Parking at Deep Gap or Standing Indian Campground

[greigor]

Looking to leave my car at Deep Gap or Standing Indian and shuttle to the approach trail. Is long term parking available? Safe? I'm thinking about camping at Standing Indian my last night. I expect I will probably drop the car on the afternoon of 4/7 and should arrive at Deep Gap on 4/16.

I'm driving a Jetta wagon so I'm a little worried about the clearance on the FS road at Deep Gap, but from other posts it looks like I should be okay. Input on that appreciated as well.

[max patch]

First, you'll have no problems driving on the FS rd to Deep Gap if that is what you end up doing.

If I was doing your hike I'd pay the couple bucks a day or whatever the going rate is to park INSIDE the Standing Indian Campground. If you don't want to do that - or if the campground hasn't opened yet - then I'd park at Deep Gap and wouldn't worry about it.

I personally wouldn't park at the spots outside the campground. (Others will jump in here and tell you it is safe.) I remember 10-15 years ago when cars parked here long term were at risk for a break in so that I would not park here over nite. Remember, crooks are lazy. Easy to drive to the parking area for a smash and grab. Gotta be a motivated meth head to drive 12 miles round trip on a FS road.

[Kerosene]

I concur with max patch -- park at the Standing Indian Campground and hike the 4.5 miles down the Kimsey Creek Trail from Deep Gap. If you really don't want to do that, then you should be able to get up to Deep Gap in a stationwagon and you should be okay parking there.

[Whack-a-mole]

Even if you park at Deep Gap, when you come out, leave your pack at the car and walk up on top of Standing Indian Mtn. Long gentle climb, but the views from the top are spectacular.