The existing Apache Trail in Arizona is a 120 mile circle route through the Superstition Mountains. To make matters even worse (which I wasn't sure was even possible!! Camping a bit away from the rim helps minimize wind. 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. There is also free water available at the Shell(? ), its only open from October 1 to March 31. Further in (roughly 7 miles), the road turns to gravel, but is generally kept in good condition. 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. Turn right and continue to the site. The wind can get annoying if you dont have an adequate wind block. 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 my second time here. Canyon, Apache, and Roosevelt lakes offer a . So by the time the OHVs stop, you have a few hours to sleep before the constant beeping if trucks. This is my second time here. The best campsites look out over the Colorado River (near the start of the Grand Canyon). Fair amount of trash around which is disappointing. The dispersed campsites here are spacious and mostly level. RVs and trailers should look for camping within a mile or two of the main highway after this, the road gets rough and turning around is difficult. The main road itself is very wide but also very rutted. Apache Lakewas formed in 1927 when the Horse Mesa Dam was completed. Its just 15 minutes to Lake Havasu City and 15 minutes the other direction to I-40. 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. In the winter through early spring, snow makes the road impassable. We once camped near Taos, New Mexico, beside an old homestead which was very picturesque. All were friendly and respectful. Rather than list them all, Ive narrowed down your options to just 11 of the very best. Herb Martyr Campground is one of my favorites. Kofa National Wildlife Refuge is a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System. RVs and trailers should avoid traveling beyond this point. Laundry, propane (Metro Lift had best price when we were here; gas station's nearby was almost double it), Costco and Winco are all within reach. The recreation area is also popular for hiking, mountain biking, birding and wildlife viewing. You can almost always find great non-view campsites away from the rim as well as along spur roads on your drive in. Being rainy, there was some mud and soft areas where people drove, but Miles of hiking, 44, and horseback riding trails. The location is great! Strong winds are common. Lots of cars also coming and going. Accesss to the area is via the Apache Trail National Forest Scenic Byway, a scenic mountain road. Clearly this area is used by people staying more than the 14 day limit. Heres how to find other dispersed campsites in Arizona: Another option for free camping in Arizona is blacktop boondocking in a store parking lot such as Walmart or Cracker Barrel. 88 (Apache Trail) on the right, north west out of Apache Junction. 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. Tennis Has Met Its Match: Play Pickleball at These 45 RV Campgrounds, 18 Campgrounds Where You Can Stay Cool This Summer. Truck Camper Adventure is an emagazine offering truck camper news, reviews, travel tips, and more. If you want a quiet, relaxed camping experience soaking in the views of the Superstitions, this is NOT your place! Overview of Oxbow Designated Dispersed Campsite 25. Kofa National Wildlife Refuge doesnt get too many visitors, so you can expect privacy and solitude. 70 Dispersed Sites Elevation: 7740 feet Reservations: Reservations not accepted. Only single vehicles or single axle trailers should venture far off the road. There were already huge pot holes and ruts in the road which were now filled with water and turned into mush!! Also! Look at a map, know before you go. 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. 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. Very hilly terrain so having blocks will be helpful but there are flat spots to be found. But you have the homeless camping there with their kids swinging from the trees, very trashy area and deep holes and with this last storm there was water everywhere. The spacious, flat campsites here are easily accessed by all rigs, so they can fill up with RV boondockers. Campsites are spacious enough for the largest rigs and the dirt roads are well maintained. black river az dispersed campingwhat is the best wand in prodigy 2021 black river az dispersed camping. 1 video 6 photos 10 reviews 13 miles Roosevelt Lake Tonto Basin - Tonto Basin, Arizona Tent camping isn't permitted. It costs just $15 per night. Call the Tusayan Ranger District for more information: (928) 635-2443, Related Post: Best Free Campsites Near Grand Canyon National Park. Both Coconino and Apache-Sitgreaves also have a ton of developed campgrounds (paid) in the Mogollon Rim area. Several sites are large enough for RVs and trailers. And during Christmas of all times!! You must camp within 50 feet of a designated campsite, usually marked with a Camp Here post. Dont worry. Find these campsites by setting Google Maps to Saddle Mountain Overlook. Follow the gravel access road for roughly 14 miles from where it turns off Highway 67 near the North Rim Country Store (about 6 miles north of the national parks North Entrance). Rental Options Not homeless (though they may well have looked it; they played HARD here.) 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. After planning this trip for a [read more], Most of us who enjoy boondocking have been there at one time or another. Just make sure you take Woody Mountain Road and youll arrive at the correct spot. 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. . Here are a few of the most important things to do: Visit the national forest or BLM website for the public land youre visiting to read up on each areas specific dispersed camping rules and regulations. Few camping experiences are more exhilarating than sleeping under the stars. Jump to the free campsite you want to know more about: Or, browse our Arizona dispersed camping map to find a dispersed campsite near you. Yet another option one that I personally only use in a pinch is stealth camping. Reach Peralta Canyon by heading east out of Phoenix towards Apache Junction. Apache Junction, Camping is only allowed at designated campsites in Sproul State Forest. It doesnt matter if its a slide-in or a chassis-mount, a hard-side or a pop-up, if its a truck camper and its carried on a truck, we cover it. more. The road in is very rutted and bumpy. A communications expert and licensed ham radio operator, he retired from the U.S. Navy in 2004 as a CWO3 after 24 years, holds a BS degree . Would stay here again for sure. Unfortunately, youre not allowed to camp at the overlook itself. While we were here there were at least five other fifth wheels and class A's in the 38-40 foot range, plus a skoolie. 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. 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 . It was kind of crowded, but thats to be expected at this time of year in AZ. 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Its also just a little over a mile from Walmart. Check your inbox or spam folder now to confirm your subscription. Whats Better Than One Truck and Camper? 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. We went to sleep to coyotes howling and woke to birds singing. Milk Ranch Point Road is my favorite place to dispersed camp in the Coconino section of Mogollon Rim. Craggy Wash boasts great desert views of the surrounding hills and mountains. black river az dispersed camping. Cell reception? Heavy rains (3 inches in 24 hours) caused significant pooling in the lower areas of the campground which is, as reported, really just an extra-large horse-tra Please always follow the7 Leave No Trace principles(especially packing out all your trash,properly disposing of human waste, respecting campfire bans, and only using previously-used campsites) when dispersed camping in Arizona. We ended up biking through the dispersed camping area which was super sketchy. We're available seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Arizona time. 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 Terms of Use, Three Mile Wash Shoreline Area- Apache Trail, Tonto National Forest- Tonto Basin Ranger District. read pdf salt river canyon tonto national forest ng853. 200mb download/ 8mb upload on T Mobile 5G. Dates for 2024 Truck Camper Adventure Quartzsite Rally Now Set, For Sale: 2019 Ford F450 2020 Eagle Cap 1160 ($149,000), Tern Overland AirFlo RV Mattress Pad Eliminates Condensation and Mold. We were able to get a spot in the back along the fence with a nice view, so we were pleasantly surprised at the feeling of privacy we had. Dispersed camping in Arizona is an experience you can't afford to miss. scattered around the campsite and other trash to include a large metal awning. scattered around the campsite and other trash to include a large metal awning. Badger Creek Overlook is exposed. The 23-mile dirt access road is rough and windy. Plus, you can walk down to awesome views in just minutes. Fish Creek Canyon is perhaps the best and most scenic part of the drive. Places To Go. Lost Dutchman State Park offers water for $7 or dump-and-fill for $15. Campfires are prohibited from March 1 - May 25 without authorization from . The campsites along Crystal Hill Road are another good bet. 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!! Outstanding trout and warm-water fishing. 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 Best Dispersed Campsites in Arizona Jump to the free campsite you want to know more about: Schnebly Hill Road Edge of the World Coconino Rim Road Saddle Mountain Overlook Mogollon Rim Road Peralta Canyon Palm Canyon Road Pinery Canyon Road Craggy Wash Badger Creek Overlook Harshaw Road (Not sure to rate noise 1 for bad/noisy or 5 for loud?) 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. Arizona is a wonderful place to explore with countless free camping opportunities. Call the Red Rock Ranger District for more information: (928) 282-4199, Related Post: Best Free Dispersed Camping Near Sedona. Primitive camping in the desert with November is a great time to explore the Apache Trail. It essentially refers to camping in an area that is not a designated campground. It seemed vehicles would ma Unfortunately, theres a lot of trash and human waste left behind by other visitors. Nearby are views of mountains with abundant wildlife. It rained so the area was very muddy. Self-contained toilets are required. The trail that passes along Fish Creek is a dirt and gravel surface. Pumphouse Wash is another good spot for free camping near Flagstaff. 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 Accesss to the area is via the Apache Trail National Forest Scenic Byway, a scenic mountain road. Home. We have a 34ft class A with a tow dolly and had no issues. To coyotes howling and woke to birds singing avoid traveling beyond this point it was kind of,... 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