Arches NP / Salt Valley Wash | Wild Camping

May 10th, 2023 by madiannejohnson22

We entered from the park side and turned left after the cattle guard. You can also enter from HWY 181, but turn right at cattle guard before park. Followed the road all the way until the end. Great spot. Very secluded and quiet. No off-road vehicles (even street legal) allowed in “Salt Valley”
Road is fully washboarded, about 8 miles from main park road. Very soft sand at spot, impassable after rain. 4x4 not necessary.

May 6th, 2023 by sayadesmarais

Gorgeous! We came in from the back way (not through the park) and turned right at the fence and went all the way til we hit the hill/firepit. Totally easy, we're in 4wd Element but I think any car could make it when dry. The next morning (a Sunday) we entered Arches through the back, we have a pass, and drove through stopping for hikes, and exited at the visitor center where there was a HUGE line of cars for timed entry waiting to get in. Not sure if technically allowed but no one said anything.

March 29th, 2023 by rogerrman2

I turned right after you go thru the cattle guard leaving the park. Dirt/mud was pretty high but I made it while towing a car. The spot was amazing if you don’t mind cow poop. You can see the north entrance from your campsite. there’s plenty of dry brush/shrubbery for getting your fire started. Poor cell service in the actual spot but if you climb the hill you get 5g with t mobile + the great sunset views.

November 1st, 2022 by Ylime

Fairly long drive through Arches on an unpaved road, but easily doable even in a sedan. Once you cross the cattle guard, if you go left, it gets a bit much for a sedan after a little while, but I still got far enough for complete privacy, not that it mattered since I was the only one there anyway.

June 12th, 2021 by jmcordero777

Once we got to gate (cattle guard), we took the road to the left (Southward) along the fence rather than the right like the original camper did. We drove all the way back (1/4 mile) until it dead ends into a private hidden little nook in the rocks where there is a rock fire pit and plenty of privacy. We backed the truck in and set up camp. Very quiet and hidden. You can walk up the mountain side and have a great view.

There are other good spots with a rock fire pits along the 1/4 mile road to this spot.

October 11th, 2020 by AdvRider1980

Nice spot with a view of the north end of the park.

November 23rd, 2019 by eli.recon

On the side road that follows the fence, there are two spots back against the ridge.

September 15th, 2019 by ven.ritchie

Flat. At Arches Salt Wash (Salt Valley Road). Spectacular sunset. Really at backdoor Arches NP. You sleep next to the northern (les used) entrance of the parc. Very beautiful scenery. Almost no cars passing. Possible with 2WD when dry. Gravel and Sandy road.