Can I go camping at Lake Navajo Utah this weekend? I looked at recreation.gov, but everyday is "Out of Season" till May. Can I car camp or maybe set up a tent out there?? Really want to go camp, grill and paddle board. If anybody could give me any information, that would be very very appreciated.
I'll either be car camping or tent camping depending on what gets me closer to the water. If you can lmk some spots like that, that would be awesome. If I can post my car right next to the water, I'll just car camp, but if I can't get my car close to the water, I'll just pitch up a tent next to the water, but where am I permitted to do so??
Thanks in advance !!
by ManagementParking453
4 Comments
The area doesn’t open till the end of May. The lake is at 9000’ so there is snow up there and the road to the campground may be closed. Today’s photo from the highway looking towards the lake.
https://preview.redd.it/i8zat2mbavmg1.jpeg?width=1640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fc4dd421896c164a4bc21af53eaa68b4e238746c
I used to go out there a lot from Durango. The problem you’re going to run into is the gates are all closed right now. So getting to the water proper is going to be a foot slog, especially with gear, and probably through snow too. Not to mention getting to a gate to park and camp could risk getting your vehicle stuck in mud.
That said if you wanted to try my go-to was always Mile Marker 18. It’s on BLM land about a half a mile from the main road to the gate but I’ve camped near the gate many times with no issues.
The hike down to the cliffs isn’t easy and once you’re down there i doubt you can even find a way to the water itself. It’s been a dry winter and those inlets that people can walk into during high water become literal pits when it’s like this. I got nearly stuck in the one at MM18 on a low water year. Jumped a cliff and couldn’t get back up the 8ft sheer wall in the inlet, even with rope. Had to take a long, cold swim around the corner to a more manageable outlet.
Not recommended till late April or early May but it is possible.
There are no established campsites open up on cedar mountain right now. There is a dispersed camping area just east of duck Creek village which seems to be your only option for camping right now.
I spent maybe the coldest night of my life up there in the shoulder season once. 60 and sunny one day and single digits and windier than Wyoming the next. Might want to delay a bit if you want to get the sup out there