Maze Overlook Campsite — Flint Trail Terminus Backcountry Camp

This is the payoff for climbing the Flint Trail switchbacks and grinding through the Land of Standing Rocks road. The Maze Overlook camp sits near the road’s end at the rim of the Maze, with a view of canyons stacked on canyons and no light pollution to speak of. It’s a designated NPS backcountry site, not a free-for-all, so you don’t pick your own spot. Check in with the NPS before you go, because permits are required and sites are limited. No water, no toilets, no trash service. Pack in everything and pack out all waste, human waste included. Bring a portable toilet system.

Getting here means a long haul from Hans Flat Ranger Station on dirt roads, then the Flint Trail’s tight, rocky switchbacks. Plan on a full day from Highway 24. It’s a high-clearance 4WD trip with spare tires, extra fuel, and recovery gear. Don’t expect help out here. Cell service is nonexistent, and rain turns the clay roads to grease. Spring and fall are the sweet spots, since summer is brutal. Confirm current permit rules, site limits, and road conditions with the Hans Flat ranger station before you commit.

Have a dirty day.

Rim camp above the Maze, end of the Flint Trail