We heard of this dispersed camping area from our Escapee friends Steve and Barbara Lynch (currently campground hosts at Red Canyon Campground). “Amazing 360-degree views,” said Steve. And, he was spot on.
Steve did not remember the name of the road, but described it as “a dirt road to the right before you get to Calf Creek Campground between Escalente and Boulder.”
We stopped at Interagency Visitor Center in Escalante and related the exact words above to the woman at the information desk and she said: “That has to be Spencer Flat Road.” She pulled out a local map and gave precise directions.
To get to Spencer Flat Road (approximately a 5-mile stretch of relatively flat, dirt road) travel along Hwy 12, east from Escalente, Utah. At milepost 70, turn to your right (pictured above). You will cross a cattle guard. Within a hundred feet there will be evidence of dispersed camping. (Remember to only camp where there has been previous camping. Don’t worry, there will be plenty of camping opportunities.)
Jimmy always looks for level ground because of our refrigerator’s requirements. He spotted several decent opportunities within the first mile, but I kept encouraging him to go a little further because Steve mentioned “about two miles in from the highway is a great spot.”
Sure enough, right around the 2-mile mark, the road veered left around a large boulder and up ahead on the left was a clearing large enough for several RVs. And the views were phenomenal of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. With binoculars and our Utah DeLeome Atlas we estimated we could see at least 100 miles to most directions.
The one downside on the day we were there, other than the heat, was the wind. Red dust was on every surface. You’ll want to put your jacks down.
Camping cost: $0.
Photos by Julianne G. Crane
