The best campsites along the rim fill up fast and get crowded. This is dispersed camping in a national forest. USFS (United States Forest Service) allows dispersed camping in all six of its Arizona national forests. ALWAYS know where your bullets are going. The road into this huge maze is extremely rutted with massive pits and you will have to take a perfect line in once you pass the fenced building on your left. This is a local hangout for those up to no good as we found out when in the night, off-road vehicles ran the roads up and down all hours of the night, often careening through at high speeds. However, part of the Mogollon Rim is located in Coconino National Forest (north and slightly west of Payson). read pdf salt river canyon tonto national forest ng853. Mello Mike is an Arizona native, author, and the founder of Truck Camper Adventure. 15 mi Trash everywhere, actually smelled like urine, and some peopl The Best RV Campgrounds for Stargazing Adventures. As you head NW from Apache Junction, just beyond Lost Dutchman State Park, the turn into this boondocking spot is 0.9 miles past Mile marker 202 on Apache Trail Rd. The road is absolutely horrendous getting in and the camp sites if that's what you want to call them are huge mud holes for local ATVs and pickup trucks!! Let us know. The spacious, flat campsites here are easily accessed by all rigs, so they can fill up with RV boondockers. There are some nice trails right out of this boondocking spot or Lost Dutchman State Park is just 2 miles up the road. The ground is packed dirt, very unlevel and with many washes BUT the views are breathtaking and lush desert trails are easily accessible. Phone Number. Rim Road and Old Rim Road are located in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. The campground has access to recreational opportunities at nearby Bear Canyon Lake, as well as numerous other activities and exploration opportunities along the Mogollon Rim. Last review on here was 2+ years ago, we thought it might improved, it hasnt. There are piles of horse poop and sometimes a lot of hay on the ground, but the area is not "trashed" with garbage the way that many boondocking sites are. Pumphouse Wash is another good spot for free camping near Flagstaff. After Badger Creek Overlook, my favorite place to camp near Vermillion Cliffs is Stateline Campground, a small campground on the border between Utah and Arizona. Unfortunately, theres a lot of trash and human waste left behind by other visitors. Just make sure you take Woody Mountain Road and youll arrive at the correct spot. Related Post: The Best Dispersed Campsites in Colorado. The high elevation makes for cooler temperatures in summertime (and theres shade trees). These access roads are RV friendly, although big rigs should look for campsites closer to Highway 95 as the roads do become rougher the further in you travel towards the mountains. Camping a bit away from the rim helps minimize wind. Around 42% of Arizona is made up of public lands like national forests and BLM land, so its not surprising there are literally hundreds of dispersed camping and boondocking opportunities throughout the state. The beautiful views and quiet forest atmosphere always make me happy I stopped here for a night. The campsites are decently spaced apart, so youre in for a quiet and peaceful night without many close neighbors. Harshaw Road is quite busy. Camping areas are spread out, but only the ones right off the road are accessible to large rigs. There is a $3.20 non-refundable reservation fee per campsite. Learn more: Boondocking 101, Campendium users haven't asked any questions about Apache Trail Dispersed Camping, I will preface this by saying that we didnt camp here, and thank goodness for that. Get it with Truck Camper Adventure's weekly newsletter. There is ample dispersed camping in Coronado National Forest, including throughout the rest of the Chiricahua Mountains area. Tennis Has Met Its Match: Play Pickleball at These 45 RV Campgrounds, 18 Campgrounds Where You Can Stay Cool This Summer. Luckily, the crowds tend to congregate between mile one and two after the turn-off from Highway 95. Miles of hiking, 44, and horseback riding trails. Just northeast of Payson is another one of my favorite places for dispersed camping in Arizona. Chase P. recommends March 31, 2022 Apache Park and Trail Great Views, Great Location! There is some sort of mine on the other side of the road; they start work well before sunrise at 5am. First of all, I want to say that the views were PHENOMENAL!! Craggy Wash is crowded. Whether or not you score a rim-side site, several overlook points are just a short hike away. Its very close to the geologic wonders of Chiricahua National Monument. Its not nearly as scenic as Edge of the World, but its much more easily accessible. 1 video 6 photos 10 reviews 13 miles Roosevelt Lake Tonto Basin - Tonto Basin, Arizona If you want a quiet, relaxed camping experience soaking in the views of the Superstitions, this is NOT your place! Its very important to always follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles when dispersed camping in Arizona or anywhere else for that matter to limit human impact on the land as much as possible. Neither one is developed. Call the Lake Havasu Field Office for more information: (928) 505-1200. There are fire rings, but we ended up making our own because someone had left tons of trash laying around (shame). One of the best scenic drives in Arizona, the roughly 40-mile Apache Trail gains nearly 6,000 feet of elevation, featuring jaw-dropping mountain passes, vibrant wildflowers, and pristine . From Apache Junction: Drive north on State Hwy. We ended up in a great spot, able to make our patio area private and have unobstructed views of the Superstitions. Accesss to the area is via the Apache Trail National Forest Scenic Byway, a scenic mountain road. Cheveron?) Arizona is also home to countless casinos, many of which offer free casino boondocking in their parking lots. The North Kaibab Ranger District offers countless dispersed camping opportunities. That said, RVs and trailers are better off looking for boondocking spots just after the first mile marker after turning off Highway 95. There is also free water available at the Shell(? Theres lots of cholla, so keep an eye on your dogs. Try one of these campgrounds located nearby, AZ Camp Guide 2023 All Rights Reserved. The weather while we boondocked was darn near perfecta high of 80 degrees during the day and a low of 59 at night, perfect sleeping weather. Not many good spots for RVs. Stunning views. 188 for 33 miles to its junction with State Hwy. Being rainy, there was some mud and soft areas where people drove, but mostly it was hard-packed. There are about a dozen large campsites that will fit RVs of any size. A short hike will bring you to the edge of the canyon. Few camping experiences are more exhilarating than sleeping under the stars. From Mesa: Take State Hwy. We needed to be close to Mesa to see family so this was one of our only free options but I would gladly pay $30 a night to never have to go thru this Call the Red Rock Ranger District for more information: (928) 282-4199, Related Post: Best Free Dispersed Camping Near Sedona. The jeeps and dirt bikes rev their engines at all hours of the night. Just know that dispersed camping isnt allowed here you must camp in one of the roughly 100 designated campsites (which are still completely free). Be the first to add a review to the Apache Trail Dispersed Camping. The western end of the trail accesses a popular target shooting area along Desert Peak Mountain. Campfires are prohibited from March 1 - May 25 without authorization from the District Forester. We've never boondocked with such close neighbors as the busyness and limited space here requires; I think that plus the bad weather contributed to a community dynamic that we really enjoyed. As per the other reviews, it was crowded, even on a rainy Sunday evening. Gross, I know!! Check your inbox or spam folder now to confirm your subscription. With so many options to choose from, this is one of the most pocket-friendly ways to spend some time with . Whether youre taking a day trip, or staying several nights, Three Mile Wash is perfect for any outing you are planning. Continue along the Desert View Drive portion of Highway 64 for about 15 miles until you reach the turnoff for Coconino Rim Road (also called Forest Road 310). The best campsites are located near a small stream about 5 miles after turning onto Pinery Canyon Road from Highway 181. We ended up biking through the dispersed camping area which was super sketchy. Menu. The location is great! Better yet? Schnebly Hill Road is popular so its often busy and noisy. Although it gets busy, visitors willing to brave the rough road can certainly snag quiet and relatively private sites. Campground Camping Areas Alpine Ranger District Alpine Divide Campground Blue Crossing Campground East Fork Recreation Area Aspen Campground - East Fork Black River Buffalo Crossing Campground Deer Creek Campground Diamond Rock Campground The road has several large holes and dips along the trail, when we arrived and parked I saw large pieces of broken tiles (possibly roof tiles?) The Superstition Wilderness has a ton of additional camping options, including dispersed camping and boondocking as well as backpacking. It covers roughly 665,000 acres, a mixture of open desert and the rugged Kofa Mountains. While were were camped we were fortunate to have a full moon which bathed the canyon in an eerie yet spectacular glow during the night. Fair amount of trash around which is disappointing. Trail Maps Filter by Elevation Join Roadpass Pro GPS: 33.8635, -112.1476 View on Google Maps Good location for both city and mountain exploration which is why we The overlook (a small turnaround area) gets plenty of visitors during the daytime, but not many stick around to camp, at least in my experience. We have a 34ft class A with a tow dolly and had no issues. Related Post: The Best Free Camping in Nevada. Michel and Sabina Robitaille of Ontario, Canada are making that popular dream a reality. FWIW? The dispersed campsites here are spacious and mostly level. However, not all campsites in the Phoenix area are created equal so you'll want to come prepared with an idea of where you'll camp. The campsites along Crystal Hill Road are another good bet. Because of the ability to park right on next to the water, this locations offers a great get away for families and individuals during the hot summer months. Saddle Mountain Overlook might just boast the best views of any free campsite in Arizona maybe even the entire United States. Hackamore Road Apache Junction, AZ 623-580-5500 Official Website GPS: 33.4663, -111.5084 Location submitted by: Suejo Add Photos View 23 Photos Overview Q&A Cell Service Reviews (9) Amenities Overview of Hackamore Road Dispersed Camping Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads. Call the Flagstaff Ranger District for more information: (928) 526-0866. Mogollon Rim is just two hours from Phoenix so it gets very busy. Reservations and permits are required and can be made online or over the phone. Within the first 5 minutes, my dog got into some human waste which was on display right under a bush right off the road. This is a great place to rest for the night on a road trip, especially since the nearby Walmart doesnt allow overnight RV parking. APACHE-SITGREAVES AZ . The views of the Colorado River from the cliffs above are hard to beat. more. For free camping near Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, look no further than Badger Creek Overlook. And during Christmas of all times!! Just shoot me a line: jake@campnado.com, See Also: My Favorite Camping Gear for 2022, Best Free Campsites Near Grand Canyon National Park, dispersed camping in Coronado National Forest, blacktop boondocking in a store parking lot, New Mexicos Best Free Dispersed Campsites. BTW, really nice people there, clean showers, club house with a pool table, wifi and free dryers. Although the Superstition Wilderness itself is in Tonto National Forest, the dispersed camping on Peralta Road is actually on Arizona State Trust Land. We once camped near Taos, New Mexico, beside an old homestead which was very picturesque. 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