Colorado River | Marble Canyon | Vermilion Cliffs, Arizona || BLM dispersed camping

I am currently traveling through the Southwest of the US and camping in dispersed camping spots on BLM (bureau of land management) public lands.
Most of the time I find quiet camping places with less people just outside of National Parks.

Right now I'm travelling along the border of Utah and Arizona in the canyons around the Colorado River. The area here is Marble Canyon in Arizona and is situated between Glen Canyon Recreation in Utah to the north and The Grand Canyon to the south, The Vermilion Cliffs National Monument to the west and the Navajo Nation to the east.

BLM dispersed camping spot: 36.776186,-111.658729

This spot is on the edge of The Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, just north of the Grand Canyon, at the end of a dirt road perched on a cliff overlooking the Colorado River.

To my surprise it was also a point where the endangered California Condors are released and monitored by an organization called The Peregrine Fund where they capture, tag, and care for injured condors.
I was there when they were releasing a female California Condor after it was discovered that she had lead poisoning and had been nursed back to health.

This specific area of BLM land is also home to the rare "Brady's pincushion" cactus (Pediocactus bradyi) which is listed as an endangered species. It is endemic to to this part of Arizona and only grows in this 70 km² (27 mi²) area. Currently, it occurs in only 10-20% of its potential habitat. It is negatively impacted mostly from human activity and poachers looking for rare cacti. Since it only grows 6 centimeters tall by 5 wide it is hard to spot and easily trampled.


(Photo credit of condor by Andrew Orr)