Newspaper Rock Closure Notice Monticello BLM Field Office, Utah

Contact:  Brad Colin (435) 587-1519, Sandra A. Meyers (435) 587-1500

Monticello, Utah—November 9, 2006—In the interest of public safety, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Monticello Field Office, is closing the Newspaper Rock Camping area, located approximately 25 miles northwest of Monticello, Utah.  The area is comprised of 987 acres and with some 15 campsites.  The Abajo Mountains rise more than 4,000 feet above the Newspaper Rock Camping Area, and frequent monsoonal rainstorms within these mountains during popular camping times (July and August) place unsuspecting campers at serious risk of injury or death from flash flooding, prompting the closure. 

In 2003 the area was the site of a flash flood of serious proportions, which washed out a section of Highway 211, the main road leading into the corridor. This flood significantly damaged the majority of campsites in the area, burying fire rings and damaging picnic tables. Fortunately, no campers were injured during this incident.   In October 2006 another major storm event caused serious flooding in San Juan County, washing out roads and stranding campers in many areas.  This event was centered slightly to the south of Indian Creek.  Though Newspaper Rock campground was not directly impacted by this event, it demonstrates that these events can happen repeatedly within the span of a few years.

This closure will not impact access to the Newspaper Rock petroglyph panel or to any of the numerous rock climbing routes in the corridor.  Overnight camping remains available at other areas within Indian Creek Canyon Corridor including Bridger Jack camping area and Hamburger Rock campground.