Kick off your trip with a scenic drive down scenic byways toward Cedar Mesa or the less-traveled turnoffs near Blanding, stopping to scout legal dispersed sites off Forest Service roads and to grab any last-minute supplies in Monticello. Spend the morning flagging potential campsites, practicing low-impact setup at a chosen spot near a wash or juniper bench, and taking a short orientation walk to mark water caches and view corridors for sunset scouting.
In the afternoon, head toward the lesser-known backcountry near Hole-in-the-Rock Road for reconnaissance drives and pull-offs, scouting sheltered benches beneath pinyon-juniper stands for a more private primitive camp. Spend a couple of hours hiking a short loop to the viewpoint at AZ/UT border washes to test water-caching spots and practice low-impact fire-ring etiquette, then settle into a flagged site before sunset with a twilight walk to a nearby slickrock shelf for wide desert views.
As dusk falls, stroll to a sandstone bench overlooking a hidden wash near Fry Canyon for sweeping evening light and quiet stargazing away from highway glare; set up a wind-savvy tarp campsite sheltered by nearby pinyon pine. After a simple camp-cooked meal, take a short twilight walk to the rim above Blue Notch to scout next-day sunrise lines and cache extra water, then practice Leave No Trace by dismantling temporary markers and securing food in a bear-proof container before turning in.
Rise early and take a crisp morning hike into the hoodoos and juniper benches around Grand Gulch Trailhead to scout quiet dispersed sites along side washes, then follow a short rim walk to a hidden alcove for morning light photography. After the hike, drive a few miles of graded two-track toward Coal Mine Wash to test secluded pullouts for level tent platforms and shelter from prevailing winds, marking water-cache points and noting approach routes for an easy midday move.
Spend the afternoon driving the mellow two-tracks toward Dark Canyon Wilderness and scouting tucked-in pullouts beneath cottonwood-lined washes for sheltered primitive sites; stop for a short creekside scramble to test access and shade before committing to a camp. Follow that with a relaxed loop hike to the sandstone benches above Elk Ridge to survey approach routes, photograph layered canyon walls in late-afternoon light, and practice stealth camping techniques (site selection, scatters of natural camouflage, and low-impact camp placement) before returning to your flagged spot for sunset.
As the sun softens, drive to a quiet sandstone bench overlooking Fry Canyon Overlook and set a minimalist camp tucked beneath pinyon pines for shelter from the evening breeze. After a simple dinner, take a twilight walk down to the dry wash at Blue Notch Spur to photograph warm cliff colors, practice silent stargazing away from road lights, and rehearse pack-out routines before bedding down for a clear desert night.
Wake to a crisp desert dawn and drive the scenic two-track toward Cedar Mesa Overlook for wide views, stopping at pullouts to scout legal dispersed sites on sandstone benches; hike a short spur to Edge of the Cedars-style rim for early light photography and to test campsite approach routes. Continue along a graded backcountry road to recon hidden washes near Comb Ridge, walking short segments of slickrock and juniper benches to find level tent platforms and sheltered tarping spots while mapping water-cache points and plotting a midday move.
Spend the afternoon easing down the washboard turns of Hole Valley Road, pulling off to scout secluded benches and juniper-dotted ridgelines for level tent platforms and natural windbreaks; practice quick-site assessments and mark promising GPS waypoints. Follow with a short, late-afternoon scramble to the rim above Mexican Hat Overlook for sweeping river-carved vistas and to test shady micro-sites near cottonwoods, then drop into a sheltered canyon pullout to settle into a flagged primitive camp before sunset.
As the sun drops, ease onto a mellow backroad to a secluded sandstone bench near Grand Staircase foothills for a low-profile camp tucked beneath pinyon clusters, then take a short stroll to the nearby wash mouth at Coke Ovens Draw to photograph warm cliff faces in golden hour. After a simple camp-cooked meal, hike a half-mile rim walk to Sagebrush Pocket to scout alternate hidden pullouts for tomorrow's move, practice silent stargazing well away from roadside glare, and secure food in your pack or a bear-safe container before turning in.
Rise early for a crisp hike up the narrows and slickrock ledges of The Maze approach trails, pausing at the knobby rim to photograph carved canyons and map a safe descent route for pack gear. After the rim walk, drop into a short tributary toward South Six-Mile Wash to scout level tent platforms and natural windbreaks, then stash an emergency water cache near a cottonwood-lined bend before loading up to relocate to a quieter bench farther downcountry.
In the afternoon, break camp and drive a scenic backroad toward Butler Wash to scout new dispersed platforms tucked beneath cottonwood stands, then take a short hike into the nearby arroyo to test water-cache spots and shelter options. Continue east to a secluded bench above Little Wild Horse Canyon for a late-afternoon rim walk and to evaluate level tent sites sheltered by pinyon-juniper, then settle into the chosen primitive spot before sunset, rehearsing low-impact setup and caching extra water for the night.
As dusk settles, stroll to a sandstone bench overlooking Natural Bridges rim for low-angle light and an easy vantage to photograph layered canyons, then set a low-profile tarp camp tucked behind nearby pinyon clusters to shelter from the evening breeze. After a simple camp-cooked dinner, take a short twilight walk down to the shallow wash at Cottonwood Draw to rehearse silent stargazing and scout a nearby pullout as your fallback site, then secure food and pack out any trash before turning in for a quiet desert night.
Break camp at first light and run a final sweep of your site, packing out any micro-trash and checking cached water at the Cottonwood Draw cache site before driving a short backroad to stop for a last sunrise over the slickrock at Cedar Breaks Viewpoint; use this calm morning to top off fuel and clean gear at the picnic pullout. Before heading out, make a relaxed short walk along the rim of Buttress Ridge to photograph lingering desert light and confirm your route out via graded two-track, then secure food and stow gear for the drive toward Monticello or your next waypoint.
Spend the afternoon methodically breaking down camp and completing a final Leave No Trace sweep, then drive a scenic backroad toward Newspaper Rock to stretch legs and photograph petroglyph panels while checking gear and trash caches. After a short walk along the pullout, continue northeast to Monument Valley Viewpoint for one last wide desert panorama, top off fluids in Mexican Hat if needed, and slowly make your way toward main roads while confirming travel times and roadside refueling options for the drive home.
As the day winds down, pull into a quiet overlook at Gooseberry Mesa for a final low-profile camp cookout and golden-hour views that give one last look at the desert's layered colors; use the stop to dismantle campsite features, crush and pack trash, and recover any stray gear. Later, make a slow, deliberate sweep of your last primitive site near Fossil Point to confirm all caches are removed and food secured, then enjoy a short twilight stroll to Moonflower Wash to watch stars emerge before stowing gear for the morning drive out.
| Place / Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Cedar Mesa (scouting/dispersed camping) | Free |
| Blanding (supplies in town) | $15 |
| Monticello (last-minute supplies) | $10 |
| Hole-in-the-Rock Road (reconnaissance drives / access) | Free |
| AZ/UT border washes (viewpoint short hike) | Free |
| Fry Canyon (scenic bench / stargazing) | Free |
| Blue Notch / Blue Notch Spur (short walks / photography) | Free |
| Grand Gulch Trailhead (hiking / dispersed scouting) | Free |
| Coal Mine Wash (two-track scouting) | Free |
| Dark Canyon Wilderness (day hiking/scouting) | Free |
| Elk Ridge (short loop / photography) | Free |
| Fry Canyon Overlook (evening viewpoint) | Free |
| Grand Staircase foothills (primitive scouting) | Free |
| Cedar Mesa Overlook (scenic pullouts) | Free |
| Edge of the Cedars (rim-style viewpoint / photography) | $7 |
| Comb Ridge (slickrock scouting) | Free |
| Hole Valley Road (backcountry driving) | Free |
| Mexican Hat Overlook (river-carved vistas) | Free |
| Sagebrush Pocket (short rim walk) | Free |
| The Maze approach trails (day hike/scouting) | Free |
| South Six-Mile Wash (tributary scouting / water cache) | Free |
| Butler Wash (dispersed platforms scouting) | Free |
| Little Wild Horse Canyon (rim walk / scouting) | Free |
| Natural Bridges rim (viewpoint photography) | $5 |
| Cottonwood Draw (wash scouting / cache check) | Free |
| Cedar Breaks Viewpoint (sunrise pullout) | Free |
| Buttress Ridge (rim walk / photos) | Free |
| Newspaper Rock (petroglyph panels) | Free |
| Monument Valley Viewpoint | $10 |
| Mexican Hat (refueling / fluids) | $5 |
| Gooseberry Mesa (overlook / camp) | Free |
| Fossil Point (final site sweep) | Free |
| Moonflower Wash (twilight stroll / stargazing) | Free |
| Estimated Total (per person) | $37 |