David’s Favorite Campsites

[Centex]

Please see the 'backstory' here.

A few months ago, David sent me a wonderful document he wrote, here's the opening paragraph:

David’s Favorite Campsites

As my camping career draws to a close, I wanted to share some of my tips and locations of favorite campsites in the Southwest. We’ve been camping for 25 years, much of it in southern Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas and have developed a list of our favorite national and state parks and the best campsites in them.

David has now given his blessing to make this document, replete with beautiful prose and pics, available to the forum community on his behalf.

Too large for attaching here, this link to my Google Drive should allow anyone to view or download the 18-page PDF file:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NSL...ew?usp=sharing

Thank you, David.

[Centex]

Regarding the closing paragraph:

I hope you will find this useful in learning about and planning trips to southern Utah. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be around, but as long as I’m still here I’ll be happy to answer questions and share more information about these places.

David Murphy .... January, 2024

Unfortunately, at this point in his journey, David is unable to answer further questions.

[Chamberman]

That's a great document! It covers a lot of areas we plan to explore in the coming years. A big thanks to David for being gracious enough to use some of his final time to put that together for the community. Also thanks to Alan for making it available for us all!

[camp4528]

Originally Posted by Centex

Please see the 'backstory' here.

A few months ago, David sent me a wonderful document he wrote, here's the opening paragraph:

David’s Favorite Campsites

As my camping career draws to a close, I wanted to share some of my tips and locations of favorite campsites in the Southwest. We’ve been camping for 25 years, much of it in southern Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas and have developed a list of our favorite national and state parks and the best campsites in them.

David has now given his blessing to make this document, replete with beautiful prose and pics, available to the forum community on his behalf.

Thank you, David.

What a wonderful testament to the contribution David has made to this forum.

Thank you David for writing this, and Alan for publishing it.

[iamunique127]

Thanks Alan and especially David.

I have just transcribed all of the pertinent places, for us, to the April/May planning guide I'm compiling.

Many thanks David for this additional info to what you've already suggested for us.

[brroberts]

Wow, thank you David.

[WillyB]

Thanks for sharing! We will do our best to honor this great gift.

[Mucram]

Very helpful review. Thank you!

[mlowther]

Wonderful document! We will definitely refer to it when we start traveling the US more.

Thank you, David!

[kavm]

Thank you so much, Alan! I was among the many who received advice on campsites from David. This document will be as cherished as it will be used. Thanks again!

[Mary F]

Thank you Alan and David. I very much appreciate this article!

[caheaton]

Thank you both a million times over. I'm planning a longer trip out west in 2025 and this document will be invaluable. A wonderful read with outstanding photography.

[YakRV]

Originally Posted by Centex

David has now given his blessing to make this document, replete with beautiful prose and pics, available to the forum community on his behalf.

Thank you, David.

Yes, indeed, thank you, David! A very grateful “thank you” to Alan too for sharing this with all of us. You both embody the generous spirit that makes this forum such a special place!

We are heading to southern Utah later this year, and our excitement for our first trip to visit the Mighty Five national parks is bolstered by the fact that a couple of our campground reservations are for sites David loves. I can say for the sites we will camp in where David also stayed and enjoyed so much, we will be thinking of him as we appreciate the same beauty that inspires him.

We are still waiting for the reservation window to open in Dead Horse Point, so David’s detailed write up for this campground will be put to good use.

Again, thank you very, very much for giving us this gift, David and Alan!

[claude6543]

Many thanks for sharing this document, which David obviously put a lot of love and efforts into compiling. It will be extremely useful, starting with the trip I am planning to Utah in August!

[MrLynn]

Thanks to David for writing up his experiences and recollections.

We're heading out that way (AZ, UT, CO) next month—not with our Escape, but by train, both ways. But we'll be renting a car, and will be visiting many of the places he describes. I'm sure David's perspective will be invaluable in helping to inform our own.

[Small but Sweet]

Thank you Alan and David.

I’ve always loved the photos of the Murphys' 5.0 interior and best of all the cats enjoying the scenery. David once gave me advice about cat-camping. I still haven’t tried taking the cats with us but when I do, it will be with the spirit and in honor of David Murphy :-) Also I want to include my cats in our portrait photos from now on because his has always been especially charming.

[Mike G]

That's very nice! I'll look forward to downloading it when I get home from my current trip.

[Rockhead]

Thank you David And Alan much appreciated

[endorice]

Originally Posted by Centex

Please see the 'backstory' here.

A few months ago, David sent me a wonderful document he wrote, here's the opening paragraph:

David’s Favorite Campsites

As my camping career draws to a close, I wanted to share some of my tips and locations of favorite campsites in the Southwest. We’ve been camping for 25 years, much of it in southern Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas and have developed a list of our favorite national and state parks and the best campsites in them.

David has now given his blessing to make this document, replete with beautiful prose and pics, available to the forum community on his behalf.

Too large for attaching here, this link to my Google Drive should allow anyone to view or download the 18-page PDF file:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NSL...ew?usp=sharing

Alan - thanks for sharing this with us.
David - I've been a member since purchasing my 17A back in 2019. I've learned a lot from your postings and I sincerely appreciate all the camping destinations I harvested from you. I was sad to hear about your "back story" and my thoughts and prayers are with you.

My wife and I just retired last year (early in order to enjoy life) and we're leaving Tuesday for Dead Horse, Goblin Valley, Goosenecks area, so this document was very helpful and reinforces my previous research. Thank you again and best wishes.