We didn’t have much luck camping in national parks on this fall vacation and because Arches campground was full we went right outside the park to BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land and camped along the Colorado River at Big Bend Beach.
There are seven campgrounds within 7.4 miles of US191. Pulled into the first one and did the loop. Full. Second, third, fourth…you get the picture, all full. Finally at the last one we got the last site. And what a fantastic view of the Colorado River cutting through the towering sandstone bluffs.
Some of the sites look big enough for large RVs, first come first serve, with picnic tables, drop-pit toilets and a few water spigots. In fact BLM offers many “camps” along the Colorado Riverway further along UT128 30 miles to Dewey and on the southwest side of US191 on both sides of the river. Paid half price with ‘Geezer’ card.
A loud noise caught my attention in this quiet landscape and a tour boat came whipping down stream full of smiling and screaming passengers.
Woke up to light slowly sliding down these steep canyon walls with the moon overhead.
Packed up camp, headed to US191 and turned north towards I70 where we’d go west to Green River on the way home to Kanab saying goodbye to the Colorado River. We did take a long drive to Hanskville before crossing through Capitol Reef National Park on the way. Our last day of vacation on the 1st of October.
Your luck holds! It may have been the last site but it sure looks sweet. What great views. Beautiful pictures. From what I saw of the Arches campground, you might have preferred this site anyway.
These are beautiful sites and not far from Arches. Agree nicer than what’s in the park and probably cheaper.
You know what they say, “Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans” and it seems it paid off with the views of your campsite. We just love that whole area, incredible country!
I’d return to camp here in a heartbeat and further explore Arches.
Such a pretty spot! I think we stayed in that very same campground (after looping thro all the others) a few years back. Lots of nice hiking around there too, even outside the national park.
Nina
I’d recommend this area to camp before the park. Wish we’d had time to explore more.
Good to see water – and still deep enough for the screaming tour boat! Love the shot with the moon, such a beautiful area. Amazing the campgrounds were all so full that late in September.
Was a much nicer place to camp than in the park.
Sounds like you had a great trip, and a wonderful way to wind down after the season at the Nort Rim.
Have a great winter, and do let us know if you come to Anza-Borrego.
This was a 5-day whirl wind vacation end of Sept. Only wish we’d had more time to explore. Will let you know when/if get to AB.
Gorgeous spot. It might have been the last spot but it was a good one.
These campsites were way better than in Arches.
Definitely worth the campsite hunt.
Not enough wild camp sites to go around. That tour boat is wild. I’m not sure it adds to the wilderness experience.
Glad there was only one screaming boat to ruin the sound of the river.
For a while I thought you we’re camping ‘alone’ in the Colorado River. Anyway, this looks really fun. My friends and I are backpackers as well, we’ve been wishing to camp along Big Bend Beach. Some of us are photographers as well, and this place looks really amazing for landscape pictures, I mean look at your pictures!
Thanks for the reviews 🙂
Thanks. Photos were easy at Big Bend Beach as everywhere I looked deserved one. A very nice camp. During the busy season I’d recommend getting a camp site early in the day.