Looking for the best dispersed camping near Paulden? Dispersed camping means that no facilities or amenities are provided, so that you can truly disconnect and get back to nature. Each dispersed site offers quick access to one or more of Paulden's most popular destinations.
The Kaibab National Forest truly offers something for everyone. If you are anywhere near Northern Arizona, you won't want to miss the chance to visit us! From canyons to prairies, peaks to plateaus, the Kaibab National Forest offers layers of opportunity for peace, solitude & discovery. Whether you are seeking a primitive, dispersed camping experience or something with a few more amenities, Kaibab National Forest has lots of camping opportunities and the option to rent historic cabins.
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].
This spot is located in the Prescott Basin. The Prescott Basin is an area immediately south and west of Prescott, Arizona and encompasses approximately 59,000 acres (about 4% of the Prescott National Forest). Dispersed camping is camping outside of developed campgrounds. In contrast to camping in developed campsites, dispersed camping is more primitive, and generally has no amenities such as trash collection, water or toilets. A map of the area can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3797787.pdf
Dispersed camping is camping outside of developed campgrounds. In contrast to camping in developed campsites, dispersed camping is more primitive, and generally has no amenities such as trash collection, water or toilets.
The Prescott Basin is an area immediately south and west of Prescott, Arizona and encompasses approximately 59,000 acres (about 4% of the Prescott National Forest).
Prescott Basin has a high percentage of wildland-urban interface, a mixture of undeveloped and developed land. The popularity of the Prescott Basin, has contributed to resource impacts such as accelerated soil erosion, damage or loss of vegetation, displaced wildlife, increased fire risk, and accumulation of trash and human waste.
To help prevent unacceptable resource damage from dispersed camping, Forest Service resource managers have designated sites, established stay limits, and limits on building and maintaining campfires.
Guide
This was our first time boondocking in the forest of Williams, AZ. A friend told us about the free dispersed camping along Dog Town Rd. which is only about 5 miles outside of the cute town of Williams. There are many spots available to boondocks amidst the cool pines and forest. Tent camping, RV's, 4x4s, were everywhere. We give this area 4 stars only because recent logging in the area left some areas with ugly burn piles and stacks of burned wood. Otherwise, it was a great location.
Close to the Grand Canyon, Bearizona, Route 66, Dog Town Lake, Coleman Lake, Flagstaff, Lava Tubes Cave, Deer Park
Traveler
We stayed at dispersed camping spot number 8. Very secluded with a hiking trail right off of it. Easy to get to with our van. Very private spot.
Traveler
Just a nice dispersed camping spot, easy access off the main road, and not too far out of Sedona. Loved this spot!
Traveler
Corroborate the most recent reviews. Giving it a 3 becuz we've had such gr8 times there and last time showed up at nite to discover all the spread out dispersed sites were now mining claims but we stayed anyway. Not all the sites have signs stating (as of Aug 22) the mining claim, but are blocked off by rocks. Def a hassle to park so far away from where u would wanna camp. Obvs ur own discretion. Did prompt some reading on mining claims on federal land blm land and it seems pretty screwed. Jus the thought they might be destroying this beautiful location for whatever mining purpose, also not good cuz it's so close to ancient cliff dwellings. Truly still wildin in the west when it comes to mining.
Traveler
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
Guide
Dispersed camping down a long, dirt road overlooking beautiful canyon and Sedona red rock. Rock fire rings at some sites, but signs indicated camp fires were not allowed. This is a very popular camping spot, so arrive early or try to camp during the week. Off-road vehicle recommended. We encountered many mosquitoes and bees, so bring big spray.
Traveler
Road is well maintained, plenty of dispersed camping spots. We have a 26 ft class c RV and there was plenty of spots for us. There were a lot of ATVs and dirt bikes which were pretty noisy but other than that this place was great. Verizon and ATT both have cell service. 1-2 bars of LTE.
Guide
Great dispersed camping spot close to Sedona!
Heads up we camped a little further down on Beaverhead Rd where there were more open spots and an easier dirt road to drive onto. Plenty of spots to choose from which was surprising on a holiday week (Christmas to New Years). The camping was a lot quieter than I expected even though there were a bunch of other campers. Everyone seemed to be able to find a spot far enough from another to have a secluded space.
The location is super convenient from Oak Village and downtown Sedona. There is even a back way on highway 89 if you find yourself in West Sedona and don't want to drive through traffic to get to highway 179.
Guide
Secluded dispersed camping in the woods just outside of the town Crown King. 4x4 is recommended, campsites are not accessible when snowfall has occurred. Beautiful wildlife including deer always nearby.
Legend
Boondocking off a forest rd. There are a number of camping spots off a forest rd. Most are level. Good cell reception. There's a lake that has a nice trail and campground.
LegendWe stopped here for the night after spending all day in Sedona. Sedona turned out to be incredibly crowded and busy when we were there, and there was no room for us anywhere even to pull over and park somewhere. Definitely not the mystical healing relaxing place I'd heard so much about.
We thought at least if Sedona was a disappointment, hopefully the surrounding dispersed camping land would be beautiful. However, all the Forest Service land surrounding Sedona that we thought would be great to boondock on had roads that were way too rough and rutted for us in our 26ft motorhome.
So we stopped here at this spot for the night, at the very beginning of FS Rd 525 (Loy Butte Rd), along with lots of other RVs and vans and busses, and left first thing in the morning. The area was really crowded, but we were pleasantly surprised at how quiet and respectful everyone staying here was.
Good cell reception.
Traveler
Okay so I prefer free camp spots and places that are quiet and tucked away. This place is great. It’s not too far off the paved road but the road does get a bit bumpy once you’re off the paved road. I stayed in site #4 and it was perfect. I did have to pick up some trash left behind but very little. Came here to avoid the heat in Phx and it was still warm but nothing like the valley. And cooler at night which was wonderful. You do hear traffic from the road above but it’s not too bad. There’s a good amount of space from other camp sites so you don’t hear people very much and everyone was quiet once the sun was down. Overall I really enjoyed this spot. Oh and no bathrooms or water which I don’t mind bc it means less people around. And we did have cell service so that was a plus.
Scout
Mostly secluded which is my preference
Shared by boon-dockers
ScoutDispersed camping along this road with a convenient location to Fossil Creek and Wet Beaver Creek trails. The campsite was clean and had a fire ring, no facilities so pack out what you pack in! The one we picked had a great view and the STARS WERE INSANE
TravelerWe hiked from Copper Basin road along the Prescott Circle Trail and camped the night at one of the Thumb Butte dispersed camping sites. The campsites are large and well maintained. We were lucky enough to get the last open campsite for the day, but the sites are far enough apart from others so the area stays pretty quiet. There are fire pit rings at each site, but a fire ban was in place for the summer already.
ScoutHad a great time, dispersed camping, free spot, lots of spots, clean. Just a short drive to some great watering holes. Took a star off because there was no water within walking distance, and not much of a view from our spot. I also took a star off because it was busy and loud.
RangerAbout the same as camping on the west side of the hwy. There’s a ton of traffic, no respect from other campers who blast music, trash the forest, fire off guns at all hours, and overall not a great vibe.
Camped here over 2 days and the land, trees and forest are beautiful all around so IF you can find a secluded area you’ll be ok.
NO CELL service so take that into consideration when dispersed camping
GuideWell, it's free and its a beautiful part of the Prescott Basin, but our campsite #6, was really dirty. We should have jumped out and looked around before setting up camp. We were just so excited to start our trip. Needless to say, after arriving at 6:00pm we left the next morning.
There was a beautiful stream we could hear from our site, but you had pass over wads of used toilet paper, broken beer bottles and empty propane tanks to name a few.
Im hoping it's not always like this, and its quite possible that the people staying there before were just careless. Maybe it's to be a little more expected when dispersed camping, but we couldn't enjoy our time there.
TravelerThis is a nice spot for a free camping trip. There is no bathrooms, there is no place to get water, and as others have said it does get dirty. That being said most people pick up after themselves so most of the sites are clean and the area is quite beautiful. We used this place after we could not get a camping spot in oak creek canyon, and we did notice that it was quite a bit colder than down in the canyon at night. Designated sites were sporadically spaced out so some were close together but there was generally a decent amount of space for each site. It was a busy weekend and there was still plenty of open sites on Saturdaynight, and it looked like most people packed up and left in the morning, so I imagine there's always sites available.
The only real negative was that the sites where people left trash looked destroyed, animals got into the trash bags and made a mess. There was a big party camping just down the way from us who blasted music until 1 AM, and it didn't bother us--the space is wade enough that the music wasn't too loud--but if you like your nature to be more peaceful then you might run into that problem. There was also some people practicing shooting nearby so we could hear the occasional pop-pop-pop in the distance but the area was for the most part peaceful, just families enjoying nature.
If you're looking for a quick and FREE option last minute where you dont have to check in and there aren't too many rules and you don't mind the noise other people make, this is a great spot. Just please pack out your trash.
Scout
Dispersed Camping Sedona
Legend
Easy access to great dispersed camping. Although this is a big area, it’s busy and good spots fill up fast! We were here just after a rainstorm and the road was slippery and muddy. We didn’t have too much trouble in our FWD van but be aware that the road changes drastically in the rain! Stayed for a few days, hiked around and had a lovely stay. Was clean and trash free and everyone was pretty quiet and respectful.
Scout
Rough paved roads, but our Recvan did fine. We saw an Elk, it saw us, we walked back quickly. The surroundings are mainly bushes and rocks. Free camping with total solitude. AT&T and Tmobile both show good service. Verizon is unknown.
Legend
Great place to spend a few nights boondocking outside the city of Prescott. There are 7 campsites and you're allowed to stay 7 days. The road is narrow and bumpy but passable with any van.
ScoutCamped here for two nights in two different spots. Both were great, plenty of distance between me and other campers, quiet and peaceful. There were some motor bikes and ATV’s over the weekend but nothing crazy. Good free camping that is easy to access and peaceful!
Scout
I’ve stayed here twice now and it’s absolutely gorgeous here. Dispersed camping. No trash dumpster. pack in packet out keep it beautiful
Legend
For free camping there aren’t very high expectations but this would be really difficult to get back too if you are in a big rig or don’t have a lot of clearance. The road isn’t well maintained. There was garbage and stuff left everywhere. There was a fire ring and Prescott was really close.
GuideWe were in Sedona Thanksgiving weekend.. either not the brightest idea or Sedona is nearly a tourist trap at this point, despite it being a magical place of beautiful landscape and kind people. After being swarmed by campers at Coconino Forest Dispersed Camping Area, this place is a breath of fresh air. Located in a forest of pine trees. We are pretty much the only people here. We’re allowed a fire. It’s quiet. It’s free. It was only 2 minutes instead of 20 minutes down a rocky dirt road. Thumbs up.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Paulden, Arizona, where nature lovers can find serene spots away from the hustle and bustle. With a variety of locations offering unique experiences, this area is perfect for those looking to immerse themselves in the great outdoors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Paulden, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Paulden, AZ is Kaibab National Forest with a 4.7-star rating from 19 reviews.
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