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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
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    1,218

    Moab vanlife advice?

    I'm dragging the ladyfriend out to Moab in a psuedo-stealthy Promaster-based camper van. Our plan is to ride the "greats" for a day or too, but otherwise boondock it somewhere on blm land. Any tips for the area? Good vistas for bedding down vanlife-style?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2012
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    People's Republic of OB
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    4,406
    Check what's open before you go. Moab is usually a shit show and will be more-so if/when only some camping areas are open. A lot of it was closed not too long ago and I haven't seen much news on what was re-opening. I think one of the easiest dispersed areas was out by Klondike or Willow Springs. FYI a poop bucket or other portable toilet is required even for dispersed camping, I've heard a few times rangers doing checks on campers. But a home depot bucket with garbage bag should suffice.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2008
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    Klondike seems like a free for all. Even in May when the Covid lockdown was hard I saw like 10 vans/RVs out there who literally just drove around the "no camping" signs and it didn't seem like anyone was bothering them at all.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
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    Your Mom's House
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    A van hasn't been stealthy in Moab for at least 20 years. Look at the maps of where dispersed camping is allowed because you're not going to get away with stealthing it illegally there. Like someone else said, portable toilets are required in most places.
    I've always stayed in campgrounds there because it was just easier. Of the places I've stayed, I liked the designated sites out Kane Creek the best.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2016
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    2,534
    I'm no expert but I camped at willow springs in July. It was a free for all but I found a nice spot and I just spent one night on my way from Ketchum to Durango. Lots of trails right there according to trailforks. Pretty views.

    Lots of rv running the generator all night but I went q little further down the road.
    There are spots that a big rv cannot access due to clearance which are more chill.
    I suggest arriving while it's still light out.

    Sent from my SM-G960U1 using Tapatalk
    I <heart> hot tele-moms

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
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    in a suite of vigorous disturbances
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    2,280
    Personally, I don’t like staying at willow springs or Dalton wells. So many people.

    I like to stay up by Navajo Rocks on Dabinky Wells road.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    The better LA
    Posts
    2,450
    Do they still allow pull-offs on Sand Flats Road?
    Quote Originally Posted by Jer View Post
    After the first three seconds, Corbet's is really pretty average.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ian Malcolm View Post
    I mean, it's not your fault. They say talent skips a generation.
    But hey, I'm sure your kids will be sharp as tacks.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    The better LA
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    2,450
    4WD?
    If so, I have a cheap stealthy campsite location that looks and feels like you're out in the middle of nowhere but is literally 50yds from bathroom and showers.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jer View Post
    After the first three seconds, Corbet's is really pretty average.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ian Malcolm View Post
    I mean, it's not your fault. They say talent skips a generation.
    But hey, I'm sure your kids will be sharp as tacks.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Posts
    12,609
    Quote Originally Posted by Roxtar View Post
    Do they still allow pull-offs on Sand Flats Road?
    There's reserved camping up there, not sure what you mean by pull offs but you cannot just pull off and camp on the side of the road. At least not till you get past Porcupine Rim TH. I've camped in the Juniper campground in the past and it was always pretty mellow and higher up out of the heat somewhat.


    This site has some options: https://freecampsites.net/#!moab

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Carbondale
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    12,478
    Quote Originally Posted by adrenalated View Post
    A van hasn't been stealthy in Moab for at least 20 years. Look at the maps of where dispersed camping is allowed because you're not going to get away with stealthing it illegally there. Like someone else said, portable toilets are required in most places.
    I've always stayed in campgrounds there because it was just easier. Of the places I've stayed, I liked the designated sites out Kane Creek the best.
    This.

    We're trying to figure out a trip for end of September/early October. Trying to figure out what's open for camping or not has been... fun.
    www.dpsskis.com
    www.point6.com
    formerly an ambassador for a few others, but the ski industry is... interesting.
    Fukt: a very small amount of snow.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
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    Carbondale
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    12,478
    Quote Originally Posted by Roxtar View Post
    4WD?
    If so, I have a cheap stealthy campsite location that looks and feels like you're out in the middle of nowhere but is literally 50yds from bathroom and showers.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    That's a dope spot that I may have to PM you about
    www.dpsskis.com
    www.point6.com
    formerly an ambassador for a few others, but the ski industry is... interesting.
    Fukt: a very small amount of snow.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    May 2008
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    On a genuine ol' fashioned authentic steam powered aereoplane
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    16,803
    Quote Originally Posted by grskier View Post
    That's a dope spot that I may have to PM you about
    Yeah, how many PMs you already get about this Roxtar? Will be down there in October and like me a semi rustic place to park the truck.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    The better LA
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    2,450
    Quote Originally Posted by Whiteroom_Guardian View Post
    Yeah, how many PMs you already get about this Roxtar? Will be down there in October and like me a semi rustic place to park the truck.
    Always willing to share the love with maggots.
    Quote Originally Posted by Jer View Post
    After the first three seconds, Corbet's is really pretty average.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ian Malcolm View Post
    I mean, it's not your fault. They say talent skips a generation.
    But hey, I'm sure your kids will be sharp as tacks.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    T.ride
    Posts
    1,813
    There are some cool spots out at behind the rocks. I've always had good luck there but I usually don't venture over peak season or if I do I crash at some friend's places in town. It's south of town out by the old 24 hours of moab route. Also gives you some fun uncrowded biking if you have a plus size or fatty(super sandy). Other than that I like poking around up off 313 kind of across the road from dead horse sp.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
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    Carbondale
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    12,478
    Quote Originally Posted by Roxtar View Post
    Always willing to share the love with maggots.
    Funny thing is that spot looks like an old go to for me..... But, now with the kids may be too 'extreme'.
    www.dpsskis.com
    www.point6.com
    formerly an ambassador for a few others, but the ski industry is... interesting.
    Fukt: a very small amount of snow.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Posts
    1,332
    Been a few years doing this (so ymmv I guess), but when I’m rolling in late and don’t want to fuck about, my goto has been: drive up kane creek road. You may luck out and get one of the plush spots in the canyon. But if not, just drive over the pass and out of the canyon to flat land. Pretty quickly becomes no-mans-land, with plenty of pullouts and no one in sight

  17. #17
    Join Date
    May 2008
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    On a genuine ol' fashioned authentic steam powered aereoplane
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    Will be down there next week. Reccos for campsites with cell signal? Need to be able to answer emails and stuff for work. I know out near Horsethief I have had signal. I really like Kane Creek, but I'm almost certain you lose signal when you are only like 1/3 of a mile off pavement.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
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    Carbondale
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    Quote Originally Posted by Whiteroom_Guardian View Post
    Will be down there next week. Reccos for campsites with cell signal? Need to be able to answer emails and stuff for work. I know out near Horsethief I have had signal. I really like Kane Creek, but I'm almost certain you lose signal when you are only like 1/3 of a mile off pavement.
    You get a bar on Kane Creek in the first few Ledge spots... sometimes.

    You might try to see if you can get a spot the first mile or so up 128.
    Cell is tough out there. We had better luck with ATT than verizon last week.

    I actually found this site very useful.

    https://www.discovermoab.com/campgrounds/
    www.dpsskis.com
    www.point6.com
    formerly an ambassador for a few others, but the ski industry is... interesting.
    Fukt: a very small amount of snow.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Posts
    12,609
    Stayed near Horsetheif recently in the campground and down the road from the campground, coverage (verizon) was obtainable but slow internet and messaging at times, some dude had a 20 ft tall antenna and said he got full bars, he had a family and three kids were online schooling.

    It's pretty crazy how folks are camped nuts-to-butts everywhere with big satellite dishes, I assume it is for WFH.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    CO
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    2,206
    Quote Originally Posted by Whiteroom_Guardian View Post
    Will be down there next week. Reccos for campsites with cell signal? Need to be able to answer emails and stuff for work. I know out near Horsethief I have had signal. I really like Kane Creek, but I'm almost certain you lose signal when you are only like 1/3 of a mile off pavement.
    Sand flats has cell signal.

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Location
    In a van... down by the river
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    13,643
    Man... brave heading to Mojab in October, esp this year. From all 1st hand reports I've heard, it's been an *extra* special shitshow this autumn.

    Then again, it's Moab... so fun will be had regardless of the shitshow.

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Posts
    656
    Quote Originally Posted by skaredshtles View Post
    Man... brave heading to Mojab in October, esp this year. From all 1st hand reports I've heard, it's been an *extra* special shitshow this autumn.

    Then again, it's Moab... so fun will be had regardless of the shitshow.

    yep. DOT has all of downtown under construction, it's been taking people hours to get into town from 70. Been seeing lots of reports that Moab is busier than ever right now. Their COVID rates are getting bad, too.

  23. #23
    Join Date
    May 2008
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    On a genuine ol' fashioned authentic steam powered aereoplane
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    16,803
    Hmmm, I got so lucky in May. Parks were closed, MTB trails were empty. It was glorious.

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
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    Three-O-Three
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    15,417
    Quote Originally Posted by Whiteroom_Guardian View Post
    Hmmm, I got so lucky in May. Parks were closed, MTB trails were empty. It was glorious.
    Expect the opposite of that this time. If I were you, there's no way I'd consider going back next week... it's a total clusterfuck of a shitshow.

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Down In A Hole, Up in the Sky
    Posts
    35,358
    im here now, camping at North Klondike. its been absolutely fine, barely any people on the trails so far ( Klondike, Navajo rocks, Mag 7/Portal). We only saw 8 people total on all of mag seven and blue dot. But we havent been south of Potash road. Gonna go through town at 7am tomorrow for TWE...

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