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Dispersed Camping

Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea

Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed Camping Area, near Why, Arizona, is a spacious spot that invites you to kick back and soak in the stunning desert landscape. With ample room to spread out, you’ll find plenty of sites where you can enjoy some peace and quiet, even with a few neighbors around.

This location is all about the basics—there’s no drinking water or electric hookups, but you can have a fire and bring your pets along. Visitors rave about the clean surroundings and the easy access for all types of vehicles, making it a breeze to set up camp. One camper noted, “Spacious galore! Wonderful! Easy to find, and can park right off the road if desired!”

If you’re up for some adventure, you’re just a short drive from Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, where hiking and biking trails await. The area is also known for its beautiful night skies, perfect for stargazing after a day of exploring. Just remember, this is a no-frills spot, so pack out what you pack in and enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds you.

Description

Bureau of Land Management

Ajo Desert Zone

Dispersed camping near Why, AZ in the Sonoran Desert.

Fee Info

none

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Location

Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea is located in Arizona

Detail location of campground

Directions

Approximately 1.2 miles south of intersection of hwy 85 and 86 in Why on right side of road BLM land. Entrance just south of bridge over wash, through gate.

Address

Lower Sonoran Field Office 21605 North 7th Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85027

Coordinates

32.23948 N
112.75063 W

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The Dyrt Alerts

Get reservations at sold-out campgrounds.

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Good
  • Verizon
    Good
  • AT&T
    Good
  • T-Mobile
    Available

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Dispersed

Features

For Campers

  • Phone Service
  • Alcohol

For Vehicles

  • Big Rig Friendly

DISPERSED CAMPING

Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.


PERMIT might be REQUIRED

We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea needs a permit.


Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

15 Reviews

Reviewed Apr. 18, 2024

Nice place to stay

Nice place, plenty of Sitzes, yet only few neighbors. Getting there is bumpy (unpaved road) but with any passenger car doable.

Month of VisitApril
Reviewed Apr. 18, 2024

Superb Place

Astonishing place in magnificent landscape! Plenty of sites, spacious and large distance to neighbors. Only a handful of other campers. Absolutely clean and easy to access with and car/van

Month of VisitApril
Reviewed Feb. 28, 2024

Gun Sight Wash

Beautiful area, great spot to enjoy the desert.

Anyone looking for a drone?

Month of VisitFebruary
Reviewed Nov. 19, 2022

Great place to Stay.

Quiet besides the main highway traffic. You can go further back away from the road. Would come back.

Site32.2390349, -112.7521230
Month of VisitNovember
  • Review photo of Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea by Wayne H., November 19, 2022
  • Review photo of Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea by Wayne H., November 19, 2022
  • Review photo of Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea by Wayne H., November 19, 2022
  • (10) View All
Reviewed Nov. 15, 2022

Relaxing in peace!

Spacious galore! Wonderful! Easy to find, and can park right off the road if desired! Lovely cactus… all around! What a blessing!

Siteno site numbers…
Month of VisitNovember
  • Review photo of Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea by Tamra J., November 15, 2022
  • Review photo of Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea by Tamra J., November 15, 2022
  • Review photo of Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea by Tamra J., November 15, 2022
  • (9) View All
Reviewed Apr. 16, 2022

Lots of space

Stayed here for a night in mid April 2022. I arrived around 5:30 PM and was able to get set up and collect enough wood for a fire. I found a level spot with an existing fire ring. There were a few other campers around but this place has a lot of space so I didn’t notice the neighbors. It was cloudy and a full moon but I could imagine the skies get super dark here. I would stay here again.

Month of VisitApril
  • Review photo of Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea by Monte W., April 16, 2022
  • Review photo of Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea by Monte W., April 16, 2022
  • Review photo of Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea by Monte W., April 16, 2022
  • (9) View All
Reviewed Mar. 9, 2022

This place is huge!!

Big open area with some shrubs, cacti and washes. There is LOTS is space here so plenty of room to spread out but bc of the low nature of most of the plants there isn’t a ton of privacy. You prob won’t be alone but you won’t need to be right next to someone either.

Mostly level area, great roads. Everyone around was quiet and respectful. Saw a few coyotes while we were here and heard them yipping throughout the night. Very peaceful and close to Organ Pipe National Monument.

Month of VisitMarch
Reviewed Jan. 21, 2022

Well maintained and spacious

Arrived an hour before sunset. Far enough from the road to be nice and quiet. Plenty of company but very spread out. Clear night and the stars were awesome.

Month of VisitJanuary
  • Review photo of Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea by Debra P., January 21, 2022
  • Review photo of Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea by Debra P., January 21, 2022
Reviewed Apr. 25, 2021

Great Campsite near Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Within just 20 miles of the Organ Pipe National Monument, Gunsight Wash allows dispersed camping up to 14 days. There are enough flat parking areas scattered throughout the BLM area to accommodate hundreds of rigs. You should be able to find a quiet spot, though it's unlikely that you'll have the place all to yourself. 

As with most dispersed camping areas managed by the BLM, there are no services for bathroom, water, or trash. There is a day-use rest area across the highway, but please do not dump your trash there (AZDOT will charge the BLM to dispose of this trash, and that will mean that the BLM will have to start charging us -- so be a good neighbor and dispose of your stuff in the nearby town of Why). 

The main road between Why and Sonoyta (Mexico) is very busy during the days. 

However, the border crossing is closed at night so being parked near the pavement isn't going to keep you awake all night. However, we found that getting further away made the hanging out around camp more pleasant.

There are many hiking and biking opportunities available just a short drive away into the National Monument. The Visitor's Center is also worth a visit, and the NPS campground is super cute and offers all the usual amenities of developed campground in the NPS. The town of Why is within 2 miles of the Gunsight Wash turn off, which offers a gas station and convenience store. Further up the road lies Ajo, AZ, which has more in the way of restaurants and grocery stores.

SiteDispersed sites
Month of VisitMarch
  • Review photo of Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea by Shari  G., April 25, 2021
  • Review photo of Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea by Shari  G., April 25, 2021
  • Review photo of Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea by Shari  G., April 25, 2021
  • (11) View All
Reviewed Feb. 23, 2021

Back Again

I have found that this is a nice location. If you want to visit in this area, it is very conveniently located about three miles from the Organ Pipe National Park. There is a campground in the park. It offers paved parking and barbecue grills, but it still dry camping. Since this is free I find it a lot better for dry camping. It is close to a town called Why, that has gas, and a restaurant called Grannies that has the best burritos this area has to offer. Can also get ice and propane at the gas station there. I chose to Camp close to the road, because I don't mind the noise from traffic, I feel it is a little soothing at times personally. The BLM area goes back several miles and if you don't mind driving in a little farther in, it is much quieter. I really like this area BLM land and I'm sure to come here again and again.

  • Review photo of Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea by Larry B., February 23, 2021
  • Review photo of Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea by Larry B., February 23, 2021
  • Review photo of Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea by Larry B., February 23, 2021
  • (10) View All
Reviewed Jan. 27, 2021

Desert camping

Primitive and far from civilization. Right next to highway 85, so there is a lot of traffic noise. Since this is dispersed there are not any facilities, but surprisingly there is little privacy. Several RVs,but no hook ups. Very close to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.

  • Review photo of Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea by Vanessa M., January 27, 2021
Reviewed Dec. 26, 2020

Convenient blm free dispersed camping

Free BLM dispersed camping between Why AZ and Organ Pipe Nat Monument. Turnoff is just past mp #55 heading south from Why, right turn off hwy just past the concrete bridge over gunsight wash. Entrance is a bit back to right over a cattleguard. Hwy road noise can be an issue so the farther west into the area the less road noise. Cell service for Verizon and Tmobile was 4 bars lte..however ATT was nothing. Why AZ has gas, ice, restrooms. Filtered water is across hwy at community center kiosk..five gals $1. Note that the Border Patrol has a checkpoint at mp 57.5 just before Organ Pipe boundary.

  • Review photo of Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea by Greg L., December 26, 2020
  • Review photo of Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea by Greg L., December 26, 2020
  • Review photo of Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea by Greg L., December 26, 2020
  • (13) View All
Reviewed Dec. 21, 2020

Nice and clean large open spaces for RV

This is a very nice place for FREE camping on BLM land. Lots of room and it does go farther back from the highway. Just be careful of some areas may wash out when it rains. A little difficult to find, but look at your odometer when leaving Aho, it will be 13 miles on your right going south. A few miles further you will be at the Organ Pipe National Park. Some very nice scenic drives there.

Month of VisitDecember
  • Review photo of Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea by Larry B., December 21, 2020
  • Review photo of Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea by Larry B., December 21, 2020
  • Review photo of Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea by Larry B., December 21, 2020
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Oct. 15, 2020

Typical blm dispersed camping

Convenient spot close to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. I got a little confused trying to find this spot at night, but once you find where the dirt road passes through the gate there are plenty of places to camp right there. There was only one other group there in October, but I would assume it gets more crowded during the winter months. It's a little close to the highway, so you will hear some cars passing by, but it's not too bad.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea does not have wifi.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Gunsight Wash BLM Dispersed camping atea?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is good, AT&T is good, and T-Mobile is available.