Camping in Utah-Moab,Red Canyon in May...questions (Escalante: motels, moving)

[rich67]

Hey everyone, I need some assistance. I will be in Moab in mid-May for some mountain biking and camping for a few days, then I will be moving onto the Bryce Canyon/Red Canyon area for a couple days as well. I was to know of a really good campground in both of those areas that takes reservations, since there is some kind of UTV gathering in Moab during that time- I don't want to be stranded without accomodations. I am looking for quieter camping, not necessarily in the middle of things, but close to SLickrock MTB trail, and close to the other riding-not in the center of town.
Also, I want to hear from someone who has taken either Smokey Mountain Rd. or Cottonwood Canyon Rd. off UT12 and can tell me which one is better scenery wise. I know both are dirt roads, but from what I understand they are graded, and with my 2 wheel-drive Nissan Frontier I should be able to navigate it as long as it is dry. If anyone can offer any advice or assistance with this info, I'd greatly appreciate it!

[stycotl]

i don't know much about the campsites around those areas, but i do know that many camping grounds won't take reservations. some do, but i haven't gone to the work to find out which ones or how to go about it.

[rich67]

bump

[toby04]

There are not too many posters from Southern Utah, or Moab here. You might try tripadvisor.com, there are a few guys that post there regularly.

[stycotl]

utah.com has a pretty decent guide to camping/hiking/biking/etc in the different areas of utah.

Moab Area Campgrounds | Utah.com

[markg91359]

I can't come up with the name, but there is a campground in downtown Moab on Main Street that is relatively close to the Slick Rock Trail. Other than that camping is somewhat limited. There's one or two campgrounds on the outskirts of town near the Colorado River. I believe one of those is a KOA (good showers and bathrooms). Moab is mostly about motels not camping, but there are a couple of places.

[rich67]

Thanks for the help all- I just booked the Canyonlands campground: homepage

It's on south Main, looks like right in the heart of Moab, so at least I am close to everything.

[ts39136]

As for Moab, I like to camp at Bartlett wash near Hidden Canyon. south on Highway, turn right past airport, left, left, right, explore. Don't take my word for it, use a map.

If you are adventurous with 4 wheel drive, just find the intersection of "Bartlett Wash" and the highway and turn right. The wash is a blast.

Cheap riverside camping available (BLM??) Free Springwater from moutainside.

[Badland wonder]

The Cottonwood Canyon road off of Hwy 12 is a fun drive. That is the Grand Staircase area. If you go from Escalante south on it you would end up just a few miles north of Lake Powell. If you take that journey you might as well see Lake Powell too. It would take you a ways from your destination of Bryce, but not too bad. Might be best to just stick with Hwy 12 (which is awesome coming from the east). Coming from Moab that way you would drive right through Capitol Reef National Park which is more fun than any other park I have been too. I would suggest spending some time there instead of the long dirt road through Cottonwood Canyon.

[rich67]

Thanks Badland...my time is going to be limited along Hwy 12, I am going from Moab to Red Canyon and need to get there quickly, so I can't sidetrack too much. I plan on taking Cottonwood Canyon on my way from Red Canyon to Page. I am staying at Lake Powell for a couple days.