Maze District Camping

Great thread. Hoping to hit the area at some point.

A couple questions:

• Does anyone have any good maps or guidebook (driving and hiking trails) they recommend for the maze? Maps that also include entry points other than Hans Flat. The National Geo maps get mixed reviews for the area.
• A Tacoma on 265/75r16 with sliders, full aluminum skids and a =<1” lift should be good for all Maze roads? I am most worried about dragging the rear stock bumper. Any roads to avoid with this setup?
• What are all the entry and exit points? Hans Flat, Poison Spring Road, ?? To Hite are the three I found through google searches. Any other entries and exits to the Maze?

 

The trails illustrated maps aren't great but there isn't much available for the area. I have those in addition to using mapping software on a phone and tablet. I have back up digital maps in addition to paper maps incase something goes wrong with my phone and/or tablet

Stock vehicle should be fine. With your extra armor you shouldnt have a problem.

There are I only 3 ways in or out. Hans Flat, Poison Spring Road, and the road that goes out to Hite (NP633?) the last 2 are connected and just return to pavement at different points to the south of Hanksville

 

Thanks. Tough to find much info since it gets few visitors.

I’ll be using mapping software as well, just need the security of current paper maps as well. The usgs quad maps don’t always have all the current roads, or show old roads that are no more.

I’ve read every page on the nps site and every report on this board plus whatever else my google searches have turned up.

 

There are that many roads there honestly. If you have the Park map you're pretty much good to go: https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/upload/MAZEmap-web.pdf


Here are some GPS tracks:

 

added a couple more i forgot.

 

Thanks! Your reports and pictures give me some idea what to expect.

 

Thanks all. Definitely worth the trip. Epic views and hikes.

Only saw one other vehicle below the switchbacks.

 

The ferry was broken down and closed while I was there but dang Peek A Boo Canyon was sweet!! Long backroad drive to it but worth every second. One of the best hikes I've been on!

 

Peek a boo is cool. I know this is a truck site, but people need to get out on foot or bike and see the world, not just through a windshield.

Back on topic, the maze is really remote. If you plan on going, be prepared to see few if any other people. I was worried with two campsites next to each other it would be like a campground, but they have it laid out so you don’t see or hear each other.

 

Another thing to factor in on a big trip through and around Canyonlands, and such, is some routes like the Burr trail can be impassable due to rains which and make the routes very muddy, and somewhat dangerous.
They have a saying over in Boulder- you don’t drive on the ‘Red’ when it’s wet...

Off topic, I like to wheel, but my build is mostly for mountain bike riding, backcountry hiking and dirtbag camping in the southwest

 

Can anyone expand on this? Thinking about going all the way out to the dollhouse, but don't want to destroy my rear bumper. Stock 2016 OR with 265/75/r16 tires. Thinking about getting an OME lift kit before making the trip. Dont want to completely %#^ my rear parking sensors.

 

There are a few places you may scrap the bumper..front or rear. Only a couple places really. I think you would be fine but you may remove some paint from the lower part of your bumper (nobody cares about that part) depending on how much weight you have and your lift. The hardest part is going down/up the Flint Trail from the mesa on the Ranger station side.

 

Here's a trip report of our trip out to the Doll House - was a great time and I totally recommend it. Tough, given the remoteness, I'd recommend it with another truck.

As far as scraping goes - it all depends on the lines you choose and how many rocks you want to stack. With enough stacking, there's no risk - but it's a lot of work. In it's "default" state and good lines, you'll probably have a bit of scraping, but nothing terrible.

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Everyone's going to have their own "most difficult" part - I thought the switchbacks were easy - so in the end, it's just about being prepared for the remoteness more than anything else. Anyway, check out the trip report and let me know if you've got questions.

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As said, you'll drag in a few spots. But nothing terrible. Just watch your lines. none of the roads out there are hard really, just rough.

 

Awesome trip report. Thank you for sharing that. Nice rigs. Did you end up using chains on the way out? From what I have read, they are required when I am thinking of going (late oct). Waking up to that storm would have been daunting.

 

No chains for us, they won't fit with the larger size tires we have installed on the trucks.

 

The switchbacks were easy last year. Put it in 4L and point downhill. I did not go to the dollhouse portion so can’t comment on that part.

Summer monsoon could change some of the roads.

Lots of good hiking opportunities in the Maze.