Dispersed Camping in Dixie National Forest

Hardly anyone else there when we went in May. Great spot. We hiked at snow canyon while camping there. Channel… McGeever Familia Adventure for more on this site.

I stayed in dispersed camping spot #5 arriving on August 31st, 2020. There are 11 or 12 designated spots here. There is a sign on the right side once you enter the Forest Service Road that maps all the hiking trails and dispersed camping sites available in the Leeds Creek dispersed camping area. No 4x4 is necessary to get to spots 1- 5. I didn't go all the way up the mountain and see the other spots. The entrance to spot 5 is a horseshoe shape big enough and convenient for an RV. However, for tent campers, you will want to go beyond the bushes for wind coverage and privacy. The space opens up with trails, amazing views, you can here the creek burbling below the canyon. Spectacular stargazing at night and pretty quiet aside from some road traffic. NOTE: tent campers; park your vehicle with visibility in the horseshoe drive in to avoid unbeknownst camp crashers. The coverage is good enough for tent campers that someone could easily believe the campsite was not taken. Also, bees like your trashbag. So, keep it in your vehicle rather than hanging it. Lastly, sadly there was A LOT of litter when I visited. I did my best to clean some of it up while I was there. Please remember to pack in/pack out and leave no trace!!

This campsite is located among some of the most beautiful landscapes. On your way in, you drive past fancy homes until the road becomes dirt. You then enter the National Forest where dispersed camping is permitted in designated sites. Otherwise, at the end of the road, you will reach the Signal Peak trail, as well as the Paid Oak Creek Campground (with amenities).

We camped at site 1, which had a huge red sandstone rock outcropping behind it. In the morning, we scrambled up to the top and found anchors for climbing. I highly recommend hiking around the site, as you can find some 360 views from high points. There was a fire pit at this site, as well as trees/plants/scrub.

Road is suitable for 2 WD cards, but large campers might have some issues with tight turns.

Luzon 18 L Del Dia Cotopaxi Bag purchased through Roanline

https://www.roanline.com/cotopaxi-luzon-18l-daypack-in-del-dia/

Reviewing this Cotopaxi bag was the highlight of our trip and I highly recommend EVERYONE to go out and get one. We beyond abused it, tossing it to each other while scrambling, squeezing through slot canyons, bushwacking through desert brush…. And after 10 days of extreme usage, it still looks brand new.

I’ve never had a top loading/sack style backpack before, so I was a little weary, but you just have to compartmentalize your gear (camera sack, snack sack, etc). It made me slightly more organized in the long run. One of my favorite things about the pack is hot comfortable it is. I tend to be a fanny pack lady as anytime I wear a backpack, I get achy and sore really quick, and my shoulders hurt. The way the straps on the Cotopaxi distributed weight was incredible. I was able to carry my camera and 2 L of water with no pain. Additionally we used it for climbing, and with the chest strap and waist strap, were able to keep is secure and flush to the body during weird motions. I also loved the fun colors and how light it is – we are excited to pack it for longer backpacking trips as a “summit pack”. Additionally, my husband and I are tall/long torsoed people who tend to struggle to find daypacks as “one size fits all” isn’t usually true. This bag fit both of us well without having to extend the straps to their extent, or wear it super high like a turtle.

My 2 notes- this bag would work best with a water bladder. We used it with Nalgene bottles which sat awkwardly at the bottom (figured out that laying them on their side fit best-not jabbing in your back), but it was a hassle to remove everything to get to them. Secondly, there are no gear loop attachments externally on the pack, so you cannot tie anything to the outside (ie- sweatshirt, climbing shoes, etc)