If you're looking for elevation gain, Behind the Rocks Wilderness Study Area has you covered. Open in Google Maps. After you cross U.S. 191, continue for 2.6 miles, and you will see the beginning of the course. Cell Service: spotty T-mobile/Sprint (Google Fi). The trail follows the most difficult of the several routes in this region, and gets its renown and its high rating mostly for White Knuckle Hill. At the big parking lot, veer left, towards Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite. Campgrounds. Youll begin seeing large cleared areas with fire rings - take your pick. Season February through November, Loop 2 -- A bit more -- 14.3 miles Perfect late afternoon/evening hike (I trail ran), even when warmer. Many online resources say to find free camping along Potash Road. The best access is with 4WD. Utah Destinations; Utah National Parks . We were striking out on basically all the campgrounds close to Moab early on a Thursday. Our initial plan is to take Potash Road to Shafer / Mussleman, up the switchbacks, over to dead horse point, down long canyon and back to Moab. Ken's Lake is a terrific place to go bass and sunfish fishing near Moab. We pulled out 40ft fifth wheel with no problems and others in our group drove their small car to the site as well. If youre able to get out to these sites, they are sure to please! Picture Frame Arch Area Designated Campsites - Campendium Recreational use of the WSA is limited to hiking, fin walking and climbing. Forks are unmarked, and the correct route is often the less-traveled path. (Imagine riding the technical sections of this trail in the dark!) Loop 2.5 has some more technical stuff, including some nice open slickrock playgrounds just Night. It was around 95 degrees in Moab when I started around 6:30pm. More. Many of the best climbing locations are near Government Trail in the southwest quadrant. Inside Sooki had a space in the back that she was sharing with the water jug, her sleeping back and some miscellaneous odds . Be sure youre following Behind the Rocks Road, not Behind the Rocks Safari Route. Behind the Rocks separates the real There are 7 free camping sites at this particular location, along with a walk-in area for tent camping. Hidden Valley Trail | Bureau of Land Management To get in and out of the many small canyons is to take a bumpy trip over sandstone ledges. )Now drive your second vehicle to the trailhead. What to do? Corporate and Festival Partnership Program. are advanced technical.) It is almost directly across from a sand dune (.5 mile away). Behind the Rocks OHV Trail is a loop trail where you may see wildflowers located near Moab, Utah. Whether Joshua Tree National Park is on your bucket list or already crossed off, there are many c Signup for Roadpass Pro to get premium access to all of these great road travel apps. Cars and RVs should be able to manage this road in dry conditions, but may be limited on which side roads can be safely explored. Behind The Rocks - GoneMOAB The Moab Rim and Pritchett Canyon 4WD routes forms portions of the northern, eastern and western boundaries of the WSA. Little Wild Horse (forget Bell) will give you an amazingly different experience than anything you will find in Moab or Monument Valley. South of Moab, the Hidden Valley hiking trail leads into the east-central portion of the area. Be the first to add a note for Picture Frame Arch Area Designated Campsites! Behind the Rocks - Utah - Scenic USA Claim this business Share. While the Bureau of Land Management free camping is not available in the Behind the Rocks Wildlife Study Area, fantastic options are nearby. mile loop is reasonable, and covers the best of the tech sections. March 23, 2024 Moab, Utah Behind the Rocks Ultra is a part of The Triple Crown of Moab. One of the events actually took place right across US 191 to the other direction; area BFE. L at N 38 26.37' W 109 31.86' Ken's Lake and Selected Courthouse Rock Campsites are Now Reservable Behind the Rocks Road Dispersed is located in Utah. 21.5 Back at 4-way (mile 7.6 on way out) Now, the Behind the Rocks area has peaked our interest and could be the choice. This is a fantastic area. Address: Behind the Rocks, longitude 38.279224 and a latitude 109.52464 Moab, Utah 84532 Help! That is no longer an option and people are routinely asked to leave in the middle of the night. Season April through October. Read More About Us All right reserved. Throttle-twisters push through one of Behind the Rock's many technical sections. 28.201' W 109 33.666' before you branch off the main route. I had not seen a lunar eclipse in my life. You might think about doubling back UP Shafer and going back to Moab via Long Canyon as opposed to the route out from White Rim along the Colorado which is really long. Cabin: Outside Summer Cabin: Outside Summer Cabin: 2 Day Beds Cabin: Living Room & Kitchen Cabin: Dining Table Cabin: Kitchen Cabin: Master Bedroom Cabin: Master Bath The money is put towards porta potty upkeep and general improvements to the area, as its popularity was requiring more maintenance than possible without funds to budget towards the area. (The property owner has installed a fee box. Will you have a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Directions Latitude 38 16' 45.2064" N Longitude 109 31' 28.7040" W Eclipse, especially for my first sight of a beautiful lunar eclipse. Ready for your next hike or bike ride? I would go there. The park's runner-up is Moab Rim To Hidden Valley To Pipe Dream OHV Trail, which will get you 573 m of elevation gain. #1 - Hidden Valley Trail Behind the Rocks Wilderness Study Area Length: 6.0 mi Est. Hikers must use their hands while scrambling over the sandstone rock formations along this trail. Yeah, the Lunatic Utah Moab Behind the Rocks OHV Trail Behind the Rocks OHV Trail Hard 4.7 (63) Moab, Utah Photos (241) Directions Print/PDF map Length 30.5 miElevation gain 3,015 ftRoute type Loop Try this 30.5-mile loop trail near Moab, Utah. The campsites can be trashy, and range cows run here in the winter and make a mess. While you can make it down Shafer in a regular vehicle carefully, going beyond that onto White Rim or into Moab might be challenging, same with Long Canyon. Toquerville Falls Most riders go 19 miles one-way, losing 1400 vertical feet of altitude. Also short loop or figure-eight options. Fisher Towers Picnic Area is a fabulous place for a picnic because of its stunning Colorado Basin views. And like all dirt roads in this area, use your best judgment if they are wet or if rain is in the forecast! 22.5 Keep straight *(This post contains affiliate links. Balcony Arch, Picture Frame Arch, and Pritchett Arch (a distant view) may be seen; other arches and bridges are nearby. I just stumbled across some vague info for the are behind the western canyon wall in Moab called "behind the rocks" There don't seem to be any trails, but it is full of fins, arches and other features to explore. What kind of rental car do I need & are there places I should not drive a rental car? An immensely popular option is Goose Island Campground on the Colorado River's shores very near Arches National Park. You should see a sign that (among Cell Service: Yes Verizon; spotty AT&T; spotty T-mobile/Sprint (Google Fi). on the whole ride. Print/PDF map. (BTR Trail ends on Pritchett Trail) You had also mentioned Long Canyon earlier. Are there any hot springs in the Moab area? and ledges, and life-sucking sand. You can do the full loop to Bell, but it's Little Wild Horse that's of interest. Intensity: Easy, Hike along a wide gravel road on this trail that passes beside Native American petroglyphs to Birthing Rock, with images on four sides depicting a woman giving birth to a child's feet first. Escape the crowds at Moab, Utah's national parks while enjoying spectacular scenery by exploring Behind the Rocks Wildlife Study Area. Loop 2.5 -- More still -- 20.9 miles 31.258' 3rd segment of the Magnificent 7 epic ride. If youre a fan of free camping, check out our post titled The Ultimate Guide to Free Camping to learn how to camp for free anywhere you go! 801-653-2689. Behind The Rock OHV Loop: 20 Reviews, Map - Utah | AllTrails 25.6 mile loop, Lunatic Loop -- Brutal 28.2 miles While neither worry us in terms of dropoffs or heights I would imagine the Shafer Trail is worse for those that do get a little "chicken". House features beautiful landscaping and views and spacious open kitchen, living and dining area for group time together. If you went right at the split (onto Secret Spire Safari Rte / BLM 137) youre headed in the direction of the free camping area also referred to as Dubinky Well Road. Please select a reason for flagging this item: 2023 Campendium Inc. All rights reserved. Season July through September. Don't dream of riding this trail for the first time without an odometer, a by-the-mile trail In 2021, Willow Springs Road became part of Utahraptor State Park and theres now a $15 fee to camp here overnight. Be the first to add a video for Picture Frame Arch Area Designated Campsites! Find Related Places. 38.41555720558354 N 109.46367765001018 W. Copy Coordinates. I just stumbled across some vague info for the are behind the western canyon wall in Moab called "behind the rocks" There don't seem to be any trails, but it is full of fins, arches and other features to explore. What was your plan there? Youll be camped in Brides Canyon looking up at some towering red rock formations. This very steep, rough descent is a short walk upstream from a high-dive pouroff into a lovely pool. The view back towards the La Sal Mountains, before the trail heads down into the sandstone canyons. There's ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-30324132', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Jeep quite a bit in Moabback in the day. But it avoids the deep You may be able to rent a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? These trailheads are day use only areas so no camping/ sleeping in the vehicles is allowed at the trailheads. Note that this campground often fills up in the morning. When the road splits soon after passing the Tracksite, stay towards the left again, which is Cotter Mine Road/BLM 215. These are just general write ups. While hiking in this area is challenging, visitors are rewarded with beautiful sandstone domes, slickrock benches, knobs, red-rock fins, remote canyons, and sheer cliffs when they visit this area where motorized travel is prohibited. How many trails are in Behind the Rocks Wilderness Study Area? Little Canyon Singletrack. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Watch your GPS, and when you see a longitude of 38.279224 and a latitude of 109.52464, the wilderness study area will be to your east. You may be able to find a shady place to park your camp chair though! Park officials only allow climbing between August 31 and March 15. With free camping at the start/finish line, you're welcome to spend the weekend . 4WD and high clearance are required to access this area. Campers report decent cell signals on all major carriers, so you'll have no problem getting work done while boondocking out here. Season February through November. Utah Map. This free camping area is south of Moab and just to the east of Highway 191. Long. It is about 2.5 miles off the main road and is bumpy and rocky sometimes. Our feelings are that we'll either do the drive down to Monument Valley via Moky Dugway and V.O.G. One requires a high clearance 4x4 vehicle with an experienced driver, and the other is accessible to anyone. All along the road is great free camping. I was amazed that being this close I did not have Jeepers through my campsite all night. With the exception of Ken's Lake (see below), most individual campsites are available on a first-come/first-served basis and no reservations are accepted. Luckily Dyrt led us to this little dispersed camping oasis. Map Store - CartoTracks I also recommend a GPS. Loop 2 offers more miles, but the extra distance doesn't offer anything particularly exciting. Worth noting - Mineral Road/Horsethief Trail runs parallel to Mineral Point/BLM 340 which goes past Horsethief Campground. Good for 2wd. Going to Moab in early April. At the very top of this hill (the first hill on your way out of town), you will see a sign for Behind The Rocks to your right. but short drops on rock, and involves a bit more climbing coming back. If camping during summer time, heres a few tips and products that can help you stay cool in the heat. 20.4 Straight (Loop 2.5 in from L) South of Moab, the Hidden Valley hiking trail leads into the east-central portion of the area. About 11 Miles south of Moab, free dispersed sites along Yellow Circle Road. The terrain is similar to most Colorado Plateau land, highly eroded and sparsely covered in pinyon pine and desert shrubs. . But the worst issue is the relentless drone of ATVs. Juniper and small desert shrubs give some shade, but not the kind of shade youll be able to park your camper under. To bypass High Dive, it's a simple short detour. The trail's end is about 100 feet back, on the south side of the Obstacles:There is a warm-up hill soon after leaving the highway and numerous minor canyon crossings before reaching High-Dive Canyon. Please do not park along the road. Just keep that in mind. I was on my way to go camp in a canyon when I got the call from my friend in Seattle telling me that if i was sleeping under the western sky that night, that I had better make sure that I had a good view of the eclipse. seems to turn right. Suggest an Edit Access Drive-In Park next to your site Walk-In Park in a lot, walk to your site. Learn more: Boondocking 101 Posted in Travel. Length: 4.1 miles If you bypass White Knuckes, you'll actually be taking an early exit. If it's late and dark, if youre striking out elsewhere, if you want to remain close to town, or if your vehicle is too big to explore many of the other areas, this is your spot. Closest airport to Moab/Arches/Canyonlands? L on Pritchett Trail at N 38 28.20' W 109 33.67' The BLM is a government agency that manages and preserves millions of acres of land for the public to use. Canyonlands Heard Management Area is a terrific place to spot mule deer, coyotes, porcupines, desert cottontails, black-tailed jackrabbits, and many songbirds. Length: 0.6 miles At the very top of this hill (the first hill on your way out of town), you will see a sign for "Behind The Rocks" to your right. And if youre trying to plan exactly what youll do during your trip, check out our top 5 recommended things to do near Moab. Some of the sites are bigger than others, although none are spaced super far apart from each other, so expect to have neighbors within eyeshot. See all 42 photos 42 photos. Long. Night. 27.7 Pass BTR trail fork, keep straight Behind the Rocks, Moab - Hennefer Hooligans Maybe you can book now for 2030. Used mainly as a trials-motorcycle trail, Behind the Rocks has stiff climbs, technical descents and ledges, and life-sucking sand. In fact, its a problem everywhere in Moab these days, but especially here. The best way to reach Behind the Rocks is to follow the Moab Rim Trail, so you will need an off-road vehicle or hike to this location. Add Campground Info Location. When driving north out of Moab, turn left onto Mill Canyon Road. Moonlight Meadows. Behind the Rocks, Utah - Recreation.gov This trail is mean and tough. Recreation.gov is your gateway to explore America's outdoor High clearance vehicles are probably best, but we did see some small SUVs getting in and out of the camping area with only a little bumper damage. The climb out of the small canyon can be either via a tricky ledge or the difficult Upchuck Hill. A few interesting miles farther is White Knuckle Hill, which descends some huge steps from a plateau area to a lower bench. For how the trail is being ran on the day you sign up be sure &check the forums in the trail section on the day you sign up for. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. I've done hole-in-the-rock, the burr trail switchbacks and cottonwood road. We would be on foot and looking for the easiest access point. Dispersed camping is also allowed in the Canyonlands Herd Management Area. Drive 12.5 miles, and watch for a small road on your right. NEW DEFENDER on 37's - Behind The Rocks, Moab - YouTube Jesse, Ann, Sagan, Isaac and Sooki. Loop -- you know you wanna do it. Behind The Rocks Road. About 2-3 miles down Long Canyon Road youll start to see cleared spots with fire rings. You have a really cool initial climb then some great cruising through a prairie to Gemini Bridges. Follow US-191 signs on main road back Camping isnt permitted on the first 2 miles of Behind the Rocks Road, but theres a sign clearly marking where the free camping begins. Summer, fall, winter and spring. If camping for free on BLM Land in Moab, portable toilets or human waste bags* are required. You can do an in-and-out hike of Little Wild Horse in 2-3 (less if you don't go that far in). I've been to Moab but have never heard of this place. Behind the Rocks Ultra starts and finishes at the Behind the Rocks Trail, along the border of the Behind the Rocks Wilderness Study Area. According to users from AllTrails.com, the best place to hike in Behind the Rocks Wilderness Study Area is Hidden Valley Trail, which has a 4.7 star rating from 869 reviews. Behind the Rocks - Mad Moose Events often dusted with slippery dirt from the motocross guys. Have you written a blog post about Picture Frame Arch Area Designated Campsites? Learn more: Boondocking 101, Campendium users haven't asked any questions about Picture Frame Arch Area Designated Campsites, The road can be very rough and difficult to access. Ken's Lake Trails 7 mi. Camping Alternatives to Grand Canyon National Park, Camping Alternatives to Zion National Park, The Most (and Least) Popular National Parks for RV Camping, How to Visit Cibola National Forest and Where to Camp, How to Visit the Gila National Forest, Gila Wilderness, and Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument by RV, 7 Best National Forests for Spring Camping, How to Visit Prescott National Forest by RV and Where to Camp, 6 RV Campgrounds Near Assateague Island National Seashore, 7 RV Campgrounds Near Padre Island National Seashore, 7 RV Campgrounds Near Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Picture Frame Arch Area Designated Campsites, Reviews of Picture Frame Arch Area Designated Campsites, Written by someone with an affiliation to the property, Duplicate review submitted by the same member, Multiple reviews submitted by members of the same household, Reviewer did not actually visit the location. Behind the Rocks Road is a Moab free camping area on BLM land, south of town. and reservations. The trees, plus this campground's higher elevation, often keep it cooler during the summer months. There's deep sand to fight through, technical climbs and descents, If you're doing a little of the White Rim Trail make sure you go as far as Musselman Arch, which is quite different to most of the other arches you'll see, and take time to visit the river overlooks along the way. Moab Rim Arch and Tukuhnikivista Arch - Utah | AllTrails Most riders who aren't using a shuttle should opt for "Loop 1 -- A Bit of Behind." What is the longest trail in Behind the Rocks Wilderness Study Area? This area, which can be reached by following Robbers Roost Road from Goblin Valley State Park, is also home to about 150 wild burros. Length 22.4 miElevation gain 1,742 ftRoute type Loop. This trail is estimated to be 9.7 km long. 17.7 Keep straight (L) Behind the Rocks Ultra (Long Distance Running Event) May 10, 2021. Check out this 22.4-mile loop trail near Moab, Utah. There's plenty to do, with amenities and services to make your stay memorable. Canyons, including lovely Hunters Canyon, are cut into older layers. Balcony Arch, Picture Frame Arch, and Pritchett Arch (a distant view) may be seen; other arches and bridges are nearby. this trail. Ready to visit Behind the Rocks? High-altitude in the La Sal Mountains. Known for its white, sandy beaches and stunning blue waters, Gulf Islands National Seashore spans 8 Summer Glamping Destinations Across the U.S. It is about 250 miles from Bryce Canyon National Park, about 140 miles from Capitol Reef National Park and 300 miles from Zion National Park. Pritchett Canyon OHV Trail boasts the most elevation gain with 836 m of total ascent. We drove long enough to find a large open free camping spot back off the main road and we boondocked all weekend, only hearing a few other vehicles drive by. You want the northern road which is Mineral Point/BLM 340. it's on pavement. Horsethief Campground is located right at the corner of 313 and Mineral Point. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. Scenery:The rock layers behind the Moab Rim slope downward, and a virtually impenetrable area of Navajo Sandstone domes and fins is in view most of the time. Hiking trail information for Behind the Rocks in / near Moab, Utah. Musselman is just a short distance, maybe a couple miles. Today were giving you 9 great free camping options to choose from on your next visit to Moab! GPS Coordinates: 38.419083, -109.477516 . The Moab, Utah area is full of great campsites. US191 Camping Behind The Rocks. Moab, UT. - US191 After you cross U.S. 191, continue for 2.6 miles, and you will see the beginning of the course. Road Surface:Most of the road is sandy dirt with occasional rock outcrops. Gold Bar Singletrack. Just beyond the low pass (~2 miles) the trail connects with the Moab Rim 4WD road. But if you have the time and patience, keep driving! Thanks for the replies. Keep driving and youll be able to find something! The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S. and cultural destinations in your zip code and across the country. The road can be very rough and difficult to access. The Gemini Bridges free camping spots are located west of Moab off Gemini Bridges Road. We've decided to do little wild horse instead of behind the rocks and Monument Valley. Behind the Rock Road, Moab, Access Road for Camping, Hiking - YouTube As always, thanks for reading, and wed love for you to SUBSCRIBE for blog updates! And the variety of sized sites means any length camper should be able to settle in here. It's much more interesting. I found this spot to be a great great break from the hustle and bustle of Jeep Safari Week while actually being super close to some of the activities.