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Dispersed Camping

Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping

Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping, near Mount Carmel, Utah, is a laid-back spot perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle. This area offers a chance to pitch your tent in a wide-open space with stunning views, making it a great choice for a night under the stars.

Visitors have noted that the location is close to some fantastic attractions, including the Coral Pink Sand Dunes and Zion National Park. One camper mentioned, “Such a nice campsite, plenty of spots... Super close to the Coral Pink Sand Dunes which is worth a visit.”

While there are no fancy amenities here, you can enjoy campfires and bring your pets along for the adventure. Just keep in mind that there’s no drinking water or trash service, so plan accordingly. As one reviewer put it, “Basically a big patch of dirt, nice views, can’t complain.”

If you're driving through the area, this spot is easy to access and offers a peaceful retreat after a day of exploring. Just be prepared for some muddy conditions if it rains, as a few campers have mentioned that the ground can get slick. Whether you're stopping for the night or staying a bit longer, Mt Carmel Old 89 is a solid choice for a rustic camping experience.

Description

Bureau of Land Management

Camping on public lands away from developed recreation facilities is referred to as dispersed camping. Most of the remainder of public lands are open to dispersed camping, as long as it does not conflict with other authorized uses or in areas posted "closed to camping," or in some way adversely affects wildlife species or natural resources. Dispersed camping is allowed on public land for a period not to exceed 14 days within a 28 consecutive day period. The 28 day period begins when a camper initially occupies a specific location on public lands. The 14 day limit may be reached either through a number of separate visits or through 14 days of continuous overnight occupation during the 28 day period. After the 14th day of occupation, the camper must move outside of a 25 mile radius of the previous location until the 29th day since the initial occupation. The purpose of this special rule is to prevent damage to sensitive resources caused by continual use of any particular areas. In addition, campers must not leave any personal property unattended for more than 10 days (12 months in Alaska).

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Location

Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping is located in Utah

Detail location of campground

Coordinates

37.2051122 N
112.67558797 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Fair
  • Verizon
    Good
  • AT&T
    Good
  • T-Mobile
    Poor

Site Types

  • Dispersed

Features

For Campers

  • Market
  • Phone Service
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

DISPERSED CAMPING

Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.


PERMIT might be REQUIRED

We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping needs a permit.

Drive Time


Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

20 Reviews

Reviewed Oct. 5, 2024

Great view

Easy access onto old 89. We parked in the old gravel pit area. Our sewer sits low on our Lance and had no problem getting in. There is a bit of garbage and stuff dumped over the edges if you look for it. No odour no flies. Nice breeze. Felt safe. Quiet as its buffered from the highway. There were 3 other campers so not alone. Just minutes from Belly of the Dragon and 10 minutes from parking lot turn off to Peekaboo Slot.

Sitedispersed
Month of VisitOctober
Reviewed Aug. 30, 2023

easy to reach campground

I was alone in this huge spot. 

Had a little trouble finding it, because there are a few roads after you leave 89, but once I took the straight road its right there.

Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed Jun. 14, 2023

Perfect Overnight Stop!

Stayed here on 04/29/23 travelling from Sand Caves & Belly of the Dragon to Zion NP. Great place to stop for the night and pitch the tent. 2WD car did not have any issues on a fairly dry day, and we were able to access the park easily the next morning.

Month of VisitApril
  • Review photo of Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping by Sam W., June 14, 2023
Reviewed Jun. 11, 2023

Close to Coral Pink Sand Dunes

Such a nice campsite, plenty of spots from the upper area down to the lower part where the original part of hwy 89 stands. Super close to the Coral Pink Sand Dunes which is worth a visit, as well as the Belly of the Dragon, Moqui Sand Caves & Zion NP! I also highly recommend checking out the Nomad Cafe in Kanab while here, as well as Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Plenty to do while passing through - happy camping everyone!

Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping by Laura R., June 11, 2023
  • Review photo of Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping by Laura R., June 11, 2023
  • Review photo of Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping by Laura R., June 11, 2023
Reviewed Mar. 16, 2023

Muddy!!

Beautiful views and convenient for exploring the area, but gets very muddy! Card can get stuck or slide easily.

Month of VisitMarch
Reviewed Jun. 16, 2022

A nice place to camp

There was plenty of space. It's close to Zion. The roads were decent and the veiws were perfect.

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping by Amanda R., June 16, 2022
Reviewed Mar. 31, 2022

Great Views low Travel Camp Road

I’ve seen half a dozen people in 2 days. Hwy 89 below my site is somewhat busy with some engine brakes during the night. This is why I gave the site 4 stars.

SiteTop of the Mountain Road
Month of VisitMarch
  • Review photo of Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping by Al L., March 31, 2022
  • Review photo of Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping by Al L., March 31, 2022
Reviewed Mar. 6, 2022

Beautiful Campsite !!

Never done winter camping before but this was a perfect and beautiful spot. Even with snow and some mud it was very clean with larger grounds for RV’s and smaller spots you can reach with a 4x4 no problem. Is close to the highway so you do see some lights but still felt safe and private.

Month of VisitMarch
  • Review photo of Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping by Emma , March 6, 2022
  • Review photo of Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping by Emma , March 6, 2022
Reviewed Jan. 18, 2022

We drove through it

Drove through this spot looking for a place to stay. We were very surprised to find an old looking bulldozer parked near the back of the wide open area. Not at all what we expected. We decided to pass on this spot. However it is conveniently located right off 89 and hard to miss.

Month of VisitJanuary
Reviewed Dec. 26, 2021

Pretty and snowy

Went here on December 10th and 11th so it was definitely cold car camping and there was some snow on the ground but the view was incredible. The campsite was calm and easy to drive into. Zion and Bryce are both close by too.

Month of VisitDecember
Reviewed Nov. 1, 2021

Amazing view

Great spot for a night or two. Not overly crowded. Spots are easy to get to. Beautiful views all around.

Month of VisitNovember
  • Review photo of Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping by Jasonne Y., November 1, 2021
Reviewed Oct. 14, 2021

Beautiful spot next to Virgin River

This was our very first dispersed camping spot and we loved it! It was only 20 minutes to Zion. We stayed 2 nights next to the Virgin River. It rained hard our second day in Zion and when we got back to camp the area was a thick, red mud that stuck to our shoes & the Virgin River rose quickly. But, it stayed well within its banks and we were able to easily pull out the next morning.

Month of VisitOctober
Reviewed Oct. 13, 2021

First time dispersed campers

This was our first time to try dispersed camping, after our kids have done it for years. We found a beautiful spot right next to the Virgin River and we thoroughly enjoyed our experience. There was an old corral across the road from where we spent two nights and it just added to the ambiance of the area. It was about 20 minutes to Zion. It rained hard while we were in the National Park & our site was muddy when we returned. That is the only downside to this spot.

Sitedispersed
Month of VisitOctober
Reviewed Oct. 11, 2021

Grear location near Zion

We stayed one night on our way to Zion. There was plenty of room to spread out, and it was a quiet stay with great views of the night sky.

One bit of advice — try to get here before dark so you have time to scout for the spot you want. There is a lot here and you can go 3 ways once you pull in, so getting early to give yourself time to look around is a good idea. We got just after sunset as we drove over Bryce’s Canyon at the end of the day and we liked our spot, but I’d have preferred to get there before sunset so I could really scout around.

SiteN/A
Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping by Gordon F., October 11, 2021
  • Review photo of Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping by Gordon F., October 11, 2021
  • Review photo of Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping by Gordon F., October 11, 2021
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Oct. 3, 2021

Boondocking spots

There is a big sand quarry right off the highway suitable for big rigs. Up the hill less than half a mile are about 5 more spots suitable for smaller travel trailers (?25 feet or less?).

Sitetop of hill
Month of VisitOctober
Reviewed Sep. 1, 2021

Amazing 360° views

We pulled in around 7:45pm we saw three other campers but the place had plenty of sites left! The sunset was amazing and we enjoyed our time!

SiteTop of the the site
Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed Jul. 7, 2021

Nice and quiet BLM dispersed camping

Take the exit from 89 and cross the remnants of the old 89 road. You will find several spots with previously used fire rings. We took our 30ft RV up the hill right on top of what seems to be a sand pit of some sort. You could also follow the old 89 and find some spots in between the trees. We chose to stay up too with the view. Obviously there are no amenities of any sort here as this is BLM land for dispersed camping. We will stay here for one night on our way to Zion.

Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping by Thomas W., July 7, 2021
  • Review photo of Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping by Thomas W., July 7, 2021
  • Review photo of Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping by Thomas W., July 7, 2021
  • (12) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the elevation of Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping?

    Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping is located at 5479 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Does Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping does not have wifi.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is good, AT&T is good, and T-Mobile is poor.