The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area is wedged into Utah’s southwestern corner near Utah’s borders with Arizona and Nevada. The Bureau of Land Management oversees this conservation area’s roughly 63,500 acres. The borders include land within the Mojave Desert and Great Basin transitional terrain. The BLM hasn’t developed any recreational areas within the park, but it does maintain and preserve the land so it can provide a rugged, wild environment suitable for explorers of all types. Whether you want to tour the park on paved or graded roads or take off on your own off-road adventure, you’ll get to see some of the best scenery that the southwestern tip of Utah has to offer. Utah’s ever-popular Zion National Park is less than two hours east of Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation area. This stunning national park is home to Zion Canyon and a famous hiking area called "The Narrows." If you drive a couple of hours from Zion National Park, you’ll reach Bryce Canyon National Park. The rugged red rocks and distinctive rock formations on display at this remote park are well worth an extra bit of traveling. If you drive two and a half hours south of Zion National Park, you’ll reach iconic Grand Canyon National Park. This stunning attraction draws millions of visitors from around the world due to its awe-inspiring desert grandeur.
Visitors often drive this trail, but you can still explore this marked and graded gravel road that winds through some interesting Mojave Desert terrain on foot or bike. Length: 11 miles Intensity: Easy
This popular out-and-back trail features an elevation gain of 879 feet. Length: 2.9 miles Intensity: Moderate
If you’re looking for a moderate to difficult trail featuring robust elevation gain, then you’ll enjoy hiking this trail that gains more than 2,500 feet. Length: 7.3 miles Intensity: Moderate
Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area doesn’t have any fishing and boating opportunities, but it’s just 45 minutes from Gunlock State Park, which is home to Gunlock Reservoir. Boating, fishing, and swimming are all possible here. You can also view the lovely Gunlock Falls.
The most popular area for rock climbing in Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area is Kelly’s Rock. This limestone climbing area features over 20 bolted and named routes of varying levels of difficulty. Another great place to go rock climbing here is the Black and Tan area, which also has multiple routes prepared for climbers.
There’s no shortage of desert fauna to view at Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area. Bighorn sheep, free-range cattle, rattlesnakes, and migratory birds can all be found here. You might even get to see a Mojave Desert tortoise, which is a threatened species.
There are no established picnicking areas at Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area, but there are many excellent places to stop, snack, and enjoy the desert scenery around you. You won’t find any restaurants or convenience stores in this part of the Mojave Desert, but you can purchase food and picnicking supplies in St. George, which is roughly an hour away.
There are no official Bureau of Land Management campgrounds established at Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area, but there are some lovely places to go RV camping within easy driving distance. If you’re planning to spend some time on Gunlock Reservoir, then you could park your RV at Gunlock Campground, which offers 30 hookup sites to campers. Another nice place to camp is Snow Canyon Campground, which is located in Snow Canyon State Park about an hour east of Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area. This campground has hookup and non-hookup sites available as well as group camping. If you want to experience the wonder of the Mojave Desert without camping out in it, you may want to stay at Southern Utah RV Resort, which is located in St. George. This RV resort offers oversized sites that can accommodate large trailers.
Bureau of Land Management free camping is available at Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area at undeveloped sites. Outside of the conservation area, dispersed camping is allowed in multiple nearby areas of BLM wilderness and land as well as on Utah state land.
Since Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area is in the Mojave Desert, you need to make sure that you have the right food, water, and supplies to have a fun but safe time in this type of environment. Some of the roads here are more easily accessible than others, so you should make sure your vehicle is capable of handling the desert terrain you’ll encounter. Rattlesnakes make their homes here, so watch out for them while you’re exploring the Joshua Trees and cacti. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
Whether you’re participating in BLM camping near me or in the Mojave Desert, you need to make sure to adhere to BLM’s policy of taking out everything you bring onto BLM land. Staying with the "Leave No Trace" guidelines insures the land will be pristine for generations to come. There are no trashcans or restrooms at Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area, so you’ll need to make sure to leave as little waste behind as possible on your trip to this stretch of the Mojave.
If you want to get to Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area from St. George, you can take Highway 18 for several miles before taking a left onto State Route 8, which becomes Old Highway 91. Driving west on Old Highway 91 for 45 minutes will take you to the entrance to Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area. If you’re approaching the conservation area from Arizona, you can take Highway 91 from Interstate 15 in Littlefield for 40 minutes. Address: St. George Field Office, 345 East Riverside Drive, St. George, UT 84790 Ready to visit Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring, you’ll have your RV to return to for the night where you’ll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here’s a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.
