The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
Escape the crowds at Moab, Utah's national parks while enjoying spectacular scenery by exploring Behind the Rocks Wildlife Study Area. The BLM is a government agency that manages and preserves millions of acres of land for the public to use. The Moab Rim and Pritchett Canyon four-wheel-drive routes form the northern, eastern, and western boundaries of Behind the Rocks, covering almost 13,000 acres. While hiking in this area is challenging, visitors are rewarded with beautiful sandstone domes, slickrock benches, knobs, red-rock fins, remote canyons, and sheer cliffs when they visit this area where motorized travel is prohibited. This wilderness study area is very near Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. It is about 250 miles from Bryce Canyon National Park, about 140 miles from Capitol Reef National Park and 300 miles from Zion National Park.
Hikers looking for a challenge will want to hike along the Double O Arch Trail in the Devils Garden section of Arches National Park. Hikers must use their hands while scrambling over the sandstone rock formations along this trail. Since no water is available, bring plenty and hike this trail when temperatures are cooler. Length: 4.1 miles Intensity: Moderate
Moonflower Canyon Trail leads through a box canyon at Behind the Rocks Wilderness Study Area. Watch as you walk along to see the pictographs on the canyon's walls. This out-and-back trail ends at a little pond, perfect for a trailside snack. Length: 0.6 miles Intensity: Easy
Hike along a wide gravel road on this trail that passes beside Native American petroglyphs to Birthing Rock, with images on four sides depicting a woman giving birth to a child's feet first. At the start of this hike, there is a large parking lot along Kane Creek Boulevard. Length: 19.3 mile Intensity: Moderate
Ken's Lake is a terrific place to go bass and sunfish fishing near Moab. Try fishing in the northwest quadrant of this oval-shaped lake. Anglers often catch fish on crayfish antennae, and these crustaceans are abundant near the lake.
The sandstone towers on the Island in the Sky section of Canyonlands National Park are terrific for a climbing adventure. Park officials only allow climbing between August 31 and March 15. Many of the best climbing locations are near Government Trail in the southwest quadrant.
Canyonlands Heard Management Area is a terrific place to spot mule deer, coyotes, porcupines, desert cottontails, black-tailed jackrabbits, and many songbirds. This area, which can be reached by following Robbers Roost Road from Goblin Valley State Park, is also home to about 150 wild burros. This area is very remote, so consider going in a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
Fisher Towers Picnic Area is a fabulous place for a picnic because of its stunning Colorado Basin views. After lunch, enjoy hiking along the 2.2-mile-long Fisher Towers National Recreation Trail to see even more basin views.
While there is no designated Bureau of Land Management RV camping available at Behind the Rocks since you cannot use motorized vehicles on this property, you will need to search for "BLM camping near me". Thankfully, there are many options available, including Ken's Lake Campground, which is at the end of the Steel Bender Jeep Safari Route and offers stunning views of the Moab Valley, Faux Falls, La Sal Mountains, and Ken's Lake. An immensely popular option is Goose Island Campground on the Colorado River's shores very near Arches National Park. Note that this campground often fills up in the morning. Another great choice is Horsethief Campground, which sits in a pygmy pinyon-juniper forest. The trees, plus this campground's higher elevation, often keep it cooler during the summer months.
Big Bend Campground is located on the Colorado Rivers shores, and it is a popular option with rafters floating the river. Dispersed camping is also allowed in the Canyonlands Herd Management Area. While the Bureau of Land Management free camping is not available in the Behind the Rocks Wildlife Study Area, fantastic options are nearby.
Many photographers love visiting the Behind the Rocks Wilderness Study Area. Take advantage of the early morning and evening hours to capture the best photos as they will look washed out during the day, and always shoot with your camera in manual mode. Use a tripod, especially at sunset, to capture the best images. Adding a person to your landscape shots will help provide perspective. Since you must hike around Behind the Rocks, consider carrying three lenses. A 16-35 mm lens will let you capture wide-angle shots, a 24 – 70mm lens is ideal for most images, and a 70-200mm lens is perfect for capturing distant landscapes. Bureau of Land Management campgrounds in this area are fantastic places to stay. Sitting around a campfire under a starlit sky and seeing the red rocks create memories that will last a lifetime. Before heading out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
Behind the Rocks is a protected land, and many animals make it their habitats. Visitors must follow all restrictions put in place and do their best to clean up and make minimal impact on the area. The most respectful travellers are those who leave no trace. Visitors are asked to pack up their trash and dispose of all waste properly. Staying in Afton Canyon and other BLM sites is a privilege and should be treated as such.
The best way to reach Behind the Rocks is to follow the Moab Rim Trail, so you will need an off-road vehicle or hike to this location. Find the start of this trail in Moab by getting on Kane Creek Boulevard. After you cross U.S. 191, continue for 2.6 miles, and you will see the beginning of the course. Watch your GPS, and when you see a longitude of 38.279224 and a latitude of 109.52464, the wilderness study area will be to your east. Address: Behind the Rocks, longitude 38.279224 and a latitude 109.52464 Moab, Utah 84532 Ready to visit Behind the Rocks? 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.
