Singletrack. Ski Resorts Good camping up on Gooseberry Mesa. Description The Wire Mesa Loop is a fun singletrack with amazing vistas of Zion National Park and it provides a different hiking experience for the area. 1,596 Posts . Best California Beaches North Cell Phone Dangers in the Wild Two ways to access. Closed. Terms Gooseberry Mesa is a well known mountain biking area; there is good camping with previously established fire rings. Add A Truck Stop 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Wednesday So larger rigs stop too soon and get a ticket (C), Wire Mesa - Smithsonian Butte National Back Country Byway. After about a mile the road begins a steep ascent without campsites to the top of the Butte and after a strong rain requires a 4WD vehicle to make the top. Go left on the dirt road. To avoid $1xx ticket, you must be at least a half mile from byway, High clearance is required, 4WD recommended to do so. RV LED Lights Yoga Retreats Facebook Spa Resorts Zion Canyon Campground 479 Zion Park Blvd. To get there, take the Byway south off of Grafton Road / S 205 from Rockville going up the Byway until you gain the top of the mesa with a clear, marked turnoff to the right. Affiliate No bathrooms, no tables, no water It's more than 30 minutes from Zion visitor center, but is the closest quiet free camping since the Smithsonian Road near Grafton became impassable except for high clearance 4x4. Dry Camping Basics 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Thursday The route crosses the Virgin River just outside of Rockville and then crosses Horse Valley Wash before starting to wind its way up the hill above the valley. John Wesley Powell traveled through this area in the late 1800’s. All Rights Reserved. Twitter Grafton Ghost Town and Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park are also within 20 mi (32 km). Learn more: Boondocking 101 You can still see remnants of the initial construction holding the trail in place. Well marked sign. 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Saturday There is no camping allowed within 1/2 mile of the main road (Smithsonian Butte road). Is Wal_Mart Overnight Parking Safe? For expert riders only! The Town of Rockville is considered a rural, residential, and agricultural community. Grafton Mesa videos. How Old Are My RV Tires? Haunted Hotels, Extended Stays At top of Mesa turn right at sign for Gooseberry Mesa. Join now, Finding North Without a Compass Go Explore! Hotels By Chain Jobs, Connect Completed in December 2016, Wire Mesa has quickly become a local favorite. The Grafton, named for Grafton Mesa in the canyoneering hotspot of Southern Utah, is a true Altra trail hiker with the soul of an approach/canyoneering shoe. Discussion Starter • #1 • Sep 17, 2012. After that you eventually drop down off the mesa to an aid station at the bottom of a wash near the ghost town’s cemetery (mile 57.5). (Photo: Sean Zimmerman-Wall) Doing the loop in both directions is a great way to spend the morning and knock out 15 miles before heading over to the more technical features of Grafton Mesa and the South Rim of Gooseberry. Copyright RedRover Camping © 2018. You’ll then head back up the mesa and will work your way back to the Grafton Mesa aid station for the second time, then back to the Goosebump aid station for a … If the JEM Network and Gooseberry Mesa had a baby it would be Wire Mesa. October and May are some of the best times to visit.You should be able to find a reservation somewhere.Keep trying! West of the mesa road are three named sections of singletrack. Home Then as you cross Wire Mesa, you’ll come to the road junction that leads north to Grafton. Grafton/Gooseberry Mesa camping restrictions? Cross Grafton Bridge and follow Road signs to Smithsonian Butte. 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Friday Add Other Places, AllStays Classic Guides ... in Wire/Grafton Mesa #99 in Utah #1,678 Overall. Do We Need Physical Maps Now? Dangerous RV Signs Camping > Noticed a lot of new, permanent signage regarding camping restrictions on the Mesa this season. Sharing a name with the rugged Grafton Mesa, the women's Altra Grafton hiking shoes are trail trekkers with the soul of approach and canyoneering shoes, ready to go off-trail and into a slot canyon. Eco & Green We don't have any videos of this trail yet. Buy online at Outdoor Gear Exchange Expect a steep, rocky descent along the entire trail, with sharp turns, sudden drop-offs and precipitous exposure. There several backcountry campsites on the Mesa, with the northwestern-most site giving the best views overlooking the Virgin River Valley and the Grafton Ghost Town. Avoiding Sunburns On Hikes Bug and Mice Control in RV Free travel information from the official state tourist bureau. When doing the loop, consider adding Wire Mesaand Big Fatty Mesa to enjoy Dogs In National Forests. No camping within 1/2 mile of either side of the road along the Smithsonian Butte National Back Country Byway. Mountain Biking Grafton Mesa Add a review #244 of 693 mountain bike trails in Utah #6,482 in the world. Thanksgiving on Grafton Mesa near Zion A subreddit for campers concerned more about the act of camping and less concerned about hiking long distances or light gear. It connects back to the mesa DT (and the northern trail More Money) after 1.4 miles.In the middle of this trail is a fun 0.8 mile alternate route called Lazy Money. First Time in Grafton Ghost Town and Gooseberry Mesa We had some time after the Kolob Canyon scenic drive and Lee wanted to go see the Grafton Ghost town and Gooseberry Mesa. UT > The Byway is just south of Zion National Park, running between the towns of Rockville and Big Plain Junction. Grafton Mesa - Smithsonian Butte National Back Country Byway Wire Mesa - Smithsonian Butte National Back Country Byway 32 miles southwest of Southern Trailer Park: Desert Skies Resort 32 miles northwest of Southern Trailer Park: Honeycomb Rocks Campground The trail called Show Me The Money starts on the Grafton Wash trail near the Smithsonian Butte road. Add A Room The views atop Wire Mesa are as good as any found on Gooseberry Mesa and Little Creek. Offering a variety of intermediate singletrack and slickrock combined with amazing vantage points overlooking Zion and Grafton ghost town makes this one of the friendliest trails in the area. Noticed a lot of new, permanent signage regarding camping restrictions on the Mesa this season. So larger rigs stop too soon and get a ticket (C) This area is composed of the same landforms that make up the wonders of Zion, they just see a lot less people. Alternative access is 2 miles outside of Apple Valley. RV Tips for Beginners To avoid $1xx ticket, you must be at least a half mile from byway, High clearance is required, 4WD recommended to do so. Beautiful boondocking sites overlooking Zion Nation Park and Virgin Utah. 4X4 RVs: Wandering Off Road Privacy Policy Situated in Colorado City, this campground is 3.7 mi (5.9 km) from Water Canyon Trailhead and within 20 mi (32 km) of Smithsonian Butte and Gooseberry Mesa. Named after Grafton, Utah, and the nearby Grafton Mesa, the men's Altra Grafton shoes are true trail hikers with the soul of approach/canyoneering shoes. Add A Campground Campground Description & Information The Smithsonian Butte Back Country Byway is only 9 miles long but figure on taking 45 minutes to drive it as it is a narrow and windy route. Along the route you’ll be catching some excellent views of Zion Canyon, the Vermilion Cliffs and Canaan Mountain Wilderness. Luxury Hotels There are rock fire rings, but check on current fire regulations. Site Map Trail is mostly straight but has a couple of twists and bends. The weather in May is nice,kids usually get out of school late May or early June so the throngs of people have not showed up yet.The Narrows will have probably just opened.Overall a good time to go. Cost of Renting an RV Warning! This road is very rough and 4 wheel drive recommended. The grippy Grafton ($140) from Altra is the brand’s latest take on a hiker. Lots of loose chunk, boulders and some steep rolls down rock stacks. Saved by Dan Adventurer Use Your Watch As Compass The upper 1/2 sections are a very rough technical rock garden on a steep descent. (435) 772-3237 r aft o n R o a d 14 trails with 70 photos Rockville Campgrounds, WebsiteView MapReviews Photo Search*Add ReviewNavigation*Update InfoStreetView*, Sign up for more pure information, faster, no ads, privacy, full screen maps, more filters, layers for traffic, biking, transit, over half a million search combinations. I noticed that a lot of the crappy party sites have boulders in the entrances, are effectively shut down, etc. Any harm to cultural resources could result in trail closure.The trail begins on the edge of Grafton Mesa, with a beautiful vista of the gates of Zion National Park. Camping & Lodging. Situated in the mountains, this campground is 6.5 mi (10.5 km) from Hop Valley Trail and within 16 mi (25 km) of Pah Tempe Hot Springs and Gooseberry Mesa. The Smithsonian Butte Back Country Byway is rated as a Type I byway, meaning it is usually passable by 2WD vhicles, although any significant rainfall can change that rating in a hurry. Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads. It’s got a name that celebrates Utah’s Grafton Mesa and a design that … 1 mile in length Difficulty: Extremely Difficult.The Old Wood Road earned its namesake after it was built by pioneers to access Grafton Mesa from the town below. More about AllStays It was he who named Smithsonian Butte, primarily because of its impressive stature and coloring. Many scenic and secluded spots, both in the trees and out on the mesa. Staying on the Byway, you’ll soon be working your way around the foot of Smithsonian Butte before descending onto Big Plain and making the straight run to Big Plain Junction. Three miles from where you turn onto Bridge St off of Rt 9 in Rockville. The days are long here in April and I was totally fine with seeing them as long … Campground Details and Amenities: free, All year, All ages, Tents, 20 ft max RV length, 4694 ft elev, dispersed, See the website PDF link. The Smithsonian Butte Back Country Byway is only 9 miles long but figure on taking 45 minutes to drive it as it is a narrow and windy route. Many scenic and secluded spots, both in the trees and out on the mesa. I am curious if … Monday Tent Rocks Spectacular Views 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Tuesday RVs Without Warranty Gun Laws and RV Travel Guide Grafton Mesa - Smithsonian Butte National Back Country Byway - 6.77 mi / 10.89 km Hi-Road RV and Campground - 8.10 mi / 13.03 km Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort - 8.53 mi / 13.72 km Zion River Resort - 10.19 mi / 16.39 km https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/smithsonian-butte-road-drive Road Guides, Grafton Mesa - Smithsonian Butte National Back Country Byway, free, All year, All ages, Tents, 20 ft max RV length, 4694 ft elev, dispersed, See the website PDF link. Real Suites The road can be rough, and very muddy (impassible) if it has rained. Advertising The most comprehensive resource for discovering and booking unique outdoor stays including tent camping, RV parks, cabins, treehouses, and glamping. Once over the bridge continue on asphalt until the road splits. Pet Friendly The campground is located 38 miles southwest of Moab, near Roan Bailey Mesa, and is somewhat cooler than Moab during the summer. B & Bs ... Red Cliffs Campground, Red Cliffs Recreation Area, St. George, Utah Campsite Photos - Duration: 1:36. A side road just out of Rockville leads to the historical ghost town at Grafton, a site often used by the Hollywood types as a frontier movie set. At RedRover our purpose is to help people find great local Campgrounds & Great Resorts. During Grafton Ghost Town days, this was an old mule track to access the mesa-top, now eroded into narrow downhill-only singletrack. Mountain Bike Trails Near Rockville, Utah. Coming soon! Once on top of the plateau, there are 4x4 routes onto the mesa arms that are open to camping. Grafton Mesa Mountain Bike, Hike, Trail Running trails near Hurricane, Utah. Camping World, Good Sam Insurance Agency, Camping World RV Sales, Good Sam Life Insurance Central, Coast Resorts, Good Sam Life & Health, Good Sam TravelAssist, Good Sam Roadside Assistance, Good Sam Extended Service Plan, Events, Tours and Rallies, RV Loans, MotorHome, Rv.net, Trailer Life, Good Sam Rewards Visa There are no services along the road, the nearest full-service community being Springdale at the entrance to Zion National Park. Support Grafton Mesa is part of the same mountain as Gooseberry Mesa, located just west of Zion National Park. Recommended Users: Mountain Bikers, Hikers. Add a video. Death in Death Valley The Byway is just south of Zion National Park, running between the towns of Rockville and Big Plain Junction. The first obvious campsite is on your left, often called "Rockville Campsite", with numerous others interspersed on the route to the top of the Butte. Since its founding by Mormon pioneers in 1862 Rockville has maintained the integrity of its historical town plan and has been referred to by historians as "the last treasure in Utah". No bathrooms, no tables, no water It's more than 30 minutes from Zion visitor center, but is the closest quiet free camping since the Smithsonian Road near Grafton became impassable except for high clearance 4x4. Contact Us The official ride is the mesa road plus the old coach trail off the mesa. Add one here. There are rock fire rings, but check on current fire regulations. grafton mesa smithsonian butte road rockville utah usa. Mesa is a well known mountain biking area ; there is no camping 1/2! Rolls down rock stacks road splits discussion Starter • # 1 • Sep 17, 2012 reservation somewhere.Keep trying adding! My RV Tires catching some excellent Views of Zion Canyon, the nearest full-service community being Springdale at entrance. 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