In an earlier post, we discussed the strict restrictions that have been put in place for the 2018 fire season in the Southwest. Almost anywhere you go, there are Stage 2 fire restrictions in place, which means campfires are strictly prohibited. However, if you’re determined to make a campfire a part of your RV experience this summer, there are a few places in Arizona and southern Utah that are under Stage 1 fire restrictions, which means that campfires are allowed in limited areas. Here are three destinations that you may want to consider if you’re craving s’mores, fire-roasted hot dogs, or the smell of burning timber under a star-studded Southwestern sky.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
The Glen Canyon National Recreation Area–which covers over 1.25 million acres around Lake Powell–offers a wide range of recreation opportunities. You can spend your day swimming in the lake, smooth water rafting, touring the Glen Canyon Dam, or visiting the famous Rainbow Bridge. And at night, you can have a campfire, as long as it is within a ring or structure at a campground or a picnic area. Although there are no hookups within any of the National Park Service-operated campgrounds, there are three concessioners that offer hookups in the park:
- Warheap Developed Camping (90 sites with full hookups)
- Bullfrog Developed Camping (24 sites with full hookups)
- Halls Crossing Developed Camping (43 sites with full hookups)
All of these camping areas take reservations, so you may want to call ahead to make sure you’ll get a spot when you visit!
Jacob Lake Recreation Area / Kaibab National Forest
Located just north of the Grand Canyon, the Jacob Lake Recreation Area gives visitors the opportunity to enjoy the Ponderosa pines and the diverse wildlife of the Kaibab National Forest. Whether you’re into hiking, mountain biking, or horsebacking riding, there are lots of outdoor recreation opportunities for visitors to embrace. You’ll also enjoy milder weather than in other parts of the Southwest, since the elevation of Jacob Lake is 7,920 feet above sea level. In the evenings, you can have a campfire in any of the following developed recreation sites in the Kaibab National Forest area:
- Big Springs Rental Cabins
- Jacob Lake Campground
- Jacob Lake Group Campground and Picnic Site
- DeMotte Campground
The Grand Canyon
According to the National Park Service, Grand Canyon National Park always operates under Stage 1 fire restrictions, regardless of the season. For more information on an RV trip to the Grand Canyon, check out our earlier post!
Overall, even though this fire season is one of the worst in years, there are still campfire-friendly areas in Arizona and southern Utah that also offer great recreation opportunities. At Safe RV Storage, we’re committed to helping you make the most of all of your RV trips this summer, no matter where you decide to go. Find out more on our website!