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Best Dispersed Camping near Payson, AZ

429 Reviews

Dispersed camping is widespread throughout the Tonto National Forest near Payson, Arizona, with numerous free sites along forest roads. Little Green Valley, FR414, and the Mogollon Rim offer established dispersed camping areas with varying levels of accessibility. Most sites are primitive with no amenities, requiring visitors to follow leave-no-trace principles. Several locations feature fire rings from previous use, though fires are not permitted at all sites, particularly during dry seasons and fire restrictions.

Access roads range from paved highways to rough dirt trails requiring high-clearance vehicles. Little Green Valley features relatively well-maintained roads that most vehicles can navigate, while roads along the Mogollon Rim may present challenges during wet weather. Many dispersed sites are positioned near FR414, which has gravel surfaces suitable for larger rigs at the entrance areas, though conditions deteriorate further in. Campers must pack in all supplies and pack out all waste, as no services are available at these primitive sites.

The camping experience varies by location, with Mogollon Rim sites providing dramatic views across the landscape. Little Green Valley sites offer pine forest settings with access to small streams. Some areas experience moderate traffic noise from nearby highways, though sites further from main roads provide greater seclusion. "Great spots even for larger RVs. Very quiet but it will fill up depending on season/day of week. Beware monsoons if you have 2wd," notes one visitor to Little Green Valley. Another camper at FR414 mentioned, "There are many sites along this road with good access even for large rigs. The fire road in is gravel and fairly well maintained. Many sites are pull thru and most have fire rings."

Best Dispersed Sites Near Payson, Arizona (138)

    1. Little Green Valley - NF405A Dispersed

    9 Reviews
    Sun Valley, AZ
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 474-7900

    "This is a beautiful spot off AZ state highway 260. Roads are a bit bumpy, and they have some shallow water crossings. Rvs and campers can make it in with relative ease."

    "This is just a dirt road off of the highway."

    2. FR414 Dispersed Camp Site

    7 Reviews
    Payson, AZ
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 474-7900

    "There are many sites along this road with good access even for large rigs. The fire road in is gravel and fairly well maintained. Many sites are pull thru and most have fire rings."

    "The access to the forest road is easy off main roads. It is an unpaved road which is fairly rutted out in parts. Probably best to avoid when raining. The site is remote with beautiful views."

    3. FS 609 - Dispersed Camping

    15 Reviews
    Strawberry, AZ
    16 miles
    Website

    "I'd recommend driving further in to be away from the noise of the highway. I saw some reviews saying the gate was closed, but it was open when we were there in July 2022."

    "Car camped with the dog. The area was nice and the spots had fire rings. Maybe a little rocky for tent camping so bring a rake."

    4. Molitor Spot Along Rim Road - Dispersed

    9 Reviews
    Pine, AZ
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 527-3600

    "What a great dispersed camp site! Do not pull of at the first site. Keep driving along the rim and you’ll find the perfect spot for you with an amazing view."

    "We arrived around noon on Friday, and within an hour or two there were two others who arrived--but thankfully turned around to find another spot.  "

    5. Bear Canyon Lake and Camping Area

    21 Reviews
    Forest Lakes, AZ
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 535-7300

    "Bear Canyon campground and lake located off AZ260 north east of payson."

    "The lake is not very easily accessible for camping but it's an easy hike down for fishing, photography, and simply enjoying nature. Keep your eyes peeled, you may spot a bald eagle."

    6. Milk Ranch Point Road

    6 Reviews
    Pine, AZ
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 477-2255

    "Not a steep drop off so safe for having dogs around very windy im assuming bc of the location. Dirt road coming in but not bad at all. Easy to get our travel trailer in and out."

    "No amenities, so pack out what you bring in. Decent cell service."

    7. Dispersed Camping - Rd 6107 near Mogollon Rim

    2 Reviews
    Pine, AZ
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 477-2255

    "We selected this dispersed campsite from the Dyrt review for our inaugural trip with our new travel van.  The view below the Mogollon Rim is breathtaking.  "

    "You have access to multiple lakes that you may fish out of and plenty of campsites."

    8. NF-414 Dispersed Site - Tonto NF

    2 Reviews
    Payson, AZ
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 474-7900

    9. Pine Dispersed

    3 Reviews
    Pine, AZ
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 474-7900

    "Right off the highway. You can hear some of the traffic but it wasn’t a big deal to us. The dirt roads are decently kept and wasn’t too rough of a ride."

    "Along a mountain side there are 3-4 sites in close proximity however still kinda private. Established fire pits. Great tall trees for hammocks, flat rock base in some areas."

    10. Payson Rim Dispersed

    2 Reviews
    Pine, AZ
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 477-2255

    "Arguably some of the best in Arizona. We rolled in around 6:30 pm and were still able to find a prime spot without competition."

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Payson, AZ

429 Reviews of 138 Payson Campgrounds

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 2, 2024

    Schoolhouse Point Dispersed

    Free Lakeside camping

    Pretty, dispersed camping near schoolhouse Point in Roosevelt lake. On the road down to the state campground there are two dispersed camping areas on the left easily visible on the left side, (the gps point may not be accurate, I made it after I left) if you pass both there's an easy turn around at the boat ramp even for big rigs. Some dips coming off the paved road but very easy access overall, might be tight for really big rigs. Probably 20+ sites at each of the two pull offs, most have fire rings and decent shade. Couple minutes drive to the boat ramp at schoolhouse Point which has bathrooms, dumpsters, and both drive in and walk-in lake access. Currently (as of 3/24) no potable water even at the paid campground at the end of the road, you can either pump from the lake if you have a filter or Tonto national monument about 10min up the road has a water spigot before the pay gate. 14 day limit per usual for national forests but a really lovely spot to call home for a while! Lots of great hiking nearby as well as swimming and boating on the lake

  • Nolan S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 9, 2019

    Bear Canyon Lake and Camping Area

    Bear Canyon

    Bear Canyon campground and lake located off AZ260 north east of payson. Near Woods Canyon lake(larger and more accessible), and Knoll lake(smaller than Bear Canyon)

    Bear Canyon campground is easily accessible and free. No reservations. No water/electric hookups. No picnic tables. No trash service-pack it in, pack it out. It will fill up on weekends during the summer as the weather is so temperate. We came up on a weekday and stayed to the beginning of the weekend and it wasn’t too crowded.

    Pros: The weather was amazing. High of 75-78 in the day and high 40’s at night. There was a constant breeze which kept it cool and fresh feeling. The lake is a short hike(0.2 miles) from the trailhead. And provides good fishing from the shore. There is plenty of free firewood’s around; just bring a saw and splitting axe. Near the Rim and other lakes (Woods Canyon and Knoll). Pit toilets were a far walk depending on where you camped but they were clean.

    Cons: This entire area is very rocky! We have a pop up but I can’t imagine tent camping without an air mattress. Each campsite maybe has a fire pit and that’s it. Boats and Kayaks would be a real challenge to bring down and up as the trail is very steep, rocky, and loose.

    Overall, we were disappointed that we were unable to use our kayaks but the weather make up for it and it was a great, relaxing trip.

  • Harriet D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 16, 2023

    Superstition Mountains -- Dispersed Sites along Hwy 88

    Not great for tent campers!

    Beautiful area, but I would only recommend it for high clearance vehicles and people who are NOT tent camping. The ground is very rocky and we couldn't find a great place to get a tent staked down in the windy conditions, so we left. Minimal coverage from wind and sun or for bathroom use. 

    Keep in mind that AZ-88 is CLOSED to motor vehicles slightly after Tortilla Trailhead, so you cannot get to Roosevelt Lake easily from here. There are pit toilets at the road closure area and you can turn around easily there.

  • Sonja T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 29, 2025

    Manan Spring on Forest Road 135

    Pretty quiet camping off N Lake Mary Rd

    We tried finding some dispersed camping near Payson though all of the sites we visited were full. We ended up 35 miles south of Flagstaff off FS 135. After having to leave Payson we arrived very late at night. At the base of the campsite there were a lot ofvRVs set up. This was technically the FS 135 dispersed site. However we continued in for about 3 miles to the Mahan Ranch site. We got lucky and found an empty site off FS135 and FS135B. We spent a ptetty quiet week there at the base of Hutch Mountain. The next morning we found quite a bit of trash around the site. We cleaned it up and packed everything out when we headed out. There are quite a few cows in the area so watch where you step. OHV traffic wasn't too bad, much quieter than our stay at Badger Flats in Colorado. Folks were friendly and passing on the narrow roads was easy. The entire campsite was pretty quiet, a couple of generators off in the distance. Pretty much the loudest part of the stay was tge cows, lol.

    Where we setup there were maybe 5 sites along the 3 mile stretch of 135B. Plenty of RV sites closer to the highway. After our week there may have been about 50 or more larger RVs setup in the msin area near Lake Mary Rd. Sedona, Flagstaff, Cottonwood were the major cities webused for water and food. Each within an hour drive. The FS roads were fairly smooth, our Hyundai Santa Cruz had no issues. But DO watch out for small stumos near the edge of the roads and for Deer and Elk. For us cell service with ATT/Cricket was NONEXISTENT. We had to get up to about mile marker 315 on Lake Mary Rd or into Mormon Lake. Service heading into Sedona and Cottonwood along Stoneman Lake Road was unavailable until we got within a mile of I17. Of course cell services was decent in Flagstaff, Sedona and Cottonwood. Spotty coming diwn 89A from Flagstaff into Oak Creek.

    I gee up in the area in the 80s, much has changed, Sedona is quite a bit larger with a ton of traffuc, prices are also very high. Lunch at McDonald's ran us $35 for two people and shopping at Bashas in Sedona put a big dent in our food Budget. Water in Flag, Sedona Nd Cottonwood was around 50 cents a gallon at automated machines. We found the General Store in Mormon Lake to be the best place to refill at 20 cents a gallon. They even have laundry and bathrooms at the Lodge. No trash servuce though, they ask you to oack it out, the dumpster was reserved for the paid sites at the lodge. Though the Lake Mary recreation area about 5 miles north had a large dumpster to use.

  • Nolan S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 10, 2019

    Mesquite Wash Dispersed

    Mesquite Wash/Sycamore Creek

    Mesquite Wash is located approximately 20 miles northeast of Fountain Hills, Arizona. Follow the Bee Line Highway, SR 87, a few miles past the Four Peaks turn off. Watch for the Mesquite Wash sign. The main area is on the west side of the highway and is used primarily by off road vehicles. The east side of the highway is quieter and has several pull offs available for dispersed camping.

    There are no facilities; no restrooms, hookups, or trash. Pack it in, pack it out. The best time to go is in the winter months but with the weather being pretty fair it’s not too bad. You can have a fire but it depends on fire danger for the day. Pretty much if it’s hot and or dry, you won’t be able to have a fire.

    It is free and first come first serve, although there are plenty of spots to go around!

    All that being said, this is one of the most beautiful spots in the Sonoran desert! There are so many amazing views! Great for hiking or off roading.

    Side note: Please clean up after yourself! Forest Service has put so many restrictions on this area because people leave their trash out there.

  • Greg L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 14, 2025

    Aqua Fria National Monument

    Aqua Fria exit 259 dispersed

    Exit 259, Bloody Basin road. Aqua Fria national monument, free dispersed camping. Access Road is good graveled down to first left. some great spots only a short distance up that side road. hey noise is moderate.

    this exit is much better than exit 256 to badger springs Aqua Fria, less hey noise, more large camp sites and huge views

  • Gillian C.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 31, 2021

    Bear Willow Road Dispersed Camping

    Highly Used Dispersed Camping

    Dispersed camping off dirt roads. Highly Used but still space for privacy. Fire restrictions in the summer. No cell service. Some groups were loud and some vehicle traffic throughout the night. Sites are not numbered, just camp near the road. Check out Woods Canyon Lake on the way in!

  • Ariel & John W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 12, 2020

    Tonto National Forest Dispersed Camping at Lake Roosevelt

    Great boondocking on Roosevelt Lake

    One of our all-time favorite boondocking spots. There are many forests roads off 188 on the southern shore of Lake Roosevelt where dispersed camping is allowed. Some have spectacular views of the lake but are high up and difficult to get to. We found the most easily accesible dispersed camping off Forest Rd 83 between the national monument and little town of Roosevelt. There are large level sites here right off the forest road. As you go further up the forest road, sites get smaller but more private.

    This is all working open range with lots of stock. We woke up many mornings to cattle rooting through our stuff and one morning to a real roundup with cowboys on horses. Amazing. There are lots if Saguaro and jumping Cholla cactus around as well as rattlers and scorpions so be alert.

    We stayed nearly three weeks here and will go back. Lots to do around and across the lake.

    No amenities but there is a dumpster at the head of FS83. Otherwise nearest towns are Punkin Center to the west and Roosevelt to the east, Globe being the nearest large town about 40 min away.

    Note there is also dispersed camping off 88 along the Salt River, also worth taking s look. No cell service along 88, no amenities and roads get much more steep and difficult.

  • J
    Jul. 21, 2022

    FS 609 - Dispersed Camping

    Perfect Getaway

    I was very skeptical about visiting this campsite at first, because I felt the information that I could find online was minimal. After visiting, however, I would definitely recommend this campsite to anyone. It was spacious enough to spread out from other campers. It was lovely to be right in the middle of the forest. I'd recommend driving further in to be away from the noise of the highway. I saw some reviews saying the gate was closed, but it was open when we were there in July 2022. Important things to note: This campground is located in the Coconino National Forest, please follow their rules and fire restrictions. No reservations are necessary for this campground. We found service to be a little spotty, but not impossible. Dogs are allowed. The turn in was pretty subtle, so definitely keep an eye out for it and use Google Maps over Apple Maps, because Apple Maps has no idea where this site is! All in all, I would visit again!

Guide to Payson

Dispersed camping near Payson, Arizona generally requires high-clearance vehicles for best site access. The terrain sits at elevations between 5,000-7,500 feet along the Mogollon Rim, creating dramatic temperature drops after sunset even in summer months. Most areas have no cell service beyond the main highways, with best connectivity reported at Milk Ranch Point Road dispersed sites.

What to do

Fishing at nearby lakes: Bear Canyon Lake offers fishing opportunities with relatively less crowding than other area lakes. "The lake itself doesn't have 'beach' area per se. It's quite rocky but for the nimble it's not too bad and there are lots of flat rocks to sit on," notes one visitor to Bear Canyon Lake and Camping Area.

Hiking to swimming holes: Several trails lead to natural water features during spring and early summer. "It also has a 7 mile hike to a place called Hells gate that has a swimming hole at the end of the hike. Lotta weekenders come up and hike up there," shares a camper from Little Green Valley.

Stargazing at rim viewpoints: The elevation and distance from urban areas creates exceptional night sky viewing. "The stars... I mean, wow! The starry sky at night was one of the best we've seen anywhere, just stunning," reports a visitor to Molitor Spot Along Rim Road.

Wildlife observation: Dawn and dusk offer opportunities to spot elk, deer, and wild turkeys. "We had a recurring group of curious cattle since we were right next to their water hole," reports a camper at FS 609 - Dispersed Camping.

What campers like

Canyon views: Many campers seek out rim-edge sites for dramatic vistas. "We selected this dispersed campsite from the Dyrt review for our inaugural trip with our new travel van. The view below the Mogollon Rim is breathtaking," notes a visitor to Dispersed Camping - Rd 6107 near Mogollon Rim.

Cooler temperatures: The higher elevation provides relief from Phoenix heat, often 15-20 degrees cooler. "Easy 20 min drive on FR 300 off of route 87. SUV or above can handle it. Enough room for two cars. Fantastic views of the rim, and the sunrise was absolutely incredible," shares a camper at Molitor Spot.

Seclusion from crowds: Many dispersed sites offer privacy despite popularity. "This is definitely a great place to come to if you want solitude," writes a camper about FS 609. Another notes about Little Green Valley - NF405A Dispersed: "This is just a dirt road off of the highway. I saw another review that said there was some road noise, but if you keep following the road back, there is campsites all the way along it and it gets very peaceful and quiet."

Established fire rings: Most sites have existing rings from previous use. "Off Rim Road this windy rocky road leads you to breath taking views! Along a mountain side there are 3-4 sites in close proximity however still kinda private. Established fire pits. Great tall trees for hammocks, flat rock base in some areas," reports a visitor to Pine Dispersed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best dispersed camping areas near Payson, Arizona?

The Payson area offers excellent dispersed camping options in the Tonto National Forest. Bear Willow Road Dispersed Camping provides privacy despite being popular, with sites situated along dirt roads near Woods Canyon Lake. For those seeking spectacular views, Rim Road offers beautiful scenery right off the highway with numerous spots about a mile into the woods. Other noteworthy options include Bear Canyon Lake (northeast of Payson off AZ260), West Clear Creek with its nearby trailhead, and various spots along the Mogollon Rim. Most sites are first-come, first-served, so arriving early during peak seasons is recommended.

Is free camping allowed year-round in Payson, AZ?

Free dispersed camping is generally allowed year-round in the Tonto National Forest surrounding Payson, but with important seasonal limitations. Bear Canyon Lake and Camping Area is free with no reservations required, though higher elevation sites may be inaccessible during winter snowfall. West Clear Creek Dispersed Camping offers free camping but implements fire restrictions during summer months. Most dispersed sites have a 14-day stay limit within a 30-day period. Always check current forest conditions before your trip, as seasonal fire restrictions, weather events, or forest closures may temporarily limit camping opportunities. The Forest Service occasionally changes policies, so verify current regulations at the Payson Ranger District office.

What amenities are available at dispersed camping sites near Payson?

Dispersed camping sites around Payson are truly primitive with minimal to no amenities. Tonto National Forest Dispersed Camping at Lake Roosevelt provides spectacular lake views but no facilities. Similarly, at Mesquite Wash Dispersed, you'll find undeveloped areas without water or electric hookups. Most sites lack picnic tables, trash service, restrooms, and potable water. Some areas may have informal fire rings, but seasonal fire restrictions are common, especially in summer. Cell service ranges from limited to nonexistent in most locations. Campers should prepare to be entirely self-sufficient with adequate water, waste disposal methods, and proper equipment for leave-no-trace camping.

Do I need a 4WD vehicle to access dispersed camping areas around Payson?

Vehicle requirements vary significantly across Payson's dispersed camping areas. Bloody Basin Rd / Agua Fria NM Dispersed Camping is accessible with standard vehicles - even minivans and sedans can reach many camping spots when conditions are dry. In contrast, Superstition Mountains -- Dispersed Sites along Hwy 88 is recommended only for high-clearance vehicles due to rocky terrain. While some areas like Schoolhouse Point and sites near main forest roads are generally accessible with 2WD vehicles in good weather, road conditions can deteriorate after rain or snow. For remote sites on forest service roads or those at higher elevations along the Mogollon Rim, high clearance or 4WD is strongly recommended, especially during wet conditions.

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