Murphy Hogback A Gear Checklist

What shapes your gear on Murphy Hogback A

Where it sits

The park lists Murphy Hogback (A-C) at 45 miles from the visitor center, about 5.5 hours of driving, with 3 sites sharing 2 toilets. A blog written for drivers also puts it 45 miles out and says the hill below it is one-way with no place to turn around until the top.

From Canyonlands National Park (NPS) and Fox in the Forest

How A differs from B and C

A camping directory describes A as large, mostly packed dirt and slickrock, with a few trees and a small rock outcrop for wind shelter. It says A and B are in walking distance but out of sight of each other, and that they share a toilet that sits closer to A. B is described as medium and sandier, and C as a separate site with its own toilet.

From The Dyrt

The rock at camp

A mountain biking party that slept at A in May 2012 described a rock formation as the focal point of camp, with seating and wind-break features built in. They called it one of the best campsites in the National Park Service and said it sits after a hard climb. Their day from Gooseberry measured 19.0 miles.

From Greg Willis

The view

The same party faced south and saw low sun on the Needles and the Maze District, then saw the canyons fade to night. In a 2008 forum thread, one poster said A has the greatest view and character. A July 2025 guest at A said it has the best view of the four sites they counted and said a clear night shows a sky full of lights.

From Greg Willis, MTBR forum and The Dyrt

Phone signal

A guest at A had no cell coverage for almost the whole White Rim, but Apple satellite texting worked from camp. The directory says satellite communication devices function in the area.

From The Dyrt

What hikers carry on Murphy Hogback A

• Tent anchors that work in rock

  A family that camped on the Hogback found the ground rough and rocky, which made tents harder to secure. A driver's blog calls the wind on the hill relentless, and a 2008 poster said Murphy's has always been windy and busy on their trips. A July 2025 guest at A saw wind early in the evening that died completely by bedtime.

  From The Kid Project, Fox in the Forest, MTBR forum and The Dyrt

• A satellite messenger or phone with satellite texting

  A guest at A had no cell coverage across nearly the whole White Rim and used satellite texting from the site. A driver's guide agrees there is no phone service and says an occasional bar is not worth planning around.

  From The Dyrt and Fox in the Forest

• Shade you set up yourself

  The directory lists a few trees at A. Other writers who stayed on the Hogback called the trees tiny and the shelter from wind and storms small, apart from a few boulders.

  From The Dyrt, Fox in the Forest and The Kid Project

• Two-way radios for the climb up to camp

  A road that is only wide enough for one vehicle makes meeting traffic a problem. One party had a friend spot them from below on a walkie talkie and warn them about motorcyclists coming down, which they could not see over the steepness. They sounded the horn and squeezed past with mirrors folded in.

  From The AZ Hikeaholics and Earth Trekkers

• A camera for the south-facing view

  The biking party faced south from A, ate supper there, and photographed the view and the rock formation. The formation already has seating built in, so one less thing to haul up the hill.

  From Greg Willis

• A WAG bag for emergencies only

  The biking party noted that the campgrounds all have pit toilets, so a WAG bag was only for an emergency. At A the toilet is shared with B and is closer to A.

  From Greg Willis and The Dyrt

Gear questions for Murphy Hogback A