Lets Go Camping in the Abajo Mountains!

Ok kids, it's time to go camping in the Manti-LaSal National Forest located in the Abajo Mountains.  Yes, this forest is also located in the LaSal Mountains, but we're not going that way yet...too much snow blocking the roads.

Recently, I went on a tour of the four National Forest Campgrounds located in the Abajos (also called The Blues).  Our tour guide was Autumn Ela, Recreation Specialist out of the Moab Field Office (435-636-7155).  Also on the tour was Pam Hanson of San Juan County Economic Development; Linda from the Moab Welcome Center; Garry and Stacy from the Monticello Welcome Center (I'm with this crew also).  We spent six hours touring the sites, breathing in fresh air, feeling cool breezes, seeing wildlife and serene landscapes; and enjoying the quiet.  Going back to work at the WC afterwards was hard, very hard; but now we all had tons of information and knowledge about the campgrounds.

Autum Ela at the Bear Box; Pam Hanson, Linda (Moab WC), Garry (Monticello WC), Stacy is hiding and I'm dong the camera work.

If you want information, click on "camping in the Manti-LaSal National Forest" up above; or go to National Recreation Reservation Service (http://www.recreation.gov ) or call 1-877-444-6777, to reserve your site.  The four do have first come, first serve sites, as well as reserved spots; so if you can't decide, you can just show up and hope there is a spot open for you.

Dalton Springs (located 4.5 miles from the Monticello Welcome Center)

$10/night for a single campsite; up to 14 days; $30/night for the one group spot...all first come/first serve. There are bear boxes there if you don't have secure food storage of your own; dumpsters for ALL garbage.  There are vault toilets, and faucets for potable water only; no connecting hoses to the RVs.

Buckboard (located 5 miles from the Monticello Welcome Center)


Basically the same information as Dalton Springs, except there are two group sites at $40/night, and you can reserve sites for single use or groups.

The host for Dalton Springs also looks after Buckboard.  These two campgrounds are also known bear travel areas (reason for the bear boxes), and there have been NO attacks on humans or pets.  Pets must stay at the campsites and not be allowed to roam; in other words, no annoying the other campers, or the wildlife in the area. 

 

Turkey Tracks at Buckboard

Devil's Canyon  (About 12 miles south of Monticello, off Highway 191)

Half this campground is reserve only, while the other half is first come, first serve; all sites are $10/night; vault toilets, potable water, and a host onsite.  At the far end of the first come/first serve section is a Nature Trail; only takes about 30 to 45 minutes to get through and is not difficult at all.  Just before you take the loop back to the beginning, the ruins of a cave granary can be seen across the canyon.

 Reserved Site

First Come, First Serve Site

The Nature Trail Begins.

The dirt road that goes past the campground leads into the Manti-LaSal National Forest; six miles along is the trailheads for Camp Jackson and Wagon Wheel; there is dispersed camping (must have a stone fire ring), ATV trails and beautiful landscape.  I'll be writing about this, with photos included, in a future blog post.

Nizhoni (located on FR079/Johnson Creek Road; easy access Blue Mountain Road in Blanding)

Single sites are both reserve or first come/first serve at $10/night; the two group sites are $40/night and must be reserved.  There are vault toilets, potable water and a host onsite.  While we had a leisurely lunch hour there, the mule deer wandered on through, but didn't beg for food, and we did NOT throw any to them.  Can it get anymore serene???

There are NO dumpsters or bear boxes in Nizhoni; whatever you bring in must be brought out.  Keep it clean, so everyone can enjoy the sites, not just you!

Group Sites

Here is your basic information about the four campgrounds around the Monticello/Blanding, Utah areas; remember to do your own research, get all the i's dotted, t's crossed and have a good time....that good time does depend on you!

Mary Cokenour

Abundant Campsites in the Abajo Mountains.

Four years ago hubby and I noticed a couple of signs indicating the locations of Indian ruins.  However, the roads leading to them were very unsuitable for a car; so we kept saying that we would make more of an effort once we got a Jeep or SUV.  Two years later we finally purchased a used SUV and made the trip back up North Creek Road (aka Abajo Mountain Loop Drive, Abajo Drive) to visit those elusive ruins.  The signs were no longer on the roadway; there are so many dirt roads leading to who knows where and we couldn't remember. 



Jenna
 

Mule Deer
 

Yesterday I decided to take the ride back up the mountain road, and took my dog Jenna with me.  She had a great time running through grassy fields, and surprisingly didn't bark at, or chase, any of the mule deer in the area.  We investigated a few of the dirt roads by parking my car safely off the main road, and walking through to see what we could see.  I did see a male wild turkey, but they can walk faster than I thought; by the time I had the camera ready, it was already into the brush.

I didn't find any ruins, just too many dirt roads to investigate; however, there are so many places to go camping up there!  Many sites are visible from the roadway, many you have to drive a little way to.  There are two campgrounds up in the Abajos that are run by the Forestry service, Dalton Springs and Buckboard.  They can accommodate RVs, but have no hookups; there are toilets of a sort, and no electricity to charge your cellphones, Ipads or laptops.  The camp sites around the three lakes can accommodate small camping trailers, but no mansions on wheels.

Guess I better tell you how to get to a few places; at the corner of 200 South and Main Street in Monticello, Utah is the Welcome Center.  Take 200 South west and follow the street as it curves to the left; keep following this curvy street and you'll finally see the beginning of the road up into the mountains.  As you travel the road, be careful of the deer, they're out any time they want to be; you're the visitor, not them.  The first place I investigated was at the 4.5 mile mark, a dirt road off to the right side of the road; there are camp sites and the most beautiful view of the valley, Monticello and the road (Route 491) going off towards Colorado.  Small trailers can get through, huge motor homes...not; continue up the mountain road and you'll see the signs for Dalton Springs and Buckboard to accommodate those.

View of valley and the La Sal Mountains
 

You'll have to travel about 10 miles before you get to a fork in the road; to the left leads to Foy Lake, to the right leads to Harts Draw Road and finally to Route 211.  All along the way you'll see breath taking scenery of the mountains.








Now if you only travel about 9 miles, you're going to see a graded road on the right which leads to a 3-way crossroads after curving up the hill.  If you take the road going straight, that is Spring Creek Road; it is bumpy here and there, but a car can traverse the entire road until it comes out on Route 191 (8.5 mile drive).  All along the road are dirt roads where many camp sites are visible via the road, and some you have to drive a little way to.  The speed limit is marked as 35, but I did 20 with my car; many a squirrel and chipmunk crossing the road were thankful for that.



If you want to go directly onto Spring Creek Road from Route 191, there are no signs indicating it by name, no mile markers nearby, just a simple white marker with the number 103 on it.  I can tell you though that it is 4 miles north from the town of Monticello; and the photo gives you a hint of what the entrance looks like currently.  There are many ranches along Spring Creek Road, so if you see "Private Property" and/or "No Trespassing" signs, YES!  they are meant for you.


Basically, if you are looking to camp outdoors and leave all the modern conveniences of the world; the Abajo Mountains is your mecca.  It is peaceful, quiet, serene; you can commune with nature and forget about stresses in your life.  Just enjoy.

Mary Cokenour