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Edge of the World and Schnebly Hill dispersed camping sites both welcome pets without special restrictions or fees. These free camping areas provide pet-friendly environments in Coconino National Forest, with drive-in and walk-in access suitable for tent camping. The well-rated Edge of the World site maintains a 4.5-star rating from visitors who appreciate its secluded nature. Dogs must remain leashed when outside vehicles, and owners should pack out pet waste as these dispersed sites offer no trash facilities or toilets. Some designated campgrounds in the area including Cave Springs, Pine Flat, and Manzanita also allow pets with standard leash requirements.
Pet owners should be aware that most forest roads leading to dispersed sites can become rough or impassable after weather events, with recent reviews noting some road closures. Forest Road 240 provides several pet-friendly dispersed camping locations with magnificent views of the San Francisco mountain peaks. The area offers excellent hiking trails accessible directly from campsites where dogs can join their owners. Summer temperatures remain relatively cool due to higher elevations, making these locations more comfortable for pets than desert camping. When visiting developed campgrounds like Mormon Lake Lodge RV Park or Munds Park RV Resort with pets, campers find clean, well-maintained facilities though spaces may be limited and reservations recommended during peak seasons.
"The road in is bumpy and rocky, but not impossible (a Ford Mustang in the site next to us clearly made it)."
"Took the dog and she loved it."
"Majority of campsite is surrounded by trees, making this spot shaded throughout the day. Good amount of sites sit right next to the Creek."
"Tucked into Oak Creek canyon, surrounded by trees, red dirt mountain sides, and a creek this campground is stunning."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"Compared to another campground close by that is a little less but we had double the space and trees and a creek behind us. They’re very busy and we were only able to get two nights."
"Staff dust underneath and around picnic tables to clear cobwebs even. The cicadas will either win you over and mesmerize you or you will hate them."
from $42 - $84 / night
Check Availability"Other than being close to the highway, we love this campground. It is in a heavily wooded forest next to Oak Creek. It has multiple bathrooms and accessible drinking water."
"What I liked about this was the great hosts (who seemed on constant patrol in their golf cart), the level sites for tents, and the great access to trails."
from $30 - $45 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Exit 226 off of I-17 and head west on Schnebly Hill Rd. There is dispersed camping all along the road for the first mile or two. It is first come first serve."
"Flush toilets, pay showers, water, easy access to sites. If you’re looking for comfortable camping, this is a great place for you."
"Our site was among the pines bordering a meadow. Each site had a fire pit and picnic table. Campground had wood for sale, clean bathrooms, and pay showers located near the host sites."
from $34 / night
Check Availability"The river access also added to the positives of the spot. My only complaint is that a handful of sites are where you park on the pavement and have to walk down into your actual site."
"This is pretty close to Sedona (10 minutes) and right along a river that’s fun to wade in (not sure if you can canoe it?), plus long hiking trails nearby."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"The best dispersed camping options in Sedona Arizona! There are many options off of the main road."
"My friend from Maryland came to visit me here in Arizona, I told him we had to go to Sedona so we decided to camp, I heard about forest road 525 and it exceeded my expectations, never saw more stars in"
"Everything you need is at the KOA and if it isn’t, it’s near by. There’s also access to Mount Elden/Fat Man’s Loop trails in the Coconino National Forest from the park."
"Lots of other amenities like a dog park. Kids playground. Rental bikes for riding around the campsite and fireplaces at all the sites. "
from $100 / night
Check Availability"We took the Schnebly Hill rd exit in downtown Sedona. We decided not to take the I-17 route because we wanted an off-roaring experience."
"For the first few miles most sites were filled with 5th wheels/pull behind campers. We wanted the dispersed camping experience, so we drove approximately 6 miles in and picked a spot."
TravelerHighly recommend this park. The amenities are fantastic and if you are a rail fan you can watch the Grand Canyon Railway go and return every day. Close to I-40 so some noise there but all of Williams is like that. There is a helipad not far and there is some noise from the air ambulance coming and going at any hour of the day but also kind of fun to watch.
GuideDefinitely my favorite campground in the area. There’s shade and more privacy than the other flat ones. It gets crowded on the weekends and there is also a decent amount of people during the week. Be sure to get here before 2pm on weekends.
TravelerFriendly staff. Clean.
ScoutQuiet spot with plenty of parking bays; suitable for 30-foot vehicles. The access road is good, though there are a few potholes at the beginning.
GuideThe road up to this is fine for almost all rigs, the turn into the campsite will be tight. They have no camping signs along road 525c, although the map from the forest shows camping is allowed along this road. Make a right on road 9529 and there is a great campsite immediately on the left. It has a circle turn around. Incredible views, great hiking and no one around for miles. The BLM camping on road 525 is crowded. No one on this road. I get the sense they are trying to get people not to camp, but the maps show it is completely allowed. We are here in October and the weather is 70 degrees. Note that when dirt roads get wet, it is a whole different story. Coordinates are 34.87989889666775,-111.94793655703302.
I did buy a wilderness pass from the Arizona forest service. $20 for the year.
ScoutPrice is very high and campground has a lot of people living in the park long term. Very noisy, vehicles coming and going constantly with doors slamming and people coming and going. Hard to rest.
GuideThis is a great spot with 360 views and stellar sunsets. There is no shade and it gets pretty warm with the sun beating down. There are quite a few large spots to accommodate big rigs. HOWEVER- I arrived on a Monday around noon and got one of the last spots. Several campers have arrived looking for spots since I got here (it’s Tuesday). This is clearly a popular spot so have a back up plan. All the campers are closer than usual for dispersed camping. But they were all quiet during my time here.
TravelerNice staff. Pretty clean. $65 a night with taxes is the rate I paid. Lots of trails behind the park going up to the mountain. Mary's cafe across the street - family owned - with bar and bar, and karaoke on weekends.
GuideA bit on the expensive side for a 22 foot RV is $50 night and it’s not allowed to put an additional RV of 20 feet in the same spot even though they assigned us a pull through site with more than enough room for a 20 foot vehicle. The women’s showers at Cooper’s Hawk Tail Loop were moldy and soap scum on the shower walls. Hottest water was only on the warm side. If you are not a paid camper in the campground there is a $20 (yes $20!) charge for a shower…self pay at the kiosk by the showers/toilets. Staff at the check in kiosk very helpful.
Dispersed camping in the Coconino National Forest offers dogs and their owners access to multiple no-fee sites with varied terrain. The forest spans elevations from 3,100 to 12,633 feet, creating distinct temperature zones that affect camping comfort throughout the year. Most sites along forest roads don't provide water sources, so campers must bring adequate supplies for themselves and their pets.
Hike Arizona Trail sections: The Arizona Trail passes near Pinegrove Campground, providing excellent day hiking options. "There was a trail that went under the road that led to the lake and another that went up to great views and the Arizona Trail. There was tons of elk scat on the upper Trail but I never saw any elk," notes Annie C.
Cool off in creek swimming holes: Oak Creek provides relief from summer heat at Manzanita Campground. "The creek running by the campsites is amazing," explains Holly R., while Scotti M. adds, "One of the highlights was the nearby creek, which was perfect for unwinding and added a peaceful ambiance to the whole experience."
Explore off-road trails: The forest roads leading to dispersed sites offer adventure for properly equipped vehicles. Adrian C. says about Schnebly Hill Road, "The Sedona route is SUPER BUMPY! We're in a Ford Raptor and it took close to an hour or more to get to the top."
Stargazing opportunities: Darker skies away from city lights make for excellent night viewing. At the West Sedona camping areas, Emma A. reports, "Great sunrises and sunsets. Cell reception was marginal on both Verizon and AT&T." Emily R. from Pinegrove notes, "The night sky there took our breath away."
Accessible wildlife viewing: The forest supports diverse wildlife year-round. "There is a spring near the north end of the CG which attracts a lot of attention from the locals," mentions Bill R. about Pine Flat Campground West.
Fire pit availability: Most dog-friendly campgrounds in Coconino National Forest include established fire rings when fire restrictions aren't in place. At West Sedona, Alex H. notes, "There were fire pits so we had a fire one night in an unseasonably warm evening in December."
Road conditions vary significantly: Access roads to many pet-friendly sites require careful driving. Joe F. from Edge of the World warns, "We never made it to the campground. The rocky trail ended with a flat tire on our truck (as we were hauling our truck camper.)"
Seasonal crowd patterns: Sites fill quickly during peak periods. "This is a popular spot, arrive early to set up your spot. Mostly avid travels in big campers and RVs that stay for a while," advises Nicole V. about Schnebly Hill.
Noise considerations: Some forest camping areas experience more noise than others. G D. reports about Manzanita, "Nice, pretty well kept site but just way too many people. Not my type of 'camping'. (Lots of charcoal lit with lighter fluid, yuck)."
Plan water activities: Kids enjoy creek access during warmer months. Victor R. shares about Cave Springs, "This campground has tons of sites to choose from many of them a short walk from the creek. There's a swimming hole on the creek nearby."
Look for designated play areas: Some established campgrounds offer recreation spaces. Ryan M. notes that Flagstaff KOA has "dog and kid play areas. Highly recommend travelers start here before looking elsewhere."
Choose sites with shade: Summer temperatures can be intense despite higher elevations. Krista Z. writes, "Some were super shaded all day long and others (like site 11) didn't have a single tree over the tent pad so you were relying on the canyon walls for shade."
Check site sizes before booking: Many forest sites have limited space. Shirlee A. cautions about Cave Springs, "The sites are super small and close together. For camping with groups it may work but for RV I do not recommend. Such a tight fit in (we are 32 ft and barely fit in the site)."
Locate nearby dump stations: Most dispersed dog-friendly campgrounds in Coconino National Forest lack sanitation facilities. Chad E. mentions, "The free dump was good (with paid visit)" at Pinegrove Campground.
Consider generator restrictions: Rules vary between sites. Dan K. observes about West Sedona Designated Dispersed Camping, "We tow a travel trailer with a high clearance pickup and did it fine. Amazing views, beautiful area, breathtaking scenery. Fairly close to Sedona if you need to pop into town for supplies."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Coconino National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Coconino National Forest is Edge of the World (East Pocket) with a 4.5-star rating from 59 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Coconino National Forest?
TheDyrt.com has all 233 dog-friendly camping locations near Coconino National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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