Looking for the best dispersed camping near Coconino National Forest? Here you'll find a diverse selection of places to camp, including remote dispersed camping to boondocking, and everything in-between. Find dispersed campsites you've visited before, or discover new spots from other campers.
It is labelled as East Pocket on a map, but known to locals as “The End of The World,” the perfect nickname to describe this climactic viewpoint. Flagstaff sits upon a lofty plateau carpeted in high-elevation pine forest, but just south of town, the bottom drops out. Below a craggy rim of volcanic rock, the land takes a precipitous plunge into an entirely different world of red rock and sandstone towers. This is the realm of Sedona, and End of The World overlooks all of it.
Pumphouse Wash (Forest Road 237) is__a popular dispersed camping area in the ponderosa pine forest__along SR 89A, midway between Flagstaff and Sedona, Arizona. The area is__conveniently located near__Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona, Flagstaff, Woody Mountain Road, Lake Mary, and a variety of recreation sites. It is a popular alternative to traditional campgrounds for visitors to Oak Creek Canyon and the Flagstaff area.There are four campsite loops, each containing__between__11 and__26 signed and numbered sites. The site offers__excellent camping opportunities for large groups as well as families and individuals.__Most sites offer partial to full shade beneath towering ponderosa pine trees, and are generally flat, making it easy to set up tents or campers. Each site has parking and a campfire ring. There is no trash service, so if you pack it in, pack it out. There are no restroom facilities. Portable toilets are highly recommended.FR 237 and the camping loop roads are well maintained and suitable for passenger cars.__Photo tour from this site [Flickr].
Please check the website for the most up to date information about closings and bans.
Dispersed camping is permitted off of FR 618 on FR 689 prior to FR 645A (see Motor Vehicle Map)
As of January 2024, all roads leading to this campground are temporarily closed for construction.
Marshall Lake is a small marshy body of water that's generally full of coots and other waterfowl splashing, flapping, and cooting around. It is such valuable wildlife habitat that it is managed in partnership by Ducks Unlimited and the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
During most years the lake has enough water in it to be stocked with trout by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. In dry years, however, it may temporarily disappear! Even when the lake is dry this area still offers excellent opportunities for outdoor recreation.
Dry or wet, a number of primitive campsites near the east side of the lake provide exceptional views of the peaks from pine sheltered locations. The surrounding area also serves as a good place to come to see some of this area's plentiful elk or its rare wintering bald eagles. The lake itself provides a hunting site for resident ospreys and a rest stop for migrating waterfowl.
Keep driving down the road and space will open up wider. We parked right past the little grate after you get to the more open space. Quite a few others but we weren’t looking for too much room or privacy. Got there right at sunset.
Great area to camp. Lots of roomy campsites and close to groceries.
10-21-2024 Went to site. No camping signs now posted. Road is now a designated OHV trail known as "Outlaw OHV Trail".
We camped there for several days in Oct.2024. Road was rough but solid. Most any size rig could access this site. Good Verizon signal. Our biggest disappointment was the red dust. It got into all our rigs and is a mess to clean up. Overall it's a good site.
Great spot 5G Verizon service quiet and alone can have fires.
Easy to find off Beaver Flats rd. The camp areas are pretty spread out which was nice. Decent shade from some Juniper trees and we could barely hear the road from our campsite. Some of the sites are pretty clase to the road though and are probably fairly noisy. I’m guessing there are about 7 sites total. It’s not the type of place for a big motor home or a big trailer.
As I came in there seemed to be allot of fellow campers, but the further back I drove the less people I came across. Until I came to a spot with no other campers around. I was looking for peace and quiet and found exactly that. Beautiful view and plenty of open space. I will definitely return.
We arrived around noon on Friday, and within an hour or two there were two others who arrived--but thankfully turned around to find another spot. The views were extraordinary as we parked the Land Cruiser with the Roofnest in the ideal spot to not just soak up the afternoon and evening views, but to be blessed by a great sunrise from inside the tent.
The stars... I mean, wow! The starry sky at night was one of the best we've see anywhere, just stunning.
Felt very safe in the area for our 3 year old boy to explore with us, so if you expect any sheer cliffs or dangerous drop-offs, they aren't really there. There were gradual declines from the top, and they aren't immediately near where you'd park.
We will be back--this was a real gem... but expect wind throughout the night being this exposed!
We stayed here for a night and it was great. It was busy but the main reason we picked it was because it was close to Sedona so it was nice and easy for us to go in for a sunrise hike. We stayed in the first pull off lot on the left hand side that didn't have no camping signs (past Surprise), it had a porta potty which was definitely nice to have. Seems like they must block off sites every now and then because some of the ones marked on dyrt were blocked with rocks but still lots of space!
We loved the area. Drive around a few times checking it out easy to find and plenty of space for all kinds of campers. Even my Camry made it out. The lava cave was a decent hike but my two year old and pregnant fiancé made it down and up. Camp ground not crowded but the cave was
It’s been a very pleasant stay here. Wildlife of all kinds are abundant. People keep primarily to themselves. Pilot Truck Stop is only 5 miles away. Cell signal is pretty good depending on where you’re located. Lava Tube Cave is only 2.5 miles North of this spot and of free to visit but I’d recommend going during the week, it’s very busy in the weekends.
Dirt lot, good for Rv's. Super windy and the grounds too hard for tent stakes, a single tree in the middle. Its a place to sleep. Portapotties available
Great experience, great camping spots. Although you need to make your own fire pit. When we were there there was a very loud group. Almost like an outside club happening. Music didn’t stop until 3 am then started again at 6 am.
Pretty exposed. No shade. Lots of fire ants so I wouldn’t suggest tent camping here. I have the option of car camping. So that works. And there’s a nearby rest area on I-17 to use the restroom, though it’s a bit of a drive. Right near montezuma’s well which is one of my favorite monuments. It’s hot. Be prepared.
Stopped here to overnight. Beautiful forest with a lot of camp sites. We found one with no problem and it was clean and well kept. We stayed the night , went to the lava tube (just North of where we camped). Great free sites.
Pristine and usually unoccupied lake off the beaten path. 17 miles of dirt road from Highway to the lake and the last 7 are truly a challenge for anything other than a slightly lifted vehicle. Four camping areas near or with access to Lake with two of them having boat ramps. Skip the first turn off to the right as that is the very narrow part of the lake and rather ugly. The second turn off has two to four campsites with vault toilets and access to the lake through a boat ramp which allows camping and small trailer access lakeside. The churn out to the right is, Really rough and has very little camping or RV access. One of the pictures shows how rough the road is. I took the fourth turn off which is 747 and has one to two camping sites with a fire pit and good RV access along with a boat ramp. Note that fires are allowed in the fire pits because this is above 6, 000 feet but there is no water or trash. Pack it in, pack it out.
beautiful views! super duper underrated and conveniently close to sedona access: 3stars (for my car, yours will do way better lmao) easy to find on the map! not a difficult road (at first), but gravelly for sure. i drive a 1995 ford f150 2 wheel drive and found that after 2-3 miles in, the road up to the overlook becomes too steep and rocky for my truck to climb, but a 4x4 definitely can do it! if u have a car like mine take it nice and slow and you will do just fine :3 business/safety/people: 5stars! not a SINGLE other camper here and i arrived on a friday night! its like i have the whole desert to myself. all you hear are crickets and very very distant highway sounds. maybe its because i came in early september but this is by far the most quiet of blms ive ever been to sites: sites are easy to back in and most come with rock firepits! in the site im at, people left piles of firewood close to the pit which was an amazing help bc i arrived so late
the only con that i can think of is that there r a lot of bugs (ants and moths especially), which doesnt bother me at all but for some it could be a little annoying. if you have full cover (tent, rv, camper, van, etc) then do not worry at all, but i camp in the bed of my truck so its a lil different for me.
if u want solitude come check this place out !
Went here over Labor Day weekend and really enjoyed it. The road from the I-17 entrance was well maintained and can be driven on with any vehicle. I had my Chevy trax (front wheel drive) and made it fine. There are plenty of pull off trails we explored. Some of them you’d definitely need a high clearance vehicle to drive down, but plenty you don’t. Lots of fallen trees so if you have a chain saw, all the fire wood you need. It gets windy up there often but in our tucked in spot, it didn’t really bother us. Exact cords of pic 34.88807, -111.68092
Went up there Labor Day weekend. Wasn’t sure what we would find or how much room there would be. Got there late at night drove past the initial open area right off the road about 1/2 mile back and nothing but great open quiet spots. I will frequent here for sure
Road was marked as private property, for invited guests only.
The spots are spacious and flat. For going on a holiday weekend, it was surprisingly very quiet.
Even on a busy holiday weekend we found a perfect spot and the only truck and voices were our own. PERFECT when looking to camp in a quiet relaxing place with the kids to get away from it all. My new fav spot for sure!!
It will have a gate at the beginning- just go past that and drive down the road. Anywhere you see an opening with tire tracks, take it and you’ll find a campsite. Plenty of spots and endless little trails to take. Beware during Monsoon season, it will be flooded in some parts so 4x4 is recommended the farther back you go into the woods. It down-poured hours after we got there and luckily we had a well maintained trail.
easy to navigate! i arrived past midnight and only had to drive 3/4 mile from the i-17 to find a spot! ive heard that the west (sedona) entrance is way rockier, but from the i-17 it was very easy to drive and i have a 30 year old car. very peaceful at nights, all you hear are distant cars and the occasional airplane, plus most spots come with a firepit for you! a lot of groups here but not noisy at all and we all have our space and peace, very safe and family oriented in my opinion :3
Went down here mid August and it was a beautiful view. Thick tree coverage which hid us from the winds that day / night and the rim was a 200 foot walk away. Able to get there in my Chevy Trax which is front wheel drive only, without any problems. There are there are plenty of spot to pull off into on that forest road. If you don’t get this exact spot just keep driving the road and you’ll find something in no time. A lot of dead trees laying around for firewood, but did need axe and hacksaw to cut size them down. Area had a lot of pine needles on the ground.
Plenty of space. Drive deeper in (after the forbidden signs) you will see a big tent sign with an arrow pointing left (see pics)
It's called "Surprise"
Love this place. Was very private. Not bothered by other people. Dogs were able to run free.
Camping near Coconino National Forest, Arizona, offers a mix of stunning landscapes and diverse camping options. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly spot or a quiet place to unwind, there’s something for everyone.
Camping near Coconino National Forest, Arizona, has its perks and challenges. With the right preparation, you can enjoy a memorable outdoor experience!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Coconino National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Coconino National Forest is Edge of the World (East Pocket) with a 4.5-star rating from 48 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Coconino National Forest?
TheDyrt.com has all 142 dispersed camping locations near Coconino National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
