Best Dispersed Camping near Leupp, AZ

This spot is perfect for boondocking or car camping, but we decided against popping up our camper here and just car camped instead. Not super dispersed, but the access road is accessible to most vehicles. However, some side road pulloffs are definitely better suited for 4WD vehicles. I would suggest walking the route first to make sure your particular vehicle can make it.

I loved this campsite due to its proximity to the three National Monuments near Flagstaff: Wupatki, Walnut Canyon, and Sunset Crater Volcano. We decided to stop at these monuments on a whim during our National Park tour and they did NOT disappoint! I highly recommend visiting all three, and perhaps ending with Walnut Canyon, as it was my favorite. This campground is great for visiting all three, as each monument is only 10-25 minutes away. They are all incredible and very worth the visit if you’re in northern AZ for the staple Grand Canyon.

We have a 30ft Skoolie (2002 bluebird) and tow a 17ft cargo trailer conversion and there were countless spots for us to fit in without having to drop the trailer! This area is VAST and breathtaking. There were a lot of campers when you first enter, but if you drive around you will find something perfect for your setup no doubt.

The only thing I would say to be mindful of and I say this with regard to pets is that there were jeeps, trucks and 4x4s driving past occasionally during the night and they FLY down the gravel roads. We were not at all bothered by it - they’re out there having a good time enjoying the mountains and forests in their way just like we are but just keep your doggos and cattos close 🐾

The roads are gravel and they are pitchy and rutted in areas. Some roads have a several inches droop off too but our bus did great through it. If you pay attention and arrive in daylight you’re absolutely fine. There are VERY few spots to turn around and to take the loop is several miles of gravel road out of the way so just look at the satellite on maps, take it slow and enjoy the view. We only had the time to stay one night but we will absolutely be back. CAUTION: elevation is 7500ft. If you are prone to altitude sickness be wary. You ascend from about 5000 to 7000 pretty quickly. Other than that watch the weather. The roads flood and wash out with rain from the mountains so be alert and plan accordingly and you will be fine. ENJOY and remember to LEAVE NO TRACE 🫶🏻

The road into the campgrounds are very rough, small cars are not advised. There are only 10-14 sites available (first come first serve) depending what time of the year you arrive, since a pair of endangered owls nest between some of the campsites for a few months and will have the sites closed down. Be cautious of the stage of fire alert going on, when I went no campfires were allowed so I used a propane stove.

The surrounding areas are beautiful and a family of deer made appearances regularly. Also its free, so it was nice to avoid a hotel cost for the night.

The cons are that its hard to reach camp due to rough roads, very few campsites, and it seems the local teenagers really enjoy partying and screaming at all hours of the night. I assume you're better off on a weekday when all the kids are still in school.

We opted to come up Schnebly Hill Rd from the west side (downtown Sedona). If you take this approach, a 4x4 with high clearance is a must. Bonus if you have some off-roading experience. There were some pretty gnarly rock patches that required some skill to traverse safely (thanks to my husband!) We camped at two different spots along the road on consecutive nights. Both nights were relatively quiet with only a few vehicles passing. Secluded, quiet, beautiful, flat - overall the perfect dispersed camping spots! If you drive in from the I-17 side, the spots get really sweet about 5-6 miles in. Not suitable for RVs but perfect for RTT or tent camping