Best Tent Camping near Ganado, AZ
Tent camping options near Ganado, Arizona include established sites and wilderness areas in proximity to the Painted Desert. Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area offers free backcountry tent camping with permit access, allowing campers to experience the pristine desert landscape without developed facilities. Several established tent campgrounds like Ganado Lake Campground and Antelope Lake Campground provide additional options within the region.
Backcountry tent camping in Petrified Forest National Park requires campers to hike a minimum of half a mile from parking areas before setting up camp. All necessary supplies must be packed in, as no water sources or facilities exist in the wilderness areas. Free permits are available at the visitor center, and campers can access the wilderness area via a trail that descends approximately 200 feet from the Painted Desert Inn. The region experiences significant wind conditions that can complicate tent setup, with minimal natural barriers for protection from elements.
The primitive tent camping experience in this area offers exceptional night sky viewing opportunities. One camper noted, "There's no light pollution so seeing the stars and the milky way is no problem. It's so quiet, my husband said all he could hear all night was his tinnitus." Walk-in tent sites provide solitude rarely found in developed campgrounds, with visitors frequently reporting they were the only campers in the area. The high desert environment presents a stark landscape with red soil and petrified wood fragments scattered throughout. According to a recent review, campers should "pack a lower profile tent which does not grab the wind as much" and "bring a headlamp because it is a true dark sky when you are camping here, you can see nothing at night." The limited access hours of the national park make backcountry camping the only way to experience sunrise and sunset views within the protected area.
