Coral Pink June 5-13

[Kevlar]

We are planning a trip to Utah's Coral Pink Sand dunes in June.

I'm Looking for tips for a first timer. Anything pertinent would be welcome.

Like, route you took, sites to see along the way, a layover spot, where to camp, etc.

Hit me.

[Woodglue]

Ahh, Coral Pink!

We took a trip up there last October.
11 days, camped at 5 different places, drove a total of 1,366 miles and a total of 0 mishaps / incidents!

This was our route:


And this was our group / caravan:


From Elsinore, we drove to Havausu and stayed there the first night.
Then we drove to South Rim Grand Canyon the next morning

We camped at Trailer Village inside the Grand Canyon National Park [reservations are required].
It was an “okay” place, but no campfires allowed and for us that was a bummer cause it was dang fricken cold!


From there, we drove up to Coral Pink via Kanab Ut [you can see our route on the above map].
There are two separate campgrounds in the Coral Pink area:
1) Ut State Campground
2) BLM Campground [also known as the dry-lake or the meadows].
We camped in the BLM Campground:

And as you can see, we had the whole place to ourselves [granted this was in mid-October, you may not be so lucky in June].
Another cool thing about the BLM Campground is that these cows visited us every afternoon. They would walk down from the ranch [across the road] to drink from the lake.


The state campground is nice, and you can find some write-ups for it on DuneGuide.com. It has paved roads with formal campsites that you would back into. They have some pull through sites too. The road curves tightly, and trees overhang the road. So getting a larger rig through there could be a problem.
There is a fee to camp at the State Campground, but I think they have hook-ups and possibly showers too.
BLM campground is free, but it is dry-camping.

The Coral Pink Sand Dunes are nothing short of amazing!

That slip-face in the above pic is about ½ the height of Oldsmobile, and there are tons of these there.
Even if you plan to do some desert trail riding there, bring paddle tires in addition to knobbies. This sand is much more fine [read: slippery] than Glamis, and knobbies struggle in it. You would only need knobbies if you were planning to do any desert trail riding].
My 250R needed to be re-jetted for the altitude, but my wife’s Predator 500 ran fine without rejetting.
I’m not certain, but I think I recall that Spark Arrestor pipes are required here too.

While still camped at Coral Pink, we took a day-trip [via truck] up to Bryce Canyon National Park.

I would say that seeing this park is a MUST! This is only one picture of probably 75 that I took while we were there.

After being at Coral Pink for a few days, we packed up and hit the road again. We went to Zion National Park via “the Tunnel”.

There is a toll to take the tunnel. It has a clearance in the center of 13'-4" so we had to drive down the center. Another rig in our group was too tall, so they had to go around [like 120 miles farther... around]. Zion was really cool. We camped in one of the campgrounds on the valley floor . The Park is set up so that you take a bus from point to point. In Oct , the bus lines weren’t too bad. But during the summer, I imagine that this could be a lot like Yosomite in terms of the crowds.

Hopefully, this is answering some of your questions. If not, holler back. Sorry to be all long winded here, but doing this write-up was fun as I got to look back at our trip. In fact, I think it’s about time to start planning out the next one.

In my Photo Album there are tons of pics of this entire trip.

[Kevlar]

Excellent report! actually, could be longer so feel free to add to it. We are also planning on the Grand Canyon but might stay in Williams and take the train up. I also want to see Lake Powell. Zion and Bryce sound good too.

[Woodglue]

I don't know what Williams offers, as we only drove through it on our way up to Grand Canyon. I do know that staying down there would allow you to forego the cost of staying inside the National Park Campground. $$$
Not to mention, a train ride would be cool. That's the same train ride that does the Polar Express for kids during Christmas time.

I don't know anything of Lake Powell, other than its a jinormouse lake.

I forgot to tell you, we left Zion and drove down to Las Vegas and stayed one more night before going home. That was cool, as we camped in a place that had full hook-ups, and after some 10 days or so of dry-camping, that was like having reservations and room service at the Mandalay Bay!

[Kevlar]

Did you stay at the Circus Circus KOA or the Oasis perhaps?

[Woodglue]

It was the Oa$i$ RV Re$ort. It was the most expensive night of camping we had on the entire trip.

And it was tight too.

Notice that we had to un-hitch the trucks and park them sideways, otherwise they would hang out into the road. And my trailer is only 20' long!!!
In addition, it's one of those campgrounds where you step out of your trailer and your neighbors dump hose is 6' in front of you.

[Kevlar]

I know what you mean. nice park but cramped. I camped at oasis in my ww slc3705 and had to get the guy across from me to move his car so i could make the turn.

On the grand Canyon. is that a one dayer, see it and go, kind of place or does it require a couple days?

[Woodglue]

On the grand Canyon. is that a one dayer, see it and go, kind of place or does it require a couple days?

It's a one day thing unless you plan to hike down into the bottom or something. To just see South Rim, you can spend 4 or 6 hours and do a lot of walking and see various areas.
We took the bus [just like in Zion] up and down the rim to see all the cool views and such. In my photo album, you can see all the pics of the stuff that we saw on the one day we were there.
We arrived in the campground on the afternoon of Sa:10/13. On Su:10/14, we drove the trucks into the 'village' and saw the sights. We pulled out of the campground on Su:10/15. The South Rim Sight Seeing day was a pretty full day, but without doing any hiking, I don't know what we would have done if we stayed a 2nd day.

[Kevlar]

Cool, thats what I thought. I will check your pics tonight.

Thanks for your input.

[Glenn]

Last year we went to the Grand Canyon, and rode the train. Staying in Williams at the campground that is part of the railroad was great. They had a package deal at the time that was a great price. I think thru the Auto Club. The train ride with 2 nights stay for 2 adults and 2 kids was about $180.00 as I remember. 3rd night free... we went on side trips the other 2 days around the area.

The Train ride was neat, the have 3 different levels, with 3 different kinds of cars, take the cheaper one, unless you really need air conditioning to keep cool. It was not too hot in the summer when we went but my mother in law wanted to be cool.

The camp ground was great, I’ll look for some pics latter to post..

Glenn

[Kevlar]

Last year we went to the Grand Canyon, and rode the train. Staying in Williams at the campground that is part of the railroad was great. They had a package deal at the time that was a great price. I think thru the Auto Club. The train ride with 2 nights stay for 2 adults and 2 kids was about $180.00 as I remember. 3rd night free... we went on side trips the other 2 days around the area.

The Train ride was neat, the have 3 different levels, with 3 different kinds of cars, take the cheaper one, unless you really need air conditioning to keep cool. It was not too hot in the summer when we went but my mother in law wanted to be cool.

The camp ground was great, I’ll look for some pics latter to post..

Glenn

Glenn, the RV campground, If you had a toyhauler, did they mind you storing the toys outside?

[Glenn]

I do not think so, I need to find the pic of the place tonight and post it as it shows the layout well. it was new, all paved, very clean, and plenty of room.

I'll post the pic's after I get home tonight as they are not on my work computer.

[Woodglue]

Glenn, the RV campground, If you had a toyhauler, did they mind you storing the toys outside?

We had this problem at Trailer Village in Grand Canyon. They didn't say anything, but I didn't want our camp to look like trailer-trash either. So, my quad was in the back of my truck and we turned my wifes sideways and shoved into the back of the trailer.

[Glenn]

So I get home and find the pictures, only to realise that the trip was in 2006, not last year.

this is 1/4 of the campground.

Another view, ok, have to get a shot of my MoHo, almost can see the Jeep

The train..


It was a great trip, the camping was good for what is was, I like Glamis better. We have gone to Brice, and Zion also, great places.

I hope to go to Coral Pink some day, but not this year. Have a great trip.

[RX 4 INSANDITY]

The Campground looks nice and clean, but when they built it they forgot something!!!

How about some TREES!!!

I like the train idea.

--Mike

[Kevlar]

We just finished a week & a half long family trip to Arizona, Utah, & Nevada. We did the Williams, Az train to the Grand Canyon, Coral Pink, Zion, The Paiute Trail near Marysvale, and Vegas. 1,600 miles of diesel burning fun

Coral Pink was the highlight and a place everybody should go ride before he dies. The endless sand trail riding through the trees was unbelievable. We had the entire place to ourselves, great weather and you gotta love that orange sand. Heres a couple teaser pics, click http://www.dunechasers.com/show_gallery.asp?gid=43 to see the entire album. I have a few videos I'm putting together and will post soon. Enjoy.

[sticksand]

We went last year. What a good time! That stuff is soft up there huh??

[Kevlar]

We went last year. What a good time! That stuff is soft up there huh??

Probably the finest sand I've ridden. We'll be back.

[Glamisbound]

Cool, glad you guys had a good trip Kev. It's officially on my list of places to visit in the next few years...if diesel prices ever come down again.

[Kevlar]

Cool, glad you guys had a good trip Kev. It's officially on my list of places to visit in the next few years...if diesel prices ever come down again.

Like real estate, buy now, cuz it aint going any lower my freind!!!

[Glamisbound]

I know what u r saying...doh! Diesel fuel prices have dropped over 10 cents per gallon in my next of the wood last two weeks though. Hopefully this ridiculous situation corrects itself and all the Ballers that have been speculating the cost of crude oil through the roof will loose a ton of money on the way back down

[Kevlar]

Here is the video I put together. Hope you like Collective Soul!

[Woodglue]

Cool Video Kev.
I love that place. I recognized a lot of your trails.
Thanks for posting it. =D>

[LoBuck]

Cool Video Kev.
I love that place. I recognized a lot of your trails.
Thanks for posting it. =D>

Ditto... and I haven't been there since 1985.