to put in your menu and the way you can be cooking it.
- There may be sooooooo a lot stunning surroundings to see whereas driving, pay attention to distracted drivers and guests who generally pull off roads to take photographs … particularly when you find yourself within the space of Forrest Gump Level (extra on that later).
- Pay attention to the climate and be ready for rain, muddy highway circumstances and working washes. Our journey was comparatively dry however there was some rain within the space earlier than our arrival creating puddles in low-lying areas.
Issues To Do Whereas Tenting At Valley Of The Gods
Profiting from the FREE tenting in Valley of the Gods permits you to spend a couple of bucks on a few of the enjoyable actions within the surrounding space:
1. Monument Valley Tribal Park
We extremely advocate you spend an complete day exploring Monument Valley.
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Some folks assume Monument Valley is certainly one of our U.S. Nationwide Parks and count on their ‘America the Stunning Cross’ to get them by means of the doorway gate … BUT IT WON’T!
Monument Valley is definitely on the Navajo Nation’s tribal land.
The Monument Valley Park is operated by the Navajo Nation Parks & Rec workplace which regulates actions within the park.
You possibly can expertise the Monument Valley Park by doing a self-driving tour alongside the designated route, guided excursions, backcountry mountain climbing and tenting or benefit from the restaurant, present store and small museum shows.
Don’t miss Mitten Buttes and Merrick Butte … they’re world well-known for good purpose!
John Wayne was instrumental in making this place recognized across the planet as a result of he created so many western films right here!
Instructions: U.S. Route 163 is the primary highway between Valley of the Gods and Monument Valley Tribal Park and can take about 1 hour to journey there by automobile. It’s roughly 40 miles a method. You’ll journey by means of the little city of Mexican Hat and over a bridge to cross the San Juan River to get to Monument Valley Tribal Park. You’ll additionally need to maintain a watch out for the rock formation that appears like a Mexican hat!
2. Forrest Gump Level (also referred to as Forrest Gump Highway, Freeway and Hill)
When you noticed the Forrest Gump film it’s possible you’ll keep in mind the scene the place Forrest lastly stops working.
Effectively, that well-known panorama is positioned on U.S. Route 163 roughly 20 miles southwest of Valley of the Gods.
Instructions: If you wish to see the purpose, you’ll depart your VOG camp spot and head south on U.S. 163, passing by means of the city of Mexican Hat after which drive for about 9 extra miles until you hit Forrest Gump Level the place there’s a pull off at mile marker 13.
The long-lasting setting could be greatest seen as you’re looking towards the south.
CAUTION: There are various individuals who run out to the middle of the freeway to take an image right here … watch out as you drive by means of this space!
3. Goosenecks State Park
While you’re within the space, you should definitely make a journey to Goosenecks State Park. The park is small however spectacular.
While you’re there standing on the sting, you’ll see a deep canyon under that options the San Juan River because it meanders over six miles on its solution to Lake Powell.
Instructions: U.S. Route 163 and Utah State Route 316 are the primary roads between Valley of the Gods and Goosenecks State Park and can take about 35 minutes to journey there by automobile. It’s roughly 14 miles a method.
We used the Roadtrippers app to plan loads of our day journeys after we had been on this space as a result of we had been completely unfamiliar and by no means camped right here earlier than.
It is among the greatest tenting apps for pre-planning an extended distance journey that has numerous tourist-y actions.
Valley Of The Gods Elevation And Climate
There are valleys, mesas and pinnacles so there is no such thing as a single elevation that precisely represents Valley of the Gods however usually talking the elevation is roughly 4,650 ft above sea stage.
The typical excessive and low temperatures all year long make us say that spring and fall are one of the best instances to go to.
Our journey occurred in late Might over the Memorial Day Vacation and the daytime temperatures had been a bit heat however bearable for us Phoenicians … guests from colder climates could have a special opinion. LOL
- January 43°F Excessive / 19°F Low
- February 51°F Excessive / 24°F Low
- March 61°F Excessive / 30°F Low
- April 69°F Excessive / 37°F Low
- Might 80°F Excessive / 47°F Low
- June 92°F Excessive / 56°F Low
- July 96°F Excessive / 65°F Low
- August 93°F Excessive / 63°F Low
- September 85°F Excessive / 52°F Low
- October 72°F Excessive / 39°F Low
- November 56°F Excessive / 27°F Low
- December 44°F Excessive / 19°F Low
Mobile Protection Whereas Tenting At Valley Of The Gods
On the time of our Valley of the Gods tenting journey, our cell service supplier was Verizon.
We solely had 3G intermittent protection whereas we had been within the space.
Price To Camp At Valley Of The Gods/Permits Required
Free tenting in Utah’s Valley of the Gods is offered whenever you camp on BLM land.
The traditional 14-day restrict does apply and on the time of our go to, no particular permits had been required.
Facilities At Valley Of The Gods Camp Spots
Our journey route took us by means of northeastern Arizona after which on into Valley of the Gods.
We used our tenting guidelines and totally stocked our meals and water provide in Flagstaff Arizona after which topped our gasoline tank in Kayenta.
Relying in your route of journey, there might be procuring and companies inside an inexpensive journey distance from Valley of the Gods.
As is the case with most free tenting places, it is advisable to be totally self-contained and ready for boondocking at Valley of the Gods on this public land that’s managed by the Bureau of Land Administration.
There are no amenities, gasoline stations or companies so that you’ll need to high off your gasoline tank and refill on some other provides you want earlier than you enter this distant tenting vacation spot.
Highway Situations For Valley Of The Gods Tenting
We do most of our tenting at distant websites positioned inside Nationwide Forests which have less-than-desirable highway circumstances.
Our journey from Phoenix saved us on pavement all the way in which to the intersection of U.S. 163 and Valley of the Gods Highway.
There’s a brief little bit of pavement initially of the Valley of the Gods Highway, then it turns to gravel/clay.
It’s usually a superb 2-lane highway however there are areas the place it’s tight to go an oncoming automobile and one driver might want to pull over to permit the opposite to securely go.
Pay attention to flash flooding within the washes and muddy circumstances after a rain.
Instructions To Valley Of The Gods Tenting Space
Valley of the Gods is positioned at LATITUDE / LONGITUDE 37.264526, -109.931702
You will see FREE BLM dispersed campsites all alongside Valley of the Gods Highway which is positioned off of U.S. Freeway 163 (about 15 miles west of the city of Bluff, Utah or 7 miles north/east of Mexican Hat, Utah. You will notice an indication for Valley of the Gods Highway however there is no such thing as a flip lane so maintain a watch out and don’t be afraid to decelerate as you get shut. When you go the flip, you’ll be touring a good way on U.S. Freeway 163 with a good quantity of visitors earlier than you may flip round. (Belief me on this one LOL! I used to be doing the driving too … yikes!)
Map From Flagstaff, AZ To Valley Of The Gods, UT
Our journey began in Phoenix so I’m together with a map with a place to begin of Flagstaff in northern Arizona, by means of Monument Valley and on to Valley of the Gods.
Related Tenting Locations
When you get pleasure from tenting in stunning landscapes crammed with pink rock formations, additionally, you will love tenting at these different locations…
Dispersed Sedona AZ Tenting
Sedona Arizona is thought the world over as one of many high locations to see pink rock formations. That is our favourite fall/spring tenting location due to the gorgeous views and it’s just some hours from our house in Phoenix. Get tips about discovering these free tenting websites close to Sedona Arizona and see the shock go to we bought from a sizzling air balloon that landed subsequent to our campsite.
Canyon De Chelly Tenting Arizona
We stayed on the Cottonwood Campground on our Canyon de Chelly tenting journey. A number of the greatest surroundings on our itinerary was the backdrop for superior cliff dwellings on the Navajo Nation’s land positioned in northeast Arizona.
Onion Creek Moab Utah
You possibly can camp in a low-cost Bureau of Land Administration campground only a brief distance away from the superior Onion Creek Highway that may be a breathtaking scenic drive by means of unbelievable pink rock formations that just about dance towards the crystal clear blue sky. You received’t be upset in the event you go to Onion Creek Moab Utah.
Goose Island Campground Moab Utah
Once we camped at Goose Island, it felt rather a lot like tenting in Sedona. The rock partitions are spectacular … they’re really the boundary to Arches Nationwide Park. The 2 locations are separated by the Colorado River. See our VIDEO and get our assessment of the low-cost Goose Island Campground Moab Utah that’s operated by the Bureau of Land Administration.
FREE Tenting Journey Planner
Tenting Meals Concepts & Recipes For Your Journey
The closest grocery retailer is probably not as handy as you’ll hope when you find yourself camped in distant places. So, create your meal plan and store earlier than you arrive at this pristine wilderness location.
