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Dispersed Camping

Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Dispersed

CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Dispersed, near Apache Junction, Arizona, is a rugged spot for those who crave a true escape into nature. This area offers a wide-open landscape perfect for camping under the stars, with plenty of fire pits scattered throughout for evening gatherings.

Visitors often highlight the freedom to find your own space, with many flat pull-offs available for setting up camp. While amenities are minimal—no drinking water, electric hookups, or restrooms—this location is ideal for those looking to disconnect and enjoy the great outdoors. As one camper noted, “It’s a great place to get out to and sleep under the stars!”

For adventure seekers, the area is popular for off-roading, with trails nearby that cater to ATVs and dirt bikes. Just be prepared for some dust and noise from fellow campers and vehicles, especially on weekends. If you’re lucky, you might even spot some local wildlife, like quail and cows, wandering through your campsite.

While the lack of amenities means you’ll need to come prepared, the stunning sunrises and sunsets make it all worthwhile. Whether you’re a seasoned camper or just looking for a quick getaway, Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Dispersed offers a unique experience in the Arizona desert.

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Location

Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Dispersed is located in Arizona

Detail location of campground

Coordinates

33.19268954 N
111.28673075 W

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Connectivity

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    Excellent Coverage
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    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
    Verified by 5 users
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    AT&T5G
    Excellent Coverage

Detours Nearby

LOCAL FAVORITES PRESENTED BYToyota Trucks
Cactus Forest Boondock

Cactus Forest Boondock

33 min away

Crabtree Wash

Crabtree Wash

2 hrs 43 min away

Drive Time

Presented byToyota Trucks

Connectivity

Presented byT-Mobile SatelliteT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
    Verified by 5 users
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T5G
    Excellent Coverage

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Site Types

  • Dispersed

Features

For Campers

  • ADA Access
  • Phone Service
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

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 Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Dispersed needs a permit.


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Reviews

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4.5

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11 Reviews

Reviewed Apr. 2, 2025

Stellar boondocking and dirt biking

Great trails! Big rig friendly boondocking. Busy dirt road, as there is an active mine off the road. Loud dump trucks and dusty, but a beautiful desert oasis, nonetheless.

Month of VisitMarch
  • Review photo of Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Dispersed by Casey G., April 2, 2025
  • Review photo of Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Dispersed by Casey G., April 2, 2025
  • Review photo of Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Dispersed by Casey G., April 2, 2025
Reviewed Mar. 30, 2025

Great spot!

Perfect area with lots of open space, plenty of clean, flat camp spots with fire pits. Roaming cows and great trails.

Month of VisitMarch
  • Review photo of Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Dispersed by Corrine O., March 30, 2025
  • Review photo of Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Dispersed by Corrine O., March 30, 2025
Reviewed Mar. 10, 2024

Enjoyed tent camping

I’ve never been out here. Got a state land trust family pass for the area just in case we needed it. The cottonwood canyon rd is dirt/gravel and it is very flat and not washboarded. Cars can drive in. Just be aware that many of the pull offs from the road have dips or hills but there are also plenty of flat pull offs that lower ground clearance vehicles can pass. For tent camping finding a spot without a lot of sharp rocks and prickles from the various cacti can be a little challenging but it’s totally doable. Use caution when walking about between the cacti. Lots of prickles you can’t see well on the ground. Be extra careful if you have dogs. Probably want to have tweezers or pliers with you to remove the spines. We came out when it was covered in grass but I can imagine it might get pretty dusty if there isn’t any grass. There’s basically no shade to speak of but plenty of bushes/cacti etc for privacy. Very easy to find spots away from other campers on the weekend. There’s lots of gunfire and explosions in the distance during the day and at night. Many ATVs/OHVs driving up and down the main road at night. It got pretty much silent at about 11pm. There are probably a lot of places a decent way from the main road that may be quieter but there are no signs anywhere so you just kind of have to pull off and drive around. Camp was raided by quail early in the morning and we had some cows visit but they didn’t come too close. All in all pretty cool area will definitely come back

Month of VisitMarch
  • Review photo of Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Dispersed by Sammy S., March 10, 2024
  • Review photo of Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Dispersed by Sammy S., March 10, 2024
Reviewed Dec. 9, 2023

Has its good, has its bad

Close-ish to get to, plenty of spots, plenty of fire pits, great place to get out to and sleep under the stars!

That said, there were tons of people near us, a ton of people driving razors and rangers, camps were playing loud music all night, and people were shooting pistols and rifles till 4am. Probably possibility any time you come on a weekend.

Definitely better place to go for RV/Trailer camping

Month of VisitDecember
Reviewed Nov. 25, 2021

Awesome time.

Quick getaway close to home but seemed like we were far away. Yes there are OHVs out here but nothing rowdy going on by us. We camp wit a TT and had a great time.

SiteDesert camping
Month of VisitNovember
  • Review photo of Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Dispersed by Jeffrey P., November 25, 2021
  • Review photo of Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Dispersed by Jeffrey P., November 25, 2021
  • Review photo of Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Dispersed by Jeffrey P., November 25, 2021
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Apr. 20, 2021

Box Canyon dispersed camping

We were actually a bit south of this (but the app won't let me add a new camping area). This is on AZ State Trust land d and a permit is required. https://land.az.gov/

There are wide open spaces for solo or group camping and it is close to town. This is a great winter camping spot!

SiteDispersed
Month of VisitFebruary
  • Review photo of Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Dispersed by Chantal S., April 20, 2021
  • Review photo of Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Dispersed by Chantal S., April 20, 2021
  • Review photo of Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Dispersed by Chantal S., April 20, 2021
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Oct. 5, 2020

Wide open

Can get dusty from riders if you stay near the front. If you take some time to come scout it out you can find some great spots.

Great for trail riding around the sites plus if you have time there is some mountain trails that lead to box canyon.

Cows everywhere, wake up and have a good cup of coffee & conversation with a couple of bovine.

Road coming is not as bad some say, the company that works down this road keeps it maintained.

Lots of shooting once you get down into the blm, dont hear it much from camp site we pick. Stay on the road and you will see them being safe and firing into remote back drops.

No power, no water, just straight up dispensed wide open sites.

Have fun

  • Review photo of Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Dispersed by Steve T., October 5, 2020
  • Review photo of Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Dispersed by Steve T., October 5, 2020
  • Review photo of Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Dispersed by Steve T., October 5, 2020
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Sep. 11, 2020

Ridiculous

The area itself is reasonably nice desert camping. Lots and lots of spots in both the AZ State Trust land (permit required) and the BLM land.

Pros -Lots of fire rings made from rocks in almost every spot. -Room to spread out. -Free.

Cons -The road coming in is the worst washboarding i have ever seen. Like the worst. Almost un-drivable...and I’ve been down a lot of rutted roads that require high clearance. I didn’t need clearance, i needs a road that isn’t ridiculous. -There is a quarry or something at the end of the road, which you wouldn’t think would matter, but starting at 4:00am...giant, and i mean GIANT rock hauler semi trucks started barreling down the washboarded road every 5-10 minutes until we packed up and left a day early at 10:00am because we couldn’t take the noise anymore. These trucks go down the road at 45mph and just absolutely SHAKE the ground and roar with noises. It was the most absurd thing that had ever happened to me while camping. Do not go here for peaceful camping.

Reviewed Mar. 1, 2020

Perfect for ATV/dirt bikes

No amenities but perfect place to base out of for off-roading adventures. This place is really popular, so it’s a cool place to ride with other people and check out their rigs.

Make sure you pay for your Arizona State Trust pass before you get there.

Trailers/RVs are fine. It’s mostly just dirt, so I wouldn’t recommend tents if it’s been raining. There is also a great restaurant/bar down the road (the River Bottom Grill) that has live music on the weekends.

  • Review photo of Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Dispersed by Beth G., March 1, 2020
  • Review photo of Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Dispersed by Beth G., March 1, 2020
  • Review photo of Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Dispersed by Beth G., March 1, 2020
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Nov. 13, 2018

Dispersed Boondock Desert Camping

Turn off Hwy 74 between Apache Junction and Florence, Turn East on Cottonwood Canyon Rd. and there is dispersed camping with ZERO amenities starting in about 2 thru 5 miles on both sides of the road.

This is a very popular off road spot for Motocross motorcycles, Jeeps, ATV's, and Side by Sides so be prepared for some dust and some noise from vehicles. There are lots of trails to ride.

This is Arizona State Trust Land so a permit is required but can be purchased and downloaded from their website at a cost of $21.00 and it is valid for 1 year for the family pass.

The location was clean and well cared for buy the people that camp there, and there are rock rings for fires but you will need to bring your own wood to burn as there is little in the desert and nowhere close to purchase any.

We stayed with a group in November and the weather and the sunrise and the sunsets were absolutely amazing to behold. We will definitely be back both for the wide open spaces and the great places to ride.

SiteDispersed
Month of VisitNovember
  • Review photo of Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Dispersed by Robo A., November 13, 2018
  • Review photo of Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Dispersed by Robo A., November 13, 2018
  • Review photo of Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Dispersed by Robo A., November 13, 2018
  • (4) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

Is dispersed camping allowed in Cottonwood Canyon?

Yes, dispersed camping is allowed and popular at Cottonwood Canyon. The area spans both Arizona State Trust land and BLM land, with numerous established camping spots featuring rock fire rings. A State Trust permit is required for camping on the Trust land portions. The dispersed sites offer plenty of open space for solo or group camping with room to spread out. There are no designated sites or amenities, making this a true dispersed camping experience.

How do I access Cottonwood Canyon Campground in Arizona?

To access Cottonwood Canyon dispersed camping area, turn east onto Cottonwood Canyon Road from Highway 74 between Apache Junction and Florence. Dispersed camping spots begin approximately 2-5 miles down this road on both sides. The road is dirt/gravel but generally flat and accessible by passenger vehicles. Be aware that while the main road is well-maintained, many pull-offs have dips or hills. The area is located on Arizona State Trust land, so you'll need to purchase a permit before arriving.

How does Cottonwood Campground compare to other Grand Canyon camping options?

Cottonwood Canyon dispersed camping is not directly associated with Grand Canyon National Park camping options. Unlike the developed campgrounds at the Grand Canyon that offer amenities like bathrooms and potable water, Cottonwood Canyon provides a completely undeveloped, no-amenities desert camping experience. This area is much closer to Phoenix than the Grand Canyon and serves as a popular base for off-road recreation rather than Grand Canyon sightseeing. The primary appeal here is the wide-open desert landscape, abundant off-roading trails, and free camping (with required permit), while Grand Canyon options focus on park access and typically have more facilities.