Best Dispersed Camping near Cibecue, AZ

One of our all-time favorite boondocking spots. There are many forests roads off 188 on the southern shore of Lake Roosevelt where dispersed camping is allowed. Some have spectacular views of the lake but are high up and difficult to get to. We found the most easily accesible dispersed camping off Forest Rd 83 between the national monument and little town of Roosevelt. There are large level sites here right off the forest road. As you go further up the forest road, sites get smaller but more private.

This is all working open range with lots of stock. We woke up many mornings to cattle rooting through our stuff and one morning to a real roundup with cowboys on horses. Amazing. There are lots if Saguaro and jumping Cholla cactus around as well as rattlers and scorpions so be alert.

We stayed nearly three weeks here and will go back. Lots to do around and across the lake.

No amenities but there is a dumpster at the head of FS83. Otherwise nearest towns are Punkin Center to the west and Roosevelt to the east, Globe being the nearest large town about 40 min away.

Note there is also dispersed camping off 88 along the Salt River, also worth taking s look. No cell service along 88, no amenities and roads get much more steep and difficult.

This is my favorite site! Free, beautiful dispersed camping! I have been up every other weekend and am obsessed!

34.335842 - 110.973221

Numbered free camp sites. First come first served. Beautiful cool high country with many overlooks over the rim. There is a lake near by for fishing, has a small store and you can rent kyaks and small boats.

Camp sites are not near each other, but within sight. Campfires allowed when conditions permit. We stayed 3 nights while on our way home with our new R-Pod 192 Hood River Edition. We will definately go back again. The guy who came buy later to check us in was super nice and very informative.

Along with this site, there are many dispersed camping sites right on the side of the rim with great views that you can see miles out. Great for tent camping but also big enough for campers and RVs

Visited in May on a Friday afternoon, there were no spots available. All of the sites are also close together, I wouldn't consider it dispersed camping. Drove down the dirt road 20min each way and had to find somewhere else

I’ve camped here twice and not only it’s great spot for the kids to roam around, it’s also nice having the lake close by. I don’t recommend staying too close to the restrooms because you’ll get a lot of cars pass by and it can get a bit noisy when people are walking to the restroom at night. Since this is a free camping area, people can be a bit noisy but that’s the reason you go camping.

All along Rim Road there are tons of dispersed camping sites that offer sweeping views of the forest below. Knoll Lake, Bear Canyon Lake, Woods Canyon Lake, and Willow Springs Lake are all right along that ridge and pretty easy to get to. Check the weather...closes in winter.

Dispersed camping off dirt roads. Highly Used but still space for privacy. Fire restrictions in the summer. No cell service. Some groups were loud and some vehicle traffic throughout the night. Sites are not numbered, just camp near the road. Check out Woods Canyon Lake on the way in!

These spots are not secret anymore. Tried to find a spot this weekend and it was completely full. Wasted day. Limit is 14 day stay. Some of the spots looked like the residents were there far longer. This is the danger with dispersed camping. Really is a shame. Views are amazing.

There is a lot of room up there for dispersed camping. Was a nice area and it filled up quick! By Friday night, you couldn't find much open. Got there around lunch and we still had plenty of room. The lake was relaxing. Saturday saw many more people enjoying the water. Would go again!

This area is out there, man, way out there -- but if you want to get further out there, you can. The National Forest to the northeast of Roosevelt Lake is vast and sparsely populated. It is a perfect area to get away, well away, from others. 

Cherry Creek Rd. quickly leaves pavement behind and simply becomes more potholed and steep the further you get in.  With 4WD, and a high clearance vehicle, this shouldn't be too much of a problem. With lots of parking areas and zero services, campsite selection it's dealer's choice. 

We got as far as we wanted, about 5 miles in from the paved road and made camp at a wide area right across from a small horse corral. This area is perfect for exploring by horse. Hiking, biking, and OHV is also are popular. 

The closest water is Cherry Creek, another 3-5 miles further in, so come prepared. A small camping area sits right on the creek which can rise quickly and the ford can become impassible. When we were there, the campground was full, so our dispersed area was just fine with us. 

The closest services are on the southwest bank of Roosevelt Lake, one gas station and marina store. Within 4o minutes to the north and south lie the towns of Payson and Globe respectively which have all the services you could need.

Campground is good for tent, campervan, RV, and trailers (limited parking for campers, RVs, and trailers). Typical dispersed campground. No services, pack in, pack out.

Once off the highway you follow a paved road (with plenty of potholes) about .5 miles. Turn right onto a dirt road, and the first right is the campground. At the interection of the dirt road and paved road there is a pullout area that I saw a trailer and RV parked. You could get an RV into the dispersed area, but only the first few spaces would really be suitable and may be difficult to turn around. Plenty of spaces in the dispersed area. First area has about 4 spaces with fire rings and a few without. If you continue up the road there are a lot more areas to park, the road gets a bit rough and narrow after the first area. I wouldn't recommend bringing a campervan or anything large up that area. Trees will scratch the side of your vehicle or trailer, and if the road is wet, you probably won't make it up.

Overall, great dispersed camping, quiet area. As you go further up the road you can hear noise from the highway, but very minimal.

The Larson Ridge Dispersed camping areas off FR237 don’t have a lot to offer, but it does have space. Plenty of room here to spread out. The further up the road you go, the less rocky the sites become. You are also further away from the vault toilet, if you camp up this far, I wouldn’t expect to use that toilet at all.

This spots are on the ridge, so be prepared for wind. Our last day we had a pop up awning get lifted up into tree branches and aluminum poles snap on an REI tent.

This area is also really dusty which can make you feel like your in a sand blaster when the wind kicks up.

Lots of FR to ride around on ATVs/ mini bikes. We had fun looking at wild flowers and playing bocci ball.

There were lots of pine but it was warm in the sun in the heat of the day. We were there in June though.

Triple check your fire pit before you leave. Make sure it is out

Great boondocking spot off the main road as you would be heading to knoll lake just past Woods Canyon Recreation area . Beautiful setting in the Forrest. No amenities, located near the Rim. Peaceful and quiet. open space. Numbered sites. The main road is a good well maintained dirt/gravel road. Once you turn off on fr 9350 Campground (which is marked) to go towards the sites it is a bit rough but we were able to make with our Class A, just slow going. Sites are far apart, large with 10 person max and 14 day limit.

We arrived midday Saturday and there were a lot of large groups there. Most of the campsites closer to the lake entrance were designed to have multiple tents. There was loud music and gunshots (even though there is no target shooting allowed) well past midnight. The camping spots closer to the lake did not have a whole lot of tree coverage but we're fairly well spaced out. If you go take an extra bag to pick up existing trash we found a lot of bottles, cans, forgotten pieces of tents, broken tools, Etc. The closest Camp spots to the lake are still about a quarter mile away. The dirt road will take you to the Canyons Edge but you have to hike down on a pretty rapid descent Trail. I watched three other groups come through and heard at least two people fall sliding on the dirt. Then again we went through with a dog and a toddler and none of us fell.

This is easily one of the better established campgrounds on the rim. Campgrounds are more dispersed here, leaving more room between you and any neighbors. Four star rating because I have had exceptionally loud neighbors here more than once.

There are camp sites that are located right on the edge of the rim. Please mind this if you have children, dogs, or are drinking at night. The drop off the rim is significant enough that I give it Jacobs survival rate of ZERO percent. So, please be careful.

Another tip of advice, weather on the rim can seemingly change without notice. The mountains themselves can affect weather patterns, but being this elevated in the Ponderosa Pines makes it nearly impossible to see weather coming from the east (of this campground ) I have personally been up here multiple times when it was blue skies and sunny, and within minutes was under serious downpour and even hail (twice). BSA motto; BE PREPARED!

besides that, Rim Road (FS 300) is very well maintained meaning most vehicles can drive the dirt road. the turn into this camp ground, and road within, is not as well maintained, but still manageable for most passenger vehicles.

There are numerous hiking trails up here, and a handful of lakes throughout this area where fishing and non motorized boats are allowed. chevelon lake is my favorite and most isolated, yet is a mile hike downhill to lake, which means 1 mile hike uphill to get back.

Overall, this is a fantastic spot with lots of possible activities for groups of all sizes and ages, as well as superiors views.

We have been camping here for years. Beautiful pine trees and sites right on the Mogollon Rim. 10 min drive to woods canyon lake which is stunningly beautiful. This is one of many dispersed FR near Woods canyon lake. 2 hours from the scorching heat of Phoenix, we enjoy the beautiful shady weather. We get good cell service also which is always a plus when you have kids at home. You can get water for free by the lake and a lake store for anything you need. Not sure how much the dump station and trash is since we’ve never used it. You can rent boats & kayaks at the lake also. The trout fishing is great! We have never left empty handed. There is a ton of space between the camp sites so you have privacy. The roads are dirt and some washboard areas, but we have driven in a small car packed with camping gear and a 4x4 truck towing a camper and never had a problem. There is one vault toilet near the entrance of FR 9350. I believe all sites have a fire ring, at least all the ones we have stayed at. You won’t be disappointed!