Dispersed Featured

Valley of the Gods Dispersed Camping

Mexican Hat, UT

$0.00 /night

Dispersed camping — conditions change

Fire restrictions, road washouts, and seasonal closures are common on public lands. Confirm current rules with the managing agency (BLM/USFS field office) before traveling. Practice Leave No Trace.

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Dispersed Area Free · No reservation BLM · National Monument (Bears Ears)

What is dispersed camping?

Dispersed camping is primitive camping on public land outside of developed campgrounds. There are no facilities — no toilets (usually), no water, no trash service, no marked sites. You may camp anywhere within the area, usually for free, subject to the agency's rules below. Pack everything out, follow Leave No Trace, and check current conditions with the land manager before you go.

Valley of the Gods is a 17-mile sandstone valley on BLM-managed land within Bears Ears National Monument, often called "the small Monument Valley." Dispersed camping is allowed along the loop road on previously-disturbed pull-offs only. 14-day stay limit, then move 25 miles per BLM Utah supplementary rules. WAG-bag pack-out expected. The road is passable to passenger cars in dry weather but turns to deep mud after rain — plan around weather.

Fire restrictions change daily. We don't publish a static fire-allowed claim — check the current order before any campfire, stove, or smoking.

Current fire orders ↗

Previously disturbed sites only
Camp ONLY in established / previously used spots. Pioneering new sites is prohibited under the management plan and subject to citation.
Pack out human waste
WAG bag (or equivalent pack-out kit) is required. Burying is not allowed in this area.
Commercial / film permits required
Filming, photography for hire, guiding, and other commercial activities require a separate permit from the agency. Personal recreational use does not.

Managing agency: BLM · BLM Monticello Field Office
Designation: National Monument (Bears Ears)
Size: ~31,000 acres
Max stay: 14 days per location
Move distance after stay: 25 mi minimum
Road access: High clearance recommended
Distance from water (LNT): 200+ ft
Vehicle notes: Passenger car when dry; impassable when wet. High-clearance recommended.

Facilities

✗No toilets — pack out human waste (WAG bag)
→Potable water: Mexican Hat (~10 miles east) or Bluff (~30 miles east).
→RV dump: Bluff or Blanding.
→Cell: No service inside the valley; intermittent on US-163.

Seasonal notes: The dirt loop becomes impassable mud during and after rain or snow — vehicles regularly get stranded. Check current weather and recent precipitation before driving in.

Resources & official references

Fire restrictions (live)

BLM Utah — current fire restrictions ↗
Live BLM Utah fire-order page. Check before any campfire or stove use.

Official agency page

BLM — Valley of the Gods ↗
Official visitor page from the managing agency.

Designation

BLM Bears Ears National Monument ↗
Valley of the Gods sits within Bears Ears NM — designation rules apply over the general BLM framework.

Field office / ranger district

BLM Monticello Field Office ↗
Field office covering southeastern Utah, including Bears Ears NM.

Leave No Trace

Leave No Trace — 7 Principles ↗
Pack everything out, camp on durable surfaces, respect wildlife, etc.

About

Free dispersed camping along the 17-mile Valley of the Gods scenic loop in southeastern Utah, managed by the BLM Monticello Field Office and located within Bears Ears National Monument. The loop is a graded dirt road (passable to passenger cars in dry weather; high clearance recommended after rain) that climbs through sandstone monoliths reminiscent of Monument Valley. Camping is allowed on previously-disturbed pull-offs along the road only — pioneering new sites is prohibited. There are NO facilities of any kind: no toilets, no water, no trash service, no cell service. Pack everything out, including human waste; the BLM strongly encourages WAG bag use. 14-day stay limit per location, then move at least 25 miles. Avoid camping during rain — the road becomes impassable and you can be stranded for days.