"Easter is about as early as it can be this year," said Russ von Koch of the Moab Bureau of Land Management office. "From time to time, that has presented a weather problem. People are anxious to get out and get to the desert, but they would do wise to check on conditions."
Interest also seems high at the Division of Parks and Recreation camping-reservation office despite the early Easter season.
A look at state park campgrounds already booked for the Easter weekend reveals the popularity of the St. George and Moab areas. Snow Canyon, Sand Hollow and Coral Pink Sand Dunes near St. George and Dead Horse Point near Moab are booked already for the weekend. So is Goblin Valley near Hanksville.
Higher elevations and lower temperatures that could happen on Easter weekend might have some campers more cautious than normal. There are sites available at normally booked campgrounds like Kodachrome Basin, Green River and Escalante State Parks. Call 800-322-3770 for reservations.
Warm-weather national park campground destinations such as Zion, Arches, Capitol Reef and Canyonlands usually fill up during Easter weekend. Getting a motel room or private campground spot at Easter hot spots such as Moab, Springdale, St. George and Torrey can be difficult, though cancellations do occur.
Towns such as Mesquite, Nev.; Monticello; Cedar City; Green River; and Hanksville sometimes have rooms available, though the drive can be difficult.
"There are not many rooms," said Callie Trantor of the Grand County Travel Council about the situation in Moab, which is playing host to the 42nd annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari March 15-23. "Some campgrounds may have available spots. People can check for cancellations. From what we are hearing from our lodging properties, reservations are up for this spring."
Von Koch said the BLM campgrounds around Moab will be open, though several campgrounds along the Colorado River will not be as fully functional as normal because of treatment for removal of tamarisk plants that has taken place. There may be some ash on the ground where some have burned, and some of the facilities are being upgraded.
"It may look a little rough, but we will be open and have [campgrounds] available," he said.
While the early Easter might create some weather problems for southern Utah campers, skiers should be happy with better-than-normal snow conditions expected to draw good crowds to the slopes.
The best advice if you plan to head to southern Utah or fly to other popular Western spring-break destinations is to make reservations in advance or watch weather forecasts and remain flexible.
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* TOM WHARTON can be contacted at wharton@sltrib.com. His phone number is 801-257-8909. Send comments about this story to livingeditor@sltrib.com.
