![]() ![]() Winter on the other hand, can be quite pleasant in Southern Utah and is the least crowded time to visit the national parks. If you choose to visit Utah in summer, I suggest bringing some sort of shade structure, and consider visiting higher elevation areas where it’s cooler. If you are traveling with a pet, I’d highly recommend avoiding Southern Utah in July and August. Utah is very hot in the summer, and if you’re like most van lifers, you probably don’t have AC. Keep in mind that it’s illegal to disturb archeological sites or to remove artifacts, and the oils on your skin can also cause permanent damage, so enjoy with your eyes only. Tens of thousands of archeological sites exist in Utah, and if you happen to come across any archeological artifacts, don’t touch anything and leave things as you find them. Utah is home to eight distinct tribal nations, including the Ute, Diné (Navajo), Paiute, Goshute and Shoshone. Always pack out your used toilet paper, as well as your other garbage and microtrash you might find at your campsite.Īnother principle of Leave No Trace is to leave any natural or archeological objects you might find. If you don’t have a bathroom in your van, brush up on Leave No Trace principles for the desert, which suggest digging a cathole 4-6” deep for your human waste (Read: " How to Poop in the Outdoors"). When choosing a campsite, only drive on established roads, camp in existing spots that have already been camped in, and avoid trampling vegetation. That means as van lifers who call Southern Utah their temporary home, we need to take extra care to protect this unique and incredible environment. Yet a single footprint (or tire track) can do irreparable damage. The desert is unmatched at its ability to withstand drought, high winds and crazy temperature swings, yet it is still one of the most fragile ecosystems on the planet.ĭue to the dry climate, the Utah desert’s cryptobiotic soil and vegetation is super slow to grow, and can take hundreds or even thousands of years to reach maturity. If you decide to get off the pavement and explore Utah’s rocky dirt roads, you should have a jack, a spare tire and some basic recovery gear. That way if I have any issues when I’m out of cell range, I can use my Garmin to send a text message or call for help. I personally like to travel with a Garmin InReach when doing van life in Southern Utah. Don’t hesitate to top off your gas tank if you don’t know how far it is until the next gas station.Īnother thing to be aware of is cell service in these areas is non-existent, so make sure you have maps and information downloaded beforehand. George, or Moab before venturing out to the unknown. ![]() This means you’ll need to stock up on supplies in towns such as Salt Lake City, Price, Cedar City, St. Services can be limited in rural Southern Utah across the state between I-15 and Highway 191. ![]() Start exploring some of the best outdoor destinations in Utah here. Also, if your van is equipped for it, the further you travel on dirt roads, the more solitude you will find. I suggest utilizing paper maps and a satellite view on Google Maps to plan out a quiet route that is far off-the-beaten path. You can easily avoid the crowds, however, by traveling in the off-season (late fall through early spring), visiting national parks during off-hours, or by choosing lesser known destinations, such as the town of Kanab, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument or Fishlake National Forest. These places are absolutely worth a visit, but they can get very busy in peak season (Read: " The Best Time to Visit Moab"). ![]() Utah is well known and loved for its Mighty 5 national parks, Lake Powell, and the town of Moab. This page on the Visit Utah site is a fantastic COVID-19 resource for travelers as it is updated frequently. On more popular trails, consider bringing a mask in your pocket that you can put on when you are passing other hikers. Choose lower-risk activities, and if a trailhead parking lot is packed, come back another day. You should also know that rural communities, such as Moab, don’t have the medical resources to deal with a large COVID-19 outbreak, so it’s critical that visitors follow local regulations and practice social distancing. Also, pay special attention to alerts pertaining to Native American tribal lands, as some of these areas have been hit particularly hard and are not open to visitors. For example, certain counties are requiring masks, and some trails and camping areas may be closed. As I write this, Utah’s communities, national parks and other public lands are currently open for travel, but it’s up to you to plan ahead and do the research before and throughout your trip regarding current restrictions and health guidelines. ![]()
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