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BLM•Kanab, UT•16h from Austin
Cottonwood Canyon Road (BLM Dispersed)
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Accessibility baseline: Sites on this platform are reviewed for access with a standard 2WD pickup truck towing a 21-foot travel trailer unless otherwise noted below.
Road / tire note: 2WD OK when dry. Clay surface becomes impassable when wet — do not enter if rain is recent or forecast.
Fee
Free (14-day max)
Hookups
No hookups
Trailer
Verify before trip
Cell Signal
No signal
Water
Bring your own
Toilets
None
Best Season
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Reservations
None — dispersed, first-come
Max Length
30 ft
Highlights
- ▶ Free dispersed anywhere along a 47-mile scenic dirt byway linking Kodachrome Basin (north) to US-89 near Kanab (south) — a complete Grand Staircase traverse in one corridor
- ▶ Cottonwood Narrows (a natural slot canyon walkable from the road) and Grosvenor Arch (a rare double arch) are roadside highlights — camp 200 ft away and hit them at sunrise
- ▶ Strings Bryce Canyon, Kodachrome Basin, and the Kanab/Zion area into one continuous circuit without retracing any highway
Planning Notes
⚠️ 47-mile unpaved road (maintained dirt/gravel) — passable for trailers to ~30 ft in dry conditions; DO NOT enter when rain has fallen or is forecast. Road surface is clay/mudstone that becomes impassable to any vehicle when wet. Check current conditions at Escalante Interagency Visitor Center or Kanab BLM office before committing. No water, no services on the road. From Austin: ~16 hrs via I-10 W to US-89 N.