Grand Junction dirtbag beta
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Hey there MP community! |
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I lived in my truck for a year in Grand Junction, so hopefully I can be of some assistance. How far/long are you willing to drive to get some shuteye on a weeknight/weekend? The answer to this could help you narrow in where to shoot for. |
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You sound like the perfect person to talk to! Well some weeks I'm going to be looking for a camping spot every night, hopefully no further than 30 minutes out of town. But on weekends I can drive as far as it takes! Are you still living in GJ? |
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Michael Akland wrote:Hey there MP community! I'm moving to Grand Junction in a month or so to work for the US Fish and Wildlife doing some fisheries work for the season. I do NOT plan on paying for rent this summer, so I was wondering if anyone out there has info on good places for camping just outside of Grand Junction. Ive seen that public land surrounds the area, but where would YOU want to park your truck for the night for some peace? Cottonwood>juniper (of course). My plan is to climb pretty much every weekend, and possibly after work most days (if daylight permits). I've climbed extensively on the Utah side of the boarder west of GJ, but haven't ventured that far east from there. Desert rock is my #1, so let me know if you need a climbing partner for your tower top outs or crack climbing adventures! Cheers, MichaelMichael, I don't have any beta on free camp site areas on BLM lands and such. but I've camped in all three of these areas around Grand Junction with good results. There is the Desert. mostly MTB crowd. The Oasis in the desert . All users found here with pay showers and laundromat. Or the River through the desert . All the amenities along with (distant) highway noise within tolerable levels. Camping in the hills would be nice when the temperature Is up. Any local people's advice would be greatly appreciated. Good luck with your journey! |
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I do still live in GJ. Unfortunately I'm residing in a more permanent structure than my truck. I miss the dirtbag life. Based on the season you'll be here I think your best option is going to be in the Unaweep Canyon area. There are two distinct options here, Nine Mile Hill and Divide Road. |
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Thanks guys! This is more than enough to get me started! Michael: where exactly are the lunch loops on Monument Road? I see a bunch of dirt road circles on the south side of the road from a golf course, is that it? |
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I spent a couple weeks camping on divide road in unaweep canyon. it's all primitive but quiet, private, and plenty of close by climbing. |
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Hey. I have done some long term b.l.m. camping out north of fruita at the book cliffs. It will eventually get overrun by mountain bikers. unaweep/ divide or escalante.I'll keep you posted on climbing availability. |
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That's them. They're on the south side of the road right past Mariposa Dr. (on the north.) Dynamite Shacks and Bullet Hole Boulder areas are just north of the lunch loops btw. |
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Also some nice places to camp up at Glade Park area. Prob not the best option for early spring, but it's much higher in elevation and would be way nicer once the valley starts warming up in the summer months (not sure what season you'll be working). |
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Hello All, |
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Jesse, when did camping on Nine Mile Hill become frowned upon? I have long lamented about the condition that some people leave our favorite bouldering areas in. Just to name one specifically - The Bone Park has way too much broken glass and other redneck artifacts laying everywhere. Is there a line of communication between the BLM and WCCC that we could maybe open to get the area cleaned up/open again for overnight use? I love this area and hate how trashed it gets sometimes. |
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For over a year now BLM has not permitted over night camping. We have a good relationship with the BLM but I tend to agree that it is not sustainable to have it available for overnight camping do to how trashed it is. I encourage anyone who sees any groups that are paint balling, camping, living, burning, or partying to report it immediately to the BLM. When they were doing their resource program we fought to even be able to park off of Hwy 141 due to how trashed the area gets from the public and the evolving management policy of shutting it down in order to protect it. |
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Damn. I had no idea. Could we maybe update the Nine Mile Hill page to reflect that information? |
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Hello All, I just called the BLM office to get a better understanding of the situation and it appears that the proposed resource management plan is still being worked on and up until they release the final plan camping is allowed on BLM in Escalante- Dominguez NCA. Which portions of nine-mile hill are included in. There are large swaths of city and private land that you may not camp on throughout 9 mile. The current 14 day limit applies. I would recommend downloading a blm map. Sorry for the confusion and bad info. I do know that closures and such are in the works. But enjoy it now! Human waste needs to contained btw. |
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I spent several years in the late 90's & early 2000's chilling in and amoungst the boulders on the 9 Mile Hill, there are a bunch of nooks and crannies to find a place for your rig. There is also a long history of climbers dirtbaggin it there. It's a shame the feds want to shut it down, seem like there are gates just popping up everywhere these days. I for one am getting sick of it. |