The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
Deer Creek Campground has seven campsites within Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Although RVers are allowed to camp on most BLM-managed lands, note that travel trailers and RVs are not allowed at Deer Creek Campground, and no potable water is available. Like many BLM campgrounds in Utah, primitive campers can stay up to 14 days. While this campground costs $10, other Bureau of Land Management campgrounds are usually free. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a government agency that manages public wilderness areas and other national sites and monuments. Deer Creek Campground is about 140 miles north of Grand Canyon National Park and about 43 miles from Capitol Reef National Park. The closest national park is Bryce Canyon National Park, which is a terrific hiking destination. There are several scenic drives that you can take near this campground to see the rock formations that experts believe are over one million years old. Another great option is to go for a hike, but take water with you, especially in the summer when temperatures can get hot. Some of the trails run through slot canyons. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument covers more than 1.9 million acres with much of it being wilderness. This region has many options for BLM camping near me, so consider these fantastic opportunities when exploring this remote area.
This well-marked trail leads to a 126-foot-tall waterfall. The best time to do this hike is shortly after a rainstorm in the spring as the waterfall often dries up in the summer. Length: 3 miles Intensity: Moderate
This trail runs through one of the monument's slot canyons, and you may have to hike sideways and crawl in a place or two along its course. You will love seeing the striped walls along this looped trail that gives this canyon its name. Expect to hike through water that can be up to chest deep. Length: 1.5 miles Intensity: Strenuous
This trail starts near the Devils Garden Campground, about 18 miles north of the Arches Visitors Center. You will love seeing the hoodoos, arches, and other interesting rock formations along its course. This course consists of several shorter trails, which you can hike individually. Length: 10.6 miles Intensity: Moderate
The Escalante River and its tributaries are great places to fly fish for rainbow and brown trout. Generally, you can find the best fishing in the lower part of the river near St. George, Utah. The fish tend to be smaller, and conditions are more rugged on the upper part of the river near Escalante, Utah.
Escalante Canyon in the northeast corner of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is a fantastic place to go climbing. Still, it can be dangerous if the sandstone is wet, so plan your adventure in dry weather. While there are climbs on both the north- and south-facing walls, most climbers prefer the climbs on the south wall. This canyon is remote, so there will be very few climbers. Setting anchor bolts in this canyon is highly discouraged.
The Burr Trail Scenic Backway is a terrific option for spotting mule deer, pronghorn antelope, and desert bighorn sheep. The Deer Creek Campground is near the start of this highway, which runs north to Bullfrog, Utah. Drivers can also start in Bullfrog and follow the back way south to the campground.
Escalante Petrified Forest State Park is a terrific spot for a picnic. Consider areas overlooking Wide Hollow Reservoir. After your picnic, you can take the 1.1-mile-long trail to see hundreds of petrified logs or rent a kayak or paddleboard to play on the water. This state park has a 22-site campground, so you may want to have more than one picnic there.
While there is no RV camping at Deer Creek Campground, you can camp at Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, where some sites have partial hookups. Another terrific choice is Calf Creek Recreation Area Campground. This 13-site BLM camping facility is near a waterfall and fantastic hiking trails. Camping is also available at Kodachrome Basin State Park. There are 63 campsites, and 13 of them have full hookups.
Because there is a $10 per night fee, Bureau of Land Management free camping is unavailable at Deer Creek Campground. Campers can also disperse camp at many locations within Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. You'll find six additional campsites at Anasazi State Prison Museum.
Many areas of Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument are subject to flash flooding. Therefore, you should observe the weather. Flash floods occur within six hours after it rains and can happen miles away from where it rains. Never enter an area, like the slot canyons, where you cannot reach higher ground after a rain. Look at the sky before you start hiking to see if you spot cumulous clouds. These clouds that often look like giant cotton balls are seen several hours before it rains, which gives you time to get to a safe place. If you notice other clouds in the sky, like shelf or wall clouds, then look to see how fast they are moving. Generally, the quicker the clouds move, the more likely it is to rain. You will have a great time visiting the Deer Creek Campground and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Enjoy looking at the rock formations, sitting around a campfire, and stargazing. Before leaving home, learn more about BLM camping by reading this blog.
The Deer Creek Campground is one of only two Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument campgrounds. Therefore, many people use this campground, so you should be sure to clean up after yourself so the campsite is ready for its next occupant. There is no trash service, so please pack out what you bring in. "Leave No Trace" is your goal.
It is easy to get to Deer Creek Campground from Escalante, Utah, by heading east on Utah 12. Then, turn right on Burr Trail Road. Go 27 miles, and turn left on Deer Creek Campground Road. You will see the campground almost immediately.
Address: Deer Creek Campground, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Deer Creek Campground Road, Escalante, Utah 84726 Ready to visit Deer Creek Campground? 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.
