Dispersed camping around Dewey, Arizona attracts campers seeking solitude at elevations between 4,500-7,000 feet in the Prescott National Forest. The area's pine and juniper woodland creates natural shelter from summer heat, with temperatures typically 10-15°F cooler than Phoenix. Road conditions vary significantly after rainfall, with many forest service roads requiring careful navigation through washes and rocky terrain.
What to do
Fishing at Horsethief Basin Lake: Located approximately 7 miles from Crown King, the lake contains Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, and Muskie. Crown King Area (Horsethief Basin lake) provides access to this fishing spot. A reviewer notes, "The lake fish species present include Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, and Muskie. The weather is very similar to Prescott with an elevation of 6,000 ft."
Morning cold plunges: Oak Creek near Manzanita Campground offers refreshing water for brave campers. "The Creek is gorgeous, clean water that's great for a morning plunge," reports one camper. The creek maintains cool temperatures year-round, providing relief during hot summer days.
Mountain biking: Trails near Enchanted Forest Trail Campsites feature varied terrain for different skill levels. According to a reviewer, "Mountain biking trails are pretty sweet. Well-groomed and challenging. Better trails than Thumb Butte. Lots of variation with mountain lanes covered with shade and wide open."
What campers like
Stargazing: Many sites in the Prescott National Forest offer minimal light pollution. At Edge of the World (East Pocket), the elevation provides exceptional night sky viewing. "Incredible place to camp. The views are some of the best you'll get for sure," shares one visitor, highlighting the secluded setting perfect for astronomy enthusiasts.
Cooler temperatures: The higher elevation camping areas provide relief from desert heat. At Crown King Area, campers enjoy significantly cooler weather. "Been to this area a few time the sites are amazing quiet and beautiful, the trail up is bumpy and fun. The site had a fire pit and in winter everything was covered in snow and just breath taking."
Creek sounds: Several campers mentioned appreciating the natural water sounds. One camper at Manzanita Campground stated, "The creek sounds wash the cars out," referring to how the flowing water helps mask road noise.
What you should know
Vehicle requirements: Many roads deteriorate quickly after rain. For FDR79 Trittle Mountain Road Dispersed Camping, a reviewer warns, "We stayed one nite at site 5 in our 24ft Mercedez Sprinter. It's not super level but decent space to maneuver to find your favorite orientation. The road in wasn't too bad for us, but I could see it being challenging with a sedan or a camper."
Cell service limitations: Don't count on reliable connectivity. A camper reported, "We operate with Verizon and TMobile. Unfortunately neither carrier had a good enough signal here for us to spend the week we planned. Perhaps other sites might have better luck, but for working remote we had to change plans."
Wildlife concerns: Proper food storage is essential. At Copper Basin Campsites, a camper warned, "Do be careful with your food and trash totes. Javelina got into mine on the second night, so for the rest of my stay, everything was in the van and it was a little unpleasant."
Tips for camping with families
Check site conditions: Many dispersed sites have trash issues. At Copper Basin Campsites, a camper reported, "The site we stayed at had about a box of rusty nails and enough glass someone must have been throwing bottles just to break them all. Not great for my tent bottom."
Consider weekend crowds: Weekdays offer a more peaceful experience for families. A camper at Edge of the World observed, "Tons of campsites along the cliff with beautiful views. However, this place is incredibly busy and you end up with campsites every 20 yards so it's not secluded at all."
Plan for supplies: Stock up before heading to remote sites. At Crown King, a camper advised, "The town has supplies but is over priced so fuel up before going up there."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for levelness: Find spots that require minimal leveling. One RVer at FDR79 noted, "Nice forested area in Prescott Forest. Few level sites for my rig and lots of nails on the ground from pallet wood."
Camping near water sources: For the best tent camping near Dewey, Arizona, consider proximity to creeks or lakes. At Enchanted Forest Trail Campsites, a reviewer mentioned, "We drove to the end and then came back and took a left up a hill next to another campsite! It was a great site and clean. We were presently surprised!"
Site spacing considerations: Many dispersed areas have misleading site counts. A reviewer observed, "Trittle Mountain Road advertises 16 campsites BUT most of them are clustered in groups of 2 or 3 and we found that a lot of the people occupying them would intentionally take up all of the spots for 1 RV/group."
