Tent site between Walnut Mtn Shelter and Deer Park Mtn Shelter

[mechengr]

Planning a 4 day hike from I40 to Hot Springs. Planning on leaving from Max Patch on the on the 3rd day and will be tent camping between Walnut Mtn Shelter and Deer Park Shelter. Would like to be within 10 miles of Hot Springs on the 4th on the hike out to the vehicle. How are the tent sites between these shelters?

[Cabin Fever]

There aren't many at all since you are navigating side hill trail down Bluff Mountain. I do recall one nice spot hidden just trail north (20 yards-ish) along a good water source. Supposedly, there's also a great site on a small side trail to Big Rock Spring.

[StorminMormon]

I'm going there this weekend. I'm hiking Friday-Saturday-Sunday from Davenport Gap (just a mile further west of I-40) to Hot Springs. I'll take a look and see what I can find. I'll have my GPS with me so I'll record the Waypoint if I find something that looks good.

[bulldog49]

Several sites on top of Bluff Mountain.

[excuses]

Did that section in 08 and stayed at a site on the southern side of Bluff Mt. I was trying to get some distance from Walnut Shelter.

[Highstepper]

I hiked this section in May '08. There is a good campsite just over 3 miles nobo from the top of bluff mountain. It is about 8 miles from there to Hot Springs. We found water about 100 yards to the left of the trail along an old road bed.

[Highstepper]

Approximate GPS coordinates-
35° 51.065 - 082° 53.096

[generoll]

Garenflo Gap if memory serves. Had to walk downhill along an old trail to hunt for water, but it was an excellent tent site.

[Blissful]

I'm going there this weekend. I'm hiking Friday-Saturday-Sunday from Davenport Gap (just a mile further west of I-40) to Hot Springs. I'll take a look and see what I can find. I'll have my GPS with me so I'll record the Waypoint if I find something that looks good.

Tons of hunters out with their dogs when I did it, esp the Deer Mtn ridge. Wear blaze orange.
They are also bulldozing to make some kind of bald area south of Walnut.

[Chaco Taco]

Just before you start up Bluff there is Catpen Gap, the field on the right side. Water is way down towards the tree line. Top of Bluff is sweet as well. As Blissful said, tons of hunting with all of the road access so wear orange.

[mikecordes]

Couple of good level campsites on top of Bluff Mt. but no water source..

[Chaco Taco]

Couple of good level campsites on top of Bluff Mt. but no water source..

There is water on either side though before going up or at the bottom. Id say within a mile on either side, so just camel up before hiking to the top

[hikingshoes]

We just did this section last week,but we didnt tent camp due to high winds.We had a big T-storm come thru at roaring fork shelter the first nihgt and walnut mnt shelter had the roof off of it.There was somr nice spots along the way.The wind was to high for use to setup a tent and we didnt want a tree/branch to fall on use,so we hike on in to Hot Springs.HS