car camping in the Swell

regehr

regehr

Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2012
Messages
2,251
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!).
 
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
 
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.
 
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
 
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!
 
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.
 
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.
 
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...
 
window_blind.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top