Advice on leaving Las Vegas

**SQU1RE** · 06-04-2012, 12:47

At the end of the month I'm going to be in Las Vegas for work and I'm going to take a couple of days off for camping. I've been looking at central California, southern Nevada,north western Arizona and southern Utah. A neighbour said the Lake Mead is more of a RV park, a new co-worker (ground dweller) said check out the parks near Flagstaff Arizona. So far in my own reading Zion National Park looks nice but as I've never been in the area I could use some advice from local hangers or those that have camped in the area. Any suggestions would be appreciated

**Boothill** · 06-04-2012, 12:55

my girlfriend is down there right now and has been hiking and camping in the zion, dixie national forest and capitol reef area of southern utah, and i also have spent some time in those areas camping and hiking and i can tell you for certain "you won't be disappointed" visiting that area at all

IT IS SIMPLY AMAZING!

boot

**jayf124** · 06-04-2012, 22:25

There are some great spots to camp up at Mt Charleston (Spring Mountain National Recreation Area). Its about an hour out of Vegas and the higher elevation keeps the temperatures down. Plenty of places to hang!

Also check out Valley of Fire State Park. AWESOME area to camp but there are no trees. I've hung from the overhangs in the sites though.

Lake Mead is a drag right now. Water is really low and it just isn't worth the trip in my opinion.

Hope this helps.

Jay

**SQU1RE** · 06-09-2012, 01:13

Originally Posted by jayf124

There are some great spots to camp up at Mt Charleston (Spring Mountain National Recreation Area).

Lake Mead is a drag right now. Water is really low and it just isn't worth the trip in my opinion.

I'll check out Mt Charleston, that's so close to Vegas. Where else would you suggest within a few hours of Vegas? But I have to be able to use my hammock, its a business trip and dont want to travel with my tent (to big).

**olzeke** · 06-09-2012, 10:28

If you have never been in that region before, I would drive to Zion. It is about 2.5 hours via I-15. Try to get an overnight permit for the West Rim Trail. Begin at Lava Point and hike down into the canyon, right past Angel's Landing. It is a single overnight trip, and most of the sites have good trees. #1,2,and 3 would be closest to halfway. If you have no fear of heights, hike up Angel's, but hold on to the chains.

Eat at either The Bit and Spur, or Whiptail Grill for mexican, and Zion Pizza and Noodle for great pizza.

This thread from yesterday has a link to pictures of the individual sites.

http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=54216

**sodakgrrl** · 06-09-2012, 10:53

As boothill mentioned, I am in Vegas right now. I was able to stop in Zion on my way down....the park is STUNNING....but hanging in either of the main campgrounds would be iffy. I had a couple of days off and drove up to the St. George area. It's an easy 110 miles from here, and the campground where i stayed Pine Valley is about 30 miles north of town. You'd get out of the heat and have a good chance of hanging there. There are a bunch of trails right there, or you could make a day trip to Zion at about 50 miles away. Hope this helps!

**stevebo** · 06-09-2012, 11:41

Just took a family trip to Capitol Reef National park. Its a bit off the beaten path, but there were no crowds, and the scenery was really great---I m not into crowds, so this was a perfect fit for me! We stayed in Torrey, and did day hikes------awesome place! (didnt look too good for hanging though!) That whole part of the country is so beautiful: you really cant go wrong!

**SQU1RE** · 06-10-2012, 23:14

Originally Posted by sodakgrrl

I was able to stop in Zion on my way down....the park is STUNNING.... i stayed Pine Valley is about 30 miles north of town. You'd get out of the heat and have a good chance of hanging there. There are a bunch of trails right there, or you could make a day trip to Zion at about 50 miles away. Hope this helps!

The more I read about southern Utah, the more I like it. I think both Pine Valley and Lava Point deserve at least a night each if I can make the time

**BullFrog** · 06-10-2012, 23:19

Out of all those places, I've only been around Flagstaff, but it's awesome. If you want to get out of the heat a bit, that's the place to go.

**BikerDad** · 06-11-2012, 22:29

Southern Utah, aka "Color Country", can't be beat. If you want a little culture, depending on your timing, you can catch some really good theater in Cedar City at the Utah Shakespearean Festival.

Between Zion, Bryce and Capitol Reef National Parks, plus the state parks (Kodachrome Basin comes to mind) the scenery is beyond compare. And there are plenty of trees.