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BLM•Mexican Hat, UT•14h from Austin
Bears Ears NM — Valley of the Gods (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. Avoid in wet conditions — road closes itself.
⚠️ Dirt loop road — trailers ≤25 ft only. Do NOT enter when rain is forecast; bentonite clay becomes dangerously slick and impassable.
Fee
Free (14-day max)
Hookups
No hookups
Trailer
Verify before trip
Cell Signal
No signal
Water
Bring your own
Toilets
None
Best Season
Mar–May, Sep–Nov
Reservations
None — dispersed, first-come
Max Length
25 ft
Highlights
- ▶ Free dispersed camping anywhere along a 17-mile dirt loop ringed by 1,000-ft red rock monoliths — the drama of Monument Valley without the fee or the crowds
- ▶ Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park (15 mi south), Goosenecks of the San Juan SP (8 mi), and Natural Bridges NM (45 mi) all day-trip distance from one free camp
- ▶ Zero services, zero permits, zero fee — one of the most cinematic free-camping backdrops in the American West
Planning Notes
⚠️ 17-mile dirt/gravel loop (Valley of the Gods Road) — passable for short trailers (≤25 ft) in dry conditions; bentonite clay becomes impassable when wet. No water, no toilets, no services on the loop. Mexican Hat (8 mi) has fuel and a diner. Pick any flat pullout and camp (14-day max, then move 25 mi). From Austin: ~14 hrs via US-285 N to US-491 N to US-163 W.