Camping and Partners in Indian Creek and Zion

Hello friends. I will be coming to Indian Creek and Zion in early/mid April. I'll be stopping at the Creek first. I live in my van, and I have a portable toilet, so I don't HAVE to stay in a campground with toilet facilities. I've scoured the forums for beta, but it seems like things are constantly changing. I'm curious what the community considers to be the best approach for a person like me. Should I stay at a campground and pay the (is it $5) fee per night, or since I have my own toilet facilities, does it make more sense to find a place to camp in dispersed sites on BLM land? Is that even legal? Is it considered good practice. Any beta on vanlife camping in the Creek and Zion would be much appreciated.

I'm also looking for partners, and will repost this in the partners forum area. If anyone  is looking for a competent partner, please let me know. Thanks!

Air Alexy

Air Alexy wrote: Hello friends. I will be coming to Indian Creek and Zion in early/mid April. I'll be stopping at the Creek first. I live in my van, and I have a portable toilet, so I don't HAVE to stay in a campground with toilet facilities. I've scoured the forums for beta, but it seems like things are constantly changing. I'm curious what the community considers to be the best approach for a person like me. Should I stay at a campground and pay the (is it $5) fee per night, or since I have my own toilet facilities, does it make more sense to find a place to camp in dispersed sites on BLM land? Is that even legal? Is it considered good practice. Any beta on vanlife camping in the Creek and Zion would be much appreciated.

I'm also looking for partners, and will repost this in the partners forum area. If anyone  is looking for a competent partner, please let me know. Thanks!

Air Alexy

I'm in pretty much the same situation, sin toilet facilities in my van. Currently in ABQ, but planning to head into IC/Zion next week. Have the same questions about etiquette, and also looking for a partner. 

You'll have better luck finding partners in the campgrounds. There's free camping to be had in the Creek, but I wouldn't call it dispersed. There are established campsites. More and more roadside "campsites" are popping up, mostly close to the bathrooms on Beef Basin Road. These new sites encroach on the ranch and threaten access. I would hate to see free camping be a thing of the past because of them. Do not use them. Educate others that do use them. Do not sleep in the Beef Basin, Supercrack, or any other parking lot near the highway. Consider staying in the campgrounds and paying the fee; it goes towards poop removal and other necessities.

I don't know about Zion. 

Are these "roadside campsites" people camping on BLM land? As in, is it legit dispersed camping, but people aren't following the Leave No Trace protocol? Or is it just more traffic than the area can sustain? And "poop removal," meaning outhouse maintenance, or meaning cleaning up after folks who aren't properly disposing of their waste? Just trying to understand what the issues are so I can avoid being a contributor as I travel through this area.

Thanks for helping me (and anyone else reading this thread) educate myself!

Laralyn M. wrote: Are these "roadside campsites" people camping on BLM land? As in, is it legit dispersed camping, but people aren't following the Leave No Trace protocol? Or is it just more traffic than the area can sustain? And "poop removal," meaning outhouse maintenance, or meaning cleaning up after folks who aren't properly disposing of their waste? Just trying to understand what the issues are so I can avoid being a contributor as I travel through this area.

Thanks for helping me (and anyone else reading this thread) educate myself!

Here's a pdf map of the land breakdown in Indian Creek.  The roadside "campsites" I'm referring to are on private land.  It may easily be confused with BLM land.  Those sites were once full of living soil crust, but cars, vans, people, and tents turned them in to dusty wastelands.  Crushing crypto is definitely not LNT.  There are other established sites, admittedly further away from bathrooms, that are available for camping.  By poop removal I just mean basic outhouse stocking, waste removal, and cleaning.  If you really want a gold star, you should pack out all your poop in wagbags.  I personally think using the outhouses is fine especially if you're paying a campsite fee.  

Thank you for researching the access and impact issues before you make your way to the Creek!  Another note: please observe the cliff closures.  They are posted on message boards, but here's a web page as well.  Included crags: The Wall, Far Side, Second Meat Wall, Disappointment Cliff, Fin Wall, Broken Tooth, Cat Wall, Slug Wall, and Reservoir Wall. 

Anyone looking to wall climb in Zion this week or next?