This BLM tenting Utah oasis is an straightforward drive from Monument Valley the place John Wayne made so many well-known motion pictures. While 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!
Regardless that this space is so stunning, it feels pretend … relaxation assured, it is extremely actual!
The Valley of the Gods is often known as a Miniature Monument Valley due to the beautiful Cedar Mesa sandstone monoliths, gigantic pinnacles and large open areas … and CAMPING THERE IS MAGICAL!
Our Utah Street & Recreation Atlas was my major journey planning instrument for our Valley of the Gods tenting trip.
Utah Street & Recreation Atlas
How To Expertise Valley Of The Gods
The greatest method to expertise the Valley of the Gods is by taking your time driving the 17 mile loop (which is often known as San Juan County Street #242).
The graded gravel and clay floor street has a number of sharp turns, and crosses a number of washes that are simply drivable in excessive clearance autos but additionally might be cautiously pushed in an everyday passenger automotive when the land is dry.
If the washes are operating, it’s possible you’ll want a 4-wheel drive automobile for this journey.
Identical to any filth roads, the Valley of the Gods loop street circumstances are impacted by native climate. You will discover the most recent info by contacting the BLM Monticello Area Workplace.
You’ll additionally wish to discover Valley of the Gods by foot! Regardless that there are no actual mountaineering trails, there are loads of locations you’ll want to uncover by strolling.
Cautions Throughout Valley Of The Gods Tenting
- Due to the large open areas, you might discover it fairly windy when tenting at Valley of the Gods so you’ll want to safe your gear in preparation for some substantial wind gusts. You may wish to maintain the wind in thoughts as you do your planning for the kind of tenting meals you wish to put in your menu and the way you’ll be cooking it.
- There’s sooooooo a lot stunning surroundings to see whereas driving, concentrate on distracted drivers and guests who generally pull off roads to take images … 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 street circumstances and operating 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 means that you can spend a couple of dollars on a number of the enjoyable actions within the surrounding space:
1. Monument Valley Tribal Park
We extremely advocate you spend an total day exploring Monument Valley.
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Some individuals assume Monument Valley is certainly one of our U.S. Nationwide Parks and anticipate their ‘America the Stunning Move’ to get them via 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 mountaineering 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 cause!
John Wayne was instrumental in making this place recognized across the planet as a result of he created so many western motion pictures right here!
Instructions: U.S. Route 163 is the primary street 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 technique. You’ll journey via 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 wish to maintain a watch out for the rock formation that appears like a Mexican hat!
2. Forrest Gump Level (often known as Forrest Gump Street, Freeway and Hill)
In the event you noticed the Forrest Gump film it’s possible you’ll keep in mind the scene the place Forrest lastly stops operating.
Properly, that well-known panorama is situated on U.S. Route 163 roughly 20 miles southwest of Valley of the Gods.
Instructions: If you wish to see the purpose, you’ll go away your VOG camp spot and head south on U.S. 163, passing via 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 might be greatest seen as you’re looking towards the south.
CAUTION: There are a lot of individuals who run out to the middle of the freeway to take an image right here … watch out as you drive via this space!
3. Goosenecks State Park
While you’re within the space, you’ll want to 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 method 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 technique.
We used the Roadtrippers app to plan numerous 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 likely one of the greatest tenting apps for pre-planning an extended distance journey that has plenty of tourist-y actions.
Valley Of The Gods Elevation And Climate
There are valleys, mesas and pinnacles so there isn’t any single elevation that precisely represents Valley of the Gods however typically talking the elevation is roughly 4,650 toes above sea stage.
The typical excessive and low temperatures all year long make us say that spring and fall are the most effective occasions 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 might have a unique 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 while 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 via northeastern Arizona after which on into Valley of the Gods.
We used our tenting guidelines and absolutely stocked our meals and water provide in Flagstaff Arizona after which topped our gasoline tank in Kayenta.
Relying in your path of journey, there will probably be purchasing and companies inside an affordable journey distance from Valley of the Gods.
As is the case with most free tenting places, it’s good to be absolutely 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 services, gasoline stations or companies so that you’ll wish to prime off your gasoline tank and replenish on another provides you want earlier than you enter this distant tenting vacation spot.
Street Situations For Valley Of The Gods Tenting
We do most of our tenting at distant websites situated inside Nationwide Forests which have less-than-desirable street circumstances.
Our journey from Phoenix stored us on pavement all the best way to the intersection of U.S. 163 and Valley of the Gods Street.
There’s a quick little bit of pavement firstly of the Valley of the Gods Street, then it turns to gravel/clay.
It’s typically a superb 2-lane street 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 soundly 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 situated at LATITUDE / LONGITUDE 37.264526, -109.931702
You can see FREE BLM dispersed campsites all alongside Valley of the Gods Street which is situated 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 note an indication for Valley of the Gods Street however there isn’t any flip lane so maintain a watch out and don’t be afraid to decelerate as you get shut. In the event you go the flip, you’ll be touring a long way on U.S. Freeway 163 with a good quantity of site visitors earlier than you possibly can 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, via Monument Valley and on to Valley of the Gods.
Comparable Tenting Locations
In the event you get pleasure from tenting in stunning landscapes stuffed with purple 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 prime locations to see purple rock formations. That is our favourite fall/spring tenting location due to the beautiful views and it’s only a few hours from our dwelling in Phoenix. Get recommendations on discovering these free tenting websites close to Sedona Arizona and see the shock go to we obtained from a scorching 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 situated in northeast Arizona.
Onion Creek Moab Utah
You possibly can camp in a low-cost Bureau of Land Administration campground only a quick distance away from the superior Onion Creek Street that could be a breathtaking scenic drive via improbable purple rock formations that nearly dance towards the crystal clear blue sky. You gained’t be upset in the event you go to Onion Creek Moab Utah.
Goose Island Campground Moab Utah
After 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 will not be 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.