Thats not to mention the abundance of border patrol vehicles which drive through the area at all hours, including the middle of the night. November is a great time to explore the Apache Trail. Trash everywhere, actually smelled like urine, and some people definitely staying past the 14 day limit. Its a developed campground (no dispersed camping allowed), but its still free! Not homeless (though they may well have looked it; they played HARD here.) 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. Drops up to 200 feet are common, so keep children and pets close. February 27, 2023 alexandra bonefas scott No Comments . Turn here north onto Peralta Road and continue past the small neighborhood area until you pass a sign declaring your entrance onto Arizona State Trust Land. However, we found a spot, and surprisingly, it was level. Also! As per the other reviews, it was crowded, even on a rainy Sunday evening. As per the other reviews, it was crowded, even on a rainy Sunday evening. Both are also part of the Coconino National Forest. Chase P. recommends March 31, 2022 Apache Park and Trail Great Views, Great Location! A short hike will bring you to the edge of the canyon. Just know that theres not much room to turn around at the end of the road. This free dispersed camping area isnt very far from Flagstaff (or Sedona) as the crow flies, but its quite a trek to reach in a vehicle. Some people running loud generators late into the night, but most campers were using solar while we were there. You can almost always find great non-view campsites away from the rim as well as along spur roads on your drive in. 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. 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). There is a $3.20 non-refundable reservation fee per campsite. Lots of cacti (cholla and saguaro), many evenings with coyotes howling nearby, and unfortunately a fair amount of trash left by campers. Arizona Map. The dispersed campsites on Peralta Road are on Arizona State Trust Land. Not only with other recreationalists, but also with work vehicles driving to and from the areas still active mines. Not satisfied with the free campsites on my list? Riding our quad in Bulldog Cany Reach Peralta Canyon by heading east out of Phoenix towards Apache Junction. Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads. Apache Trail Dispersed Area Campground 4.0 - 1 Review Mesa, Arizona Claim this business Information Open All year Sites Total: 5 Amenities Tents Pictures Reviews February 13, 2019 - reviewed by Joseph Elliott A Lot More Than 5 Site And Beautiful Sc Lots of space to camp, however it's mostly tent camping. Lost Dutchman State Park offers water for $7 or dump-and-fill for $15. Fair amount of trash around which is disappointing. Its a quiet, peaceful area with great scenery and lots of wildlife (be careful with food storage as bears frequent the area). Campfires are prohibited from March 1 - May 25 without authorization from . With North Americas Signup for Roadpass Pro to get premium access to all of these great road travel apps. Accesss to the area is via the Apache Trail National Forest Scenic Byway, a scenic mountain road. You can most likely find a spot even if it looks very busy when you pull in. Its just 15 minutes to Lake Havasu City and 15 minutes the other direction to I-40. Pulled in and the place was trashed. Lots of horse trailers which is fine for they only stay for a few hours and then gone. NOTE: Campground is popular for family reunions. This campsite is far enough from Sedona and Flagstaff to minimize light pollution for very dark night skies and very bright stars. For example, there is ample BLM camping on Palm Canyon Road before it crosses into the wildlife refuge. 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. Harshaw Road is quite busy. This area can accommodate even the biggest RVs and trailers. The views here are spectacular. Rigs of all sizes are welcome here. Miles of hiking, 44, and horseback riding trails. 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. Call the Black Mesa Ranger District (Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests) for more information: (928) 535-7300, Or, call the Mogollon Rim Ranger District (Coconino) for more information: (928) 477-2255. The expansive grounds are interesting and free to walk. The closest towns are 30+mins away, but the drive to Carlsbad Caverns was worth it for the scenery and experience. Very little care was given for picking up the rubbish they were creating and the noise they made. Learn more: Boondocking 101 Badger Creek Overlook is part of the Bureau of Land Management. It appeared that our neighbors were living there more than camping there. Know that the rim-side campsites are exposed to the elements. There are many sites available with fire rings. Theres no cellular reception here. The further you drive in, the more likely you are to find a private campsite. Turn right and continue to the site. more. The main road itself is very wide but also very rutted. TMO signal 2-3 bars depending on where you camp. RVs and trailers should avoid traveling beyond this point. Dispersed camping used to be great years ago, but this is the worst degradation of it Ive seen yet. Once you get in there are many roads that arent as terrible that snake around all over the place. Dont worry. He's been RV'ing since 2002, is a certified RVIA Level 1 RV Technician, and has restored several Airstream travel trailers. There is ample dispersed camping in Coronado National Forest, including throughout the rest of the Chiricahua Mountains area. We ended up biking through the dispersed camping area which was super sketchy. 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Expect moderate washboarding, although the road is passable to all vehicles. Lots of cars also coming and going. Hackamore Rd is not maintained and is basically a dirt bike track. 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. Truck Camper Adventure is an emagazine offering truck camper news, reviews, travel tips, and more. Not impressed, but it got the job done. Menu. Last but not least on our list of the best dispersed camping in Arizona is Harshaw Road. Tent camping isn't permitted. Both Non-motorized and Motorized boating is allowed at Apache Lake. However, we found a spot, and surprisingly, it was level. Awesome Valley of the Sun weather, mid 70s all 4 days. (One group of tent-dwellers overstayed their 14 days by a significant margin and left substantial trash behind; the next RV who pulled in there did a beautiful job cleaning it all up.). The Lost Dutchman Museum (inside the gift shop) is well worth $5 (kids free). black river az dispersed camping. Campsites are spacious enough for the largest rigs and the dirt roads are well maintained. The views from the end of the road are what make Edge of the World home to arguably the best free camping in Arizona. White Mountains Links . Turn north at the Mogollon Rim Visitor Center to reach these. There were probably about 15 rigs while we were here and a fair amount of 'turnover'. Park is open year-round Trails 6 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Day Use Gates are closed and locked from 8 p.m.- 6 a.m. daily. Stunning views. 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. The campsites are decently spaced apart, so youre in for a quiet and peaceful night without many close neighbors. All content is copyright of Mello Mike and Truck Camper Adventure 2011-2022. Be the first to add a note for Hackamore Road Dispersed Camping! 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. Nearly all of the forest service roads off of Highway 67 have dispersed campsites. Kofa National Wildlife Refuge doesnt get too many visitors, so you can expect privacy and solitude. This is my second time here. The Superstition Wilderness has a ton of additional camping options, including dispersed camping and boondocking as well as backpacking. We have a 34ft class A with a tow dolly and had no issues. We ended up biking through the dispersed camping area which was super sketchy. Expect wind while camping here. Have you written a blog post about Hackamore Road Dispersed Camping? Campendium is an Amazon associate site and earns from qualifying purchases. In our two weeks we saw a few days when the campground was FULL and just as many when it was less than half capacity. Apache Junction, Travel trailers and RVs should opt for the larger campsites just after the sign for the national forest. We just pulled in for a quick overnight stay and so grateful that was all. Apache Sitgreaves National . First of all, I want to say that the views were PHENOMENAL!! Class A busses probably wouldn't make it. Saddle Mountain Overlook is part of Kaibab National Forest. Whether or not you score a rim-side site, several overlook points are just a short hike away. This is a good location for boondocking in an RV or trailer. 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. That said, RVs and trailers are better off looking for boondocking spots just after the first mile marker after turning off Highway 95. Unfortunately, there are just a handful of sites with views of the Grand Canyon itself. When going #2, dig a 6-8" deep cathole and cover it when done. Contact Information Default. Apache Trail, or AZ 88 as it is officially known, linksApache Junctionat the edge of the Greater Phoenix area withTheodore Roosevelt Lake, through theSuperstition Mountain Wildernessand theTonto National Forest; 40 miles of steep, winding and mostly unpaved road past magnificent scenery of twisted igneous mountains with dense forests of saguaro and ferocactus, and several deep blue lakes. Tennis Has Met Its Match: Play Pickleball at These 45 RV Campgrounds, 18 Campgrounds Where You Can Stay Cool This Summer. Mello Mike is an Amazon.com associate. 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