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Hideout Canyon Camping Area

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.

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Hideout Canyon Camping Area

The Hideout Canyon Camping Area is a small, peaceful site located along Eastern Utah's Kokopelli Trail. The area, which is maintained and protected by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), is located only a few miles west of the Utah-Colorado border. The BLM administers hundreds of natural areas across the United States, most of which feature established campgrounds, unique scenery, and opportunities for outdoor recreation. The Hideout Canyon Camping Area, located within a short distance of Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, is one of numerous locations in Utah that you can find by searching "BLM camping near me."

What to See and Do

Hiking and Biking

Landscape Arch Trail

The Landscape Arch Trail is one of many gorgeous trails found within Arches National Park. The out-and-back route offers a peaceful, relaxing hike, and its most notable feature is the massive Landscape Arch, which you'll get a great look at. The trail is fantastic to visit throughout the entire year and features breathtaking scenery. Remember, entering the national park requires a fee.

Length: 1.9 miles

Intensity: Easy

Devils Garden

Another popular trail found in Arches National Park is the Devils Garden loop trail. The long trail is known as one of the most challenging in the park, and it features unforgettable views of the surrounding landscape and a variety of majestic arches. The difficult trail also features many side trails, but it's worth noting that some of them require scrambling and should be avoided by children or those who fear heights. The Devils Garden trail will require a lot of effort, and you'll want to bring a lot of water, but hiking it will surely be a memorable, worthwhile experience.

Length: 7.9 miles

Intensity: Hard

Murphy Point Trail

Canyonlands National Park is a few miles further away from the Hideout Canyon Camping Area than Arches National Park, but it has plenty of excellent hiking trails as well. One of those trails is the Murphy Point Trail, an out-and-back route that takes hikers past a historic corral and many fantastic views. You can hike the trail, run it, or just take a leisurely walk to observe the scenery and local wildlife.

Length: 3.4 miles

Intensity: Easy

Fishing & Boating

The flowing waters of the majestic Colorado River will be the best nearby opportunity for all sorts of water-based recreation. You can take a raft, canoe, or kayak out on the river, which features plenty of gentle areas and some rapids. You can also cast out your fishing line in the river. Its waters are home to catfish, bass, and sunfish. Another great fishing spot in the area is Ken's Lake, which is located just southeast of Moab, UT and is inhabited by numerous trout.

Climbing

There are quite a few opportunities for bouldering, sport climbing, and canyoneering near Moab and the Hideout Canyon Camping Area. One good destination is the Big Bend Bouldering Area, which lies near the Colorado River and features quality routes for both beginner and expert climbers. Climbers can also head to the Wall Street Area, a one-mile stretch of sandstone that features roughly 130 climbing routes.

Wildlife Viewing

The Hideout Canyon Camping Area is located in a part of Utah that's inhabited by a variety of interesting wildlife species. While you're camping, hiking near the site, or exploring either of the nearby national parks, you may very well spot mule deer, black bears, desert bighorn sheep, desert cottontails, mountain lions, and a variety of lizards, snakes, and rodents. If you're a bird-watching enthusiast, make sure to be on the lookout for any Cooper's hawks, white-throated swifts, or canyon wrens flying overhead.

Picnicking

The Hideout Canyon Camping Area will serve as a wonderful spot to enjoy a relaxing picnic. There may not be any picnic tables or shelters at the site, but there will at least be plenty of room to lay out a picnic blanket. There are also several small creeks flowing within a few minutes' hike of the camping area, and staking out a spot by the water might make for an especially peaceful picnicking experience.

Bureau of Land Management Camping

RV Camping

There are a couple of Bureau of Land Management campgrounds found around the Hideout Canyon Camping Area, and they both accommodate RV camping. The Hideout Canyon Campground features 18 primitive campsites available on a first-come, first-served basis. Flush toilets and water hydrants are provided at the site. Alternatively, the Hittle Bottom Campground has 15 individual campsites and one group site and lies right beside the banks of the Colorado River. Neither of these campgrounds features RV hookups, but they can both accommodate large RVs.

Free Camping

If you'd rather not stay at any of the established on-site campgrounds, you also have the option of Bureau of Land Management free camping. There is plenty of open space around the site, and it shouldn't be overly difficult to find a suitable, serene spot. However, if you want a secluded area with some shade, you may have to head south a bit and do some searching.

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Credit: Vanna Mae, @vannamaeart

Planning your Hideout Canyon Camping Area BLM trip

If you're taking a trip to the Hideout Canyon Camping Area, there are a couple of things you should keep in mind. First and foremost, you'll need to know that the primary on-site campground is only open between May and September. Additionally, the campground is only accessible via boat, hike, or four-wheel-drive vehicle. There's also very little shade available at the campground or anywhere in the area, so you won't want to forget things like sunscreen and extra drinking water. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.

Leave No Trace

During your visit to the Hideout Canyon Camping Area, please keep your impact on the natural land as minimal as you can. The BLM works hard to keep the land it administers clean and healthy, but it needs the help of visitors like you to do so effectively. If you properly dispose of your trash, leave things in nature as you find them, camp only on durable land, and keep your campfires small and contained, you can contribute significantly to preserving the site. It will also help greatly if you keep your distance from the local wildlife and treat all other guests with courtesy.