BLM stands for Bureau of Land Management. Now that you are informed and prepared, where is the best place to set up camp? The quick answer is anywhere on BLM land. If it’s too hot to touch, then it’s too hot to leave. After stirring everything around, check with your hand. Use water to put out the initial fire, then mix the embers and ashes with soil or sand. Don’t assume the fire is out! Before you leave your campsite, be sure to put out your fire completely.Most campers are trying to wake up early to avoid the heat, so late-night raving is not usually in the itinerary. Everyone loves a good campfire party, but if you’re within a few hundred feet of any other campers, please be respectful of quiet hours. Do not take anything! This means you need to return that bag full of pretty igneous sedimentary rocks.You want to have as little of an impact as possible during your stay. Do not cut, break, or disturb any trees, bushes, branches, shrubbery, or any other living thing out in the wild.Just in case you’ve been “that guy” in the past, here’s a useful breakdown of what to avoid. Don’t be the person who starts a wildfire. Check with your nearest park services or visitors’ center to see if there are any fire restrictions. Dead debris on the ground acceptable, but you’ll also want to purchase logs before-hand to keep with you. Knocking down branches and small trees to use as firewood is not appropriate. Implied in the “leave no trace” pledge is to leave nature the way you found it. Do not dump used water into any streams, rivers, or lakes…*Ahem*, we are in Utah: I mean “reservoirs”. Be sure to pour out soap water into the soil at least 200 feet from any water source. Bronner’s Castille Soap are all great options. Campsuds, Sea-to-Summit Wilderness Wash, or Dr. For washing yourself or cleaning your cookware, you’ll want to have a soap that is eco-friendly. Some campers bring out old ammo cans purchased at Army/Navy stores to store their full waste bags. Bring biodegradable wipes or toilet paper, a shovel (dig at least 6 inches down), or bags to dispose of waste if digging isn’t your preferred method. Again, 99% of the time you will not have a bathroom so some extra planning is going to be needed here. Strategize for proper waste management.You also need water for cooking, dishes, bathing, and to put out your fire before bed or before leaving. You want at least 3 gallons of potable drinking water per person per day, especially here in the desert. Water! Bring more than you think you need.It can’t be stated enough just how inconvenient finding a suitable site and setting it up appropriately is in the dark. If you have an action-packed day plan, it is recommended that you secure your site first- thing. It’s inadvisable to wait until the last minute to set up your camp. Implied in this is the added responsibility to the camper, but removing the screen between you and raw nature makes it completely worth it! Naturally, having no services also means that there is no cost to the camper, and who doesn’t like FREE?īefore your first trip, however, let’s discuss some of the essentials you will need to make your trip an enjoyable one: Zilch, nada, none! All of the supplies you may need for the evening are brought in and taken out at the end of your adventure. No toilets, no trash pick-up, no fire-pits, no facilities, no camp supervisor, and certainly no wifi. What are some attributes of dispersed camping, you ask? Dispersed camping is synonymous with no services. Modern campsites have all the accommodations you would find at most high-end lodging sites, including wifi! With growing crowds, increased prices and commercialism, established campsites can seem underwhelming to most outdoor purists. Needless to say, The Watchman Campground and The South Campground are sensational, but it is a more simulated and controlled experience. Avoiding the crowds, enjoying the added thrill of discovering your own site, and being alone in the wild is an enchanting endeavor everyone should experience. This method is my personal favorite way of spending the evening beneath the stars. Dispersed camping, also known as “free camping”, “primitive camping”, “wild camping”, “dry camping”, or “boondocking”. Want to add a streak of adventure to your Zion National Park trip at no cost? If your answer is “Yes” (why wouldn’t it be?), then dispersed camping is the way to do it. Zion Dispersed Camping 101- A quick guide to surviving your first night in the desert
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