It was named the Apache Trail after the Native American Indians who originally used this trail to migrate through the Superstition Mountains for over 1,000 years. For free camping near Phoenix, dispersed camping near the Superstition Wilderness is likely your best bet. Neither one is developed. Call the Douglas Ranger District for more information: (520) 388-8436. Know that the rim-side campsites are exposed to the elements. Lone Tree, another BLM dispersed camping area, is located just off Highway 95, about 4 miles north of the turnoff for Craggy Wash. Because its so convenient and can fit RVs of all sizes, it tends to get crowded here as well. Apache Trail Boondock (Open in Google Maps) Little Green Valley (Open in Google Maps) Tortilla Flat Dispersed Camping (Open in Google Maps) Why You'll Love It. There is ample dispersed camping in Coronado National Forest, including throughout the rest of the Chiricahua Mountains area. For example, FR 195 Campground is a good starting point for first-time visitors (although youll likely want to explore further in). Unless you have a 44 vehicle, its important to access Schnebly Hill Road (Forest Road 153) from I-17 rather than from Sedona itself to avoid the roughest parts of the road. The campground is very close to the town of Apache Junction, so it isnt far to go for propane or groceries. Milk Ranch Point Road is my favorite place to dispersed camp in the Coconino section of Mogollon Rim. The road itself is a little bumpy but not horrible. The closest towns are 30+mins away, but the drive to Carlsbad Caverns was worth it for the scenery and experience. Unbelievable unobstructed views of Lost Dutchman. It was kind of crowded, but thats to be expected at this time of year in AZ. The noise was there but it wasnt too bad for us and didnt go later than 10:30 pm or so and didnt seem to be before 8:00 am. Saddle Mountain Overlook is part of Kaibab National Forest. We were there to check out the area and bike some of the trails behind the dispersed camping as we had to bike. Please select a reason for flagging this item: 2023 Campendium Inc. All rights reserved. Great hiking. Ive seen low-clearance 2WD vehicles (including a Prius) make the drive, but high-clearance and/or 4WD is very helpful. Junction City - Schreiner Park Campground, Upper Teton View - Toppings Lake Dispersed Campsites 8-16, Oliver Lee Memorial State Park Campground, Video: Where to Camp in Quartzsite, Arizona. more. FWIW? Countless hiking trails wind their way through the Saddle Mountain area and lookout points abound. We were there to check out the area and bike some of the trails behind the dispersed camping as we had to bike. Cell service is spotty, but you should pick up at least a bar or two. Because of the popularity of the Mogollon Rim, many of the areas dispersed campsites are actually designated. Have you written a blog post about Apache Trail Dispersed Camping? The dispersed campsites along Pinery Canyon Road make an excellent home base for exploring Chiricahua National Monument. Dont worry. Turn north at the Mogollon Rim Visitor Center to reach these. Sunset and sunrise here is very special. The location is great! Coconino Rim Road has plenty of campsites for everyone. A recreational permit is required to camp here just $15 for individuals and $20 for families gets you a yearly pass good for free camping on nearly 8 million acres of land across the state. The mountains are rugged and unforgiving, but they have a strong and mysterious draw on the adventurous type. It seemed vehicles would make the same loop over and over again. Terms of Use, Three Mile Wash Shoreline Area- Apache Trail, Tonto National Forest- Tonto Basin Ranger District. [deleted] 3 yr. ago Although it gets busy, visitors willing to brave the rough road can certainly snag quiet and relatively private sites. Awesome Valley of the Sun weather, mid 70s all 4 days. Lakes for fishing. Peralta Road dispersed camping isnt the quietest. Overview of Tower Road Designated Dispersed Campsite 64. Coronado National Forest has several other dispersed camping opportunities near Patagonia, including along San Rafael Road. Camping limitation rules vary per office, please check with your local office for details on camping limitations. He also does some RV consulting, repairs, and inspections on the side. Apache Trail Dispersed Camping Apache Trail, Apache Junction, Arizona 85119 USA Add Photo View Gallery 5 of 11 July 15, 2022 Roadtrippers Photo Credit: Campendium/Michael Claim copyright Keep exploring with the Roadtrippers mobile apps. Trash everywhere, actually smelled like urine, and some people definitely staying past the 14 day limit. 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. Nearby are views of mountains with abundant wildlife. You can reach the area without first entering the national park via Forest Service roads east of Tusayan, but the drive in is very long. Perform an online search using the name of the national forest combined with "dispersed camping" to learn more. Get it with Truck Camper Adventure's weekly newsletter. Dogs will be dogs! Lightning storms here are extremely scary (and not at all uncommon). Countless dispersed campsites are available, most with decent shade. Not only with other recreationalists, but also with work vehicles driving to and from the areas still active mines. close to the traffic circle; we inquired inside and were able to fill water bladders no problem. This boondock site is sandy gravel with dips and hills, and no marked sites; you just park wherever. Its very accessible for small RVs, like [read more], Interested in living full-time in a truck camper and exploring North, Central, and South America? Whether youre taking a day trip, or staying several nights, Three Mile Wash is perfect for any outing you are planning. November is a great time to explore the Apache Trail. Many of the dispersed campsites here are located just feet from the rim itself. White Mountains Links . dispersed camping southwest. I was so nervous that we would get stuck with our travel trailer trying to get out of there but we received a day after Christmas miracle and we were able to escape unscathed!! The roads arent in the best shape, but expect nothing worse than moderate washboarding at least until youre about 7 miles in. This is an excellent spot for birding as well as seeing wildflowers in spring. And, if you still have questions, Im here to help. Once you reach Edge of the World itself, youll find plenty of space to spread out in the forest with the best spots located on the rim of a canyon overlooking the beautiful Red Rock Wilderness. Apache Trail Dispersed Camping Apache Trail Apache Junction, Arizona 85119 USA (480) 610-3300 Hours not available Problem with this listing? The existing Apache Trail in Arizona is a 120 mile circle route through the Superstition Mountains. Just note that its only accessible from late spring to late fall due to its high elevation. The main dispersed camping area is located on the . Its here that the campsites first appear. Go-Arizona. There is an OHV vehicle staging area at the end of the road, so there is constant jeep, truck, dirtbike, atv, utv, etc traffic. Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest Share 86% Recommended +38 Official website (928) 333-4301 Camping types: First come, first served campites, reservable campsites, and reservable campsites by phone. In any manner or place whereby any person or property is exposed to injury or damage as a result of such discharge (36CFR 261.10d) With any tracer bullet or incendiary ammunition (36CFR 261.5b) Choose a remote area with an earthen backdrop. The dispersed campsites here are spacious and mostly level. black river az dispersed campingwhat is the best wand in prodigy 2021 black river az dispersed camping. Fry's grocery ten minutes away has drinking water for 20 cents/gallon, Clicklist curbside grocery pickup (yay!) Arizona is a wonderful place to explore with countless free camping opportunities. Although it gets a little busy during the day, its surprisingly uncrowded here at night. February 27, 2023 alexandra bonefas scott No Comments . 9 tenths of a mile past mile marker 202 on st. rt. The Chiricahua Apache, led by the famous chief Cochise, utilized this area to evade US Cavalry in the mid-19th century. Dispersed camping in Arizona is an experience you can't afford to miss. During the day horse trailers come in and take up alot of the space, late in the day, they leave and spots open up.The area has maybe a dozen level areas and it may be challenging for bigger rigs. 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. Turn right onto State Hwy. Drive in a mile or two further (and consider checking out side roads) and youll likely find a campsite thats much more private at least private enough for one night. The views of the Colorado River from the cliffs above are hard to beat. more. They did say they were taking down names and plates so it wouldnt happen twice. Unfortunately, there are just a handful of sites with views of the Grand Canyon itself. There were a number of larger to smaller RVs and some tents. Harshaw Road is part of Coronado National Forest. Campendium is an Amazon associate site and earns from qualifying purchases. Although most states in the American West have an abundance of dispersed camping options, Arizona just might have the most and, also, the best. While the road noise wasn't bad, someone ran their generator all through the night. Tennis Has Met Its Match: Play Pickleball at These 45 RV Campgrounds, 18 Campgrounds Where You Can Stay Cool This Summer. Fish Creek Canyon has two established sites where you can boondock. During the summer months Apache Lake is very popular for the cool water and beautiful scenery. Be the first to add a note for Hackamore Road Dispersed Camping! Those nearest Highway 64 fill up quickly in the peak season, but there are always more sites for those willing to venture further in. Parking Pets Allowed Restrooms Wifi Wheelchair Accessible Credit Cards Accepted Affiliation National forest Lowest Nightly Rate 0 Max Stay 14 Fifty Amp Full Hookup Pull Through Tent Sites When they are here, navigating or finding a spot can be tricky if not impossible. This is my first review on this website and unfortunately it is going to be an extremely negative one because it was an extremely negative experience. It covers roughly 665,000 acres, a mixture of open desert and the rugged Kofa Mountains. Ive driven the trail four times, but Ive never had an opportunity to do some serious boondocking and fishing along it until last weekend. Write by: . 88, and drive past historic Roosevelt Dam (unpaved) for 3 miles to Three Mile Wash Recreation Site. Just northeast of Payson is another one of my favorite places for dispersed camping in Arizona. It essentially refers to camping in an area that is not a designated campground. He's been RV'ing since 2002, is a certified RVIA Level 1 RV Technician, and has restored several Airstream travel trailers. When going #2, dig a 6-8" deep cathole and cover it when done. Camping is only allowed at designated campsites in Sproul State Forest. Road is very rutted, watch for Cholla cacti and it is great place to boondock. Trash everywhere, actually smelled like urine, and some peopl Several options are available, but my personal favorite is the area along Peralta Road in Peralta Canyon which leads to Peralta Trailhead, the starting point for some of the most popular desert canyon hikes in Arizona. Its a developed campground (no dispersed camping allowed), but its still free! - KK7TCA. The wildlife refuge is sprawling and remote. Only single vehicles or single axle trailers should venture far off the road. The exception is near the borders of the park, just off Highway 95. Further in (roughly 7 miles), the road turns to gravel, but is generally kept in good condition. Mello Mike is an Amazon.com associate. Anything you plan or save automagically syncs with the apps, ready for you to hit the road! There is no shade and it gets hot especially during the summer. 87/Beeline Hwy. You wont even find a fire ring though there was evidence of a recent campfire where we were camped. This lake is set among sun-painted canyon walls, which form scenic backdrops to the lake itself. The view was great- the neighbors didnt seem to bother us much (other than to borrow some fuel), however the danger of quad riding on the trails with larger side by sides running up on us from blind corners and the possibility of puncturing our tires is a great deterrent to camp out here again. 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 Arizona's six National Forests are listed below along with a link to the dispersed camping guidelines for each: Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest dispersed camping . Whats Better Than One Truck and Camper? Campsites are spacious enough for the largest rigs and the dirt roads are well maintained. 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?) It's called "dispersed camping" just make sure you don't drive off a forest road and if you do to set up camp, the car can't go more than 300 ft off the forest road. Dispersed camping is generally allowed on public land for a period not to exceed 14 days within a 28 consecutive day period. . Luckily, the state has literally hundreds of others, most located on public lands. Poll Results: Biggest Boondocking Pet Peeve? Today, Im going to share my favorite free campsites in Arizona. Schnebly Hill Road is part of Coconino National Forest. Kofa is an ideal place for RV boondocking in Arizona. If you want a quiet, relaxed camping experience soaking in the views of the Superstitions, this is NOT your place! Youll notice a bit of traffic (including some ATVs), but this is minimal, especially compared to other popular Arizona dispersed camping locations. This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com, you dont mind rubbish left everywhere, barking dogs, two generators left running all night and couples fighting all through the night. Coconino Rim Road is my go-to for free camping near the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The road in is very rutted and bumpy. Horse trailers pull in around 10am and out again around 3-4pm (at least this time of year). Self-contained toilets are required. 10 LGBTQ+-Friendly Campgrounds Throughout the U.S. Video: 5 Amazing Places to Camp for Free in the Western U.S. Best Campgrounds Near 4 of Baja Californias National Parks, How to Visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Where to Camp, 5 Alternatives to Utahs Popular National Parks, How to Visit Prescott National Forest by RV and Where to Camp, How to Visit Coconino National Forest by RV and Where to Camp, Indiana RV Campgrounds: 7 Places to Camp, Hike, and Explore the Hoosier State, 5 Mid-Atlantic State Parks Worthy of a Detour, Reviews of Hackamore Road Dispersed Camping, Written by someone with an affiliation to the property, Duplicate review submitted by the same member, Multiple reviews submitted by members of the same household, Reviewer did not actually visit the location. The recreation area is also popular for hiking, mountain biking, birding and wildlife viewing. And during Christmas of all times!! 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