Primitive camping near Waddell, Arizona offers public land sites situated in the transition zone between Sonoran Desert lowlands and the central Arizona highlands. Elevations range from 1,300 to 2,800 feet, creating temperature variations that can differ by 15°F between sites. Winter temperatures average 45-70°F during day with overnight lows sometimes reaching freezing, particularly at higher elevation sites.
What to do
Hiking and exploration: Near Saddle Mountain BLM, campers can find excellent terrain for day hikes. "We road our E bikes all over and did some agate hunting with wonderful success!" reports one visitor to the area.
Wildlife viewing: The remote camping areas provide opportunities to observe desert wildlife in natural habitats. At Old Airstrip Camping & Staging Area, a camper noted, "We had our two dogs with us and just kept them on the leash so we had no negative cactus experiences... Overall, a really cool place to be even if you don't have an OHV."
Night sky viewing: The desert dispersed sites offer excellent stargazing with minimal light pollution. "Stargazing is spectacular. You won't regret it!" commented a visitor to Saddle Mountain BLM area.
What campers like
Desert isolation: Many campers appreciate the solitude available at these sites. At Maddock Road Dispersed, one reviewer commented, "If you drive to the back, off new river road, you can find less people and traffic."
Desert landscapes: The uniqueness of the Sonoran Desert environment attracts many visitors. One camper at Saddle Mountain BLM described it as having "Beautiful Sunsets & Sunrises. Stargazing is spectacular."
Wildlife encounters: Dispersed Camping off Hwy 74 offers natural animal sightings. A visitor mentioned, "Awoke to WONDERFUL hot air balloons, cactus and mountains… after sunrise! What a sight!"
What you should know
Permit requirements: Arizona State Trust lands and some BLM areas require specific permits. For Bulldog Canyon, "Easy to get a permit from the ranger station. Just email your name, address, phone number and driver's license number to sm.fs.mesa_ohs@usda.gov and you'll get your permit within 2 days for free."
Site access limitations: Road conditions can restrict vehicle access. One camper at Old Airstrip Camping noted, "Nice enough place for dispersed camping, but requires a very bumpy drive to get there."
Site closures: Some previously popular dispersed camping areas are being closed. A recent review of Dispersed Camping off Hwy 74 stated, "Unfortunately, the state has closed this area down. Brand new 'No Motor Vehicle' signs installed."
Seasonal variations: Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F, making winter the primary camping season. A visitor to Dispersed Camping off Hwy 74 observed, "The temps are a little cooler because of the proximity to Lake Pleasant."
Tips for camping with families
Wildlife education opportunities: Desert camping provides teaching moments about desert ecology. At Boulders OHV Area, a visitor mentioned, "Miles of desert and washes to explore with tons of dispersed camping sites. Can get busy on holiday or event weekends but worth it otherwise."
Choose sites based on activity levels: Different areas have varying levels of recreational vehicle traffic. One camper at Maddock Road Dispersed noted, "Quiet weekdays, loud weekends due to motor vehicles breaking the rules. (Not a ohv area but treated as such)."
Safety considerations: The desert environment requires specific precautions. A camper at Old Airstrip Camping noted, "All the cacti so close is a bit hazardous for pets and small children, my dog already got spines in her paws."
Tips from RVers
Level sites available: Many areas offer suitable terrain for larger vehicles. At North Castle Hot Springs Road Camp, a camper reported, "Excellent... Lots of room, flat, and just off a paved road."
Road condition assessment: Access roads vary significantly in quality. An RVer at Saddle Mountain BLM advised, "Like any time your looking for a site, park in a safe place and search by either foot or in my case ebike. I have found the last couple roads in on the far west to be the smoothest."
Size considerations: Site accessibility varies based on vehicle size. Another Saddle Mountain BLM visitor noted, "Sites here can accommodate the big rigs, but the smaller you are the more options you have."
Connectivity reports: Cell service is important for many RVers. A visitor to Old Airstrip Camping reported, "Really good cell phone service (Verizon - I got 3-4 bars of 4G, which got me 75+ mb/s download speed)."
