The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is home to four fully staffed visitor centers including the Big Water Visitor Center, a small museum dedicated to the geological and paleontological discoveries within the National Monument area. The visitor center building is Ammonite-shaped and features many interpretive signs inside and out. Inside the building's museum, exhibits feature authentic dinosaur fossils and depictions of Utah's landscape during the Late Cretaceous era. Visitors may explore the museum free from Thursday to Sunday, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Another popular feature of the visitor center is a topography map of the entire Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and visitors can use this map plus brochures available on-site to plan hiking and camping trips. One popular hiking destination is the Wahweap Hoodoos, accessed via a short trail outside the center. This visitor center is operated by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a federal government organization that oversees the use of public lands, and it has a parking lot that can accommodate large RVs although no overnight camping is allowed at this location. However, you may find nearby BLM dispersed and organized camping areas that you may use for free for up to 14 days at a time per the BLM's camping guidelines.
The Buck Tank Draw and Birthday Arch Trail is an out-and-back trail, a popular hiking path with a narrow canyon and a small arch rock formation. Length: 4.2 miles Intensity: Moderate
The Wiregrass Canyon Trail is a trail that begins with rugged terrain but features a walk through a slightly shady canyon after the halfway point is reached. Length: 6.4 miles Intensity: Moderate
The White Rock Trail features tall, slender white rock formations and is a loop trail that is most comfortable to hike in the spring and fall. Length: 5.4 miles Intensity: Moderate
If you'd like fishing, swimming, or boating near the Big Water Visitor Center, consider stopping by Lone Rock Beach on Wahweap Bay. This public beach allows motorized and non-motorized boats to launch from the shores and features views of Lone Rock, a singular rock on a shallow island in the middle of the bay. Fish often found in the waters include striped bass, channel catfish, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass.
Visitors may use a large, shaded picnic area at the Big Water Visitor Center during operating hours. An additional picnic site and day-use area can be found near Marble Canyon, Arizona called the Condor Viewing Site. This site features covered picnic tables, a vault restroom, and interpretive signs about native condors.
The Utah wilderness experiences clear, dark skies at night that are popular with amateur and professional stargazers. The Milky Way is visible in the sky most nights, and there are few city lights at many BLM campgrounds to interfere with sky viewing. If you would like to stargaze while camping around Big Water, consider staying at a campground with fewer trees to get a clear view, and be sure to bring a blanket or jacket to wear while stargazing since the nighttime tends to get chilly year-round.
While most Bureau of Land Management campgrounds are free to stay at, most also do not offer hookups for RVs. That being said, if you would like to go RV camping with electrical and water hookups, check out Church Wells RV, a campground with large campsites and laundry facilities. Another option you may like is Wahweap Campground & RV Park, located just over the Arizona border. This campground offers full hookups plus fire pits and free Wi-Fi. This location is also right on Lake Powell and has laundry and shower facilities.
When you are looking for BLM camping near me, be sure to check out Stateline Campground, a BLM-operated campground with seven campsites, pit toilets, and shade. Another Bureau of Land Management free camping option can be found at Corrals Campground just outside of Big Bend, Utah. This campground offers dispersed camping at no cost to campers although no amenities are available.
If you plan to hike any trails near Big Water Visitor Center, bring plenty of drinking water for your excursion; at least one gallon of water per person is recommended. You may also want to bring sun protection, like sunscreen and sunglasses, since few places in this area are shaded. When you want to camp at a BLM campground, remember to pack for a primitive trip. Even if the campground you plan to visit usually has potable water, you should plan to bring your water to drink. You may also be able to use a generator at these campgrounds so long as you do not make excessive noise for more than an hour. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
All visitors to the Big Water Visitor Center, including the trails accompanying the center, are asked to follow the BLM's "Leave No Trace" principles. These principles are a set of rules that include things like picking up after yourself and your pets, and they help keep the land clean for the wildlife there.
Address: 20 S Revolution Wy, Big Water, UT 84741 LATITUDE/LONGITUDE: 37.07684722, -111.6640806 To reach the Big Water Visitor Center from Page, Arizona, head north on US-89. Drive for about 16 miles, then take a left onto South Ethan Allen. Continue for 600 feet, then turn right into the visitor center's parking lot. Ready to visit Big Water Visitor Center? 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.
