HITE, Glen Canyon, UT

HITE REC AREA, GLEN CANYON NAT'L REC AREA

RUN BY: US Dept of Interior

LOCATION: About 40-50 miles south of Hanksville, UT

UTILITIES: NONE

COST: $12 (Senior Pass is accepted for 50% discount)

OUR RATING (1-5): II - 4

NOTES: Pamela just told me that I need to write a blog about how we decide where we're going and where to stop. We use maps and apps but mostly we stop where it looks interesting and we listen to other nomads. We ended up here by listening to nomads whom we met at the Petrified Forest SP. They have come through this area many times and gave us a list of interesting, beautiful and no-cost places to stop. Pamela and I had to admit that of all the places we've stayed only one has had a view out our bay window that can even come close to that which we had at Hite. Located on a flat just above the Colorado River there are magnificent views in absolutely every direction. Lake Powell use to come almost this far north so this area was, at one time, a thriving recreation area. There is a boat ramp that is now very high and dry. The marina is gone. Now the Colorado is a rather narrow ribbbon of water that goes along the cliff it made over millions of years. People now come here because they like the peace and quiet. If it weren't for lights at the NPS buildings up the road you would be >60 miles from any man-made light when you turn out your lights. Even then the night skys are fantastic. Our fellow camper here is a medical imaging developer who lives in California and actually developed the medical imaging for our hospitals in Kalispell. He comes here to snowshoe and ride his motorcycle and stay where no one can find him.

Environment: Desert. It rarely rains but when it does we've been told that it makes a really big mess.

Amenities: There are bathrooms down by the abandoned boat ramp which are a couple hundred yards from campers.

Discounts: The federal Senior Pass is accepted. Also disability discount.

Dump & Water: There is dump and drinking water at the top of the hill.

Phone Service: The last time we had a phone signal was over 200 miles away.

Location: At least 65 miles west of Blanding, UT on UT-95. Turn left. If you are coming from the east and cross the Colorado River, you've gone a couple of miles too far. It is at least 40-50 miles south of Hanksville, UT on UT-95. You will cross the Dirty Devil River and the Colorado River a short distance later. Just after crossing the Colorado watch for the Hite sign on the right.

Proximity to shopping: Other than the small camp store, which is extremely pricey, gas is probably 50 miles away. Anything other than the most basics are going to be 100-160 miles away. There is a small store and gasoline by the dump station. It is only open from 10am to 1pm.

Camping Population: There is probably only room for 4-5 campers. They're going to be people who want to be away from the crowd.

Sites: No designated sites. You figure them out by the fire pits people have made and the tire marks in the desert sand. Pick the view you like best and aim your rig accordingly.

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RATING KEY: category - score

Categories: I - established campgrounds where one might spend a vacation or several days

II - boondocking, dry camping where there are no designated sites and no amenities but

one might choose to stay for more than a night.

III - over-night areas

You must remember that we are scoring 1 thru 5 according to things which are important to us: the environment, cost, amenities, location, safety, camping population, site, phone service