Best Dispersed Camping near Wellton, AZ

We drove pretty far out Mittry Lake Road to the “free camping” spot labeled on Google maps. There are lots of other dispersed spots on the way in (but we’re full) and a big dispersed camping lot with parking spots as well. This is a busy area with lots of folks around. Everyone was respectful when we were here but don’t expect too much solitude or privacy. Road in is in great shape, packed gravel. Lots of the camp spots are dirt. Beautiful sunsets and lots of birds chirping. A very lovely spot to be…but with lots of company.

It is a flat/semi-flat area that is north of the VFW building on BLM land. Drive around the west side of the VFW. VFW has nothing to do with the BLM land. There is a 14 day limit stay with a "camp host" (which was not there). Yuma is about 12 miles away.

Drive in road fairly smooth, slightly nartow in some areas. I only went in about 6 miles to marker 60. I saw 4 Sherriff's vehicles coming out on my way in. Makes the area feel safer. Camp areas were spaced far apart and some were fairly large. The first two miles in from the main road is BLM land. Many large camp areas there that could even handle group gatherings.

This gravel graded road crosses about 3 miles of BLM before you get to the KOFA NWR boundary. This BLM area is flat and has more room to spread out on the desert pavement fingers, plus a closeby cell tower gives 5 bars signal. Pure free boondocking, no water, no trash cans, no toilets. But the strong cell signal is the main draw here for boondockers. If you go too far into the NWR and get behind a low ridgeline, you will lose the cell tower signal.

This an excellent place for a stopover especially if you are heading south through the algodones border crossing. Although you can hear traffic it’s not intrusive. 5 minutes east of the 95 just north of the border patrol check point. It’s dispersed camping, flat, no shade. It has nice views of the surrounding mountains. The one thing to be on the lookout for is the tiny red cactus that is abundant.

This is a popular LTVA due to water, RV dump and proximity to a couple lakes to fish or paddle in. The LTVA is large and seems to be mapped into a bunch of user named "neighborhoods". Cell signal depends on your location. No designated sites, no tables, no steel fire rings...just spread out boondocking with 1000 other campers. Lots of solar setups out here.

This campground is part of the long-term visitor area by imperial dam outside of the Yuma proving ground.

You turn off 95 into the east Imperial Dam road. You'll feel like you were turning onto an army base because you go betweentwo large pieces of military hardware and I decided the road. Then on your left you will see the human proving ground visitor center with examples of military hardware dating from world War II on. And interesting stop. See pictures and video.

The road has recently been reasshphalted and is actually smooth. Last year it was not. You will turn left at the sign for the Christian center. That spot has fresh highly filtered water for sale, propane, help with solar panels, a postal box you can use all season for your mail, and a little thrift store. You can also store your RV or ATV or boat there for $30 a month. Year-round.

The camping spot is back out the road on a ridge overlooking the lake. It does get windy in January, hence the name hurricane ridge.

Across from the campsite at the senator wash area is a dump station, huge trash bins with weekly pickup, portable water for your water tanks, toilets with running water and the check-in station to get your 7-month pass. They also set up a free table where people drop things they no longer need and also a library that is pretty well stocked with books and puzzles. Pay showers are available at the Squaw Lake campground just past the senator wash boat ramp.

FREE & SPACIOUSNESS! Lots of places to park without being on top of the neighbors. Closest camper is over 400 yards away. Great views in all directions and only 3.5 miles to Palm Canyon. PC is the ONLY place in AZ where Palm trees are native. Apparently they have been growing in this secluded spot since this whole area was under water. Think of the song "Beach Front Property in Arizona".... Anyway, something cool to see. It's less than 4 miles off AZ-95 on a dirt road followed by a 1/2 mile VERY EASY hike from the parking area.

There are different sections to the area...LTVA and special BLM. Know where you are... look at maps and talk to the rangers/volunteers....although they weren't super helpful. Different passes for different areas.

Cell service is strong during the day, perfect for remote work, but at 3-4pm good luck!

Views from the bluff are spectacular! But with the elevation comes Very stong winds. 60 mph sustained winds pummeled us for +24 hours...damaged the slide covers... so beware!

Located South of Q Casino on way to boarder crossing. No amenities. Just a great place to park for free. Casino charges $10/nite for exact same amenities.

I didn't choose to park right next to the lake but was on the other side of the dirt road. Real nice place to relax, camp out, ride my bike, all for free. Felt very safe and had no issues during the stay. Its close to town if needed also. Never saw bugs and wind was pretty calm

March 23, 2018

Mittry Lake

North of Yuma, AZ

This was a quick, overnight stop on the way to somewhere after taking care of some business in Yuma. The lake is part of a system of small reservoirs on the lower Colorado River backed up by Martinez Dam and is heavily used winter visitors (snowbirds) in RV’s.

The RV’s are necessary since the camping area, while free of charge and worth it, is not overloaded with amenities. The lake has dumpsters and boat ramps but not much else besides a place to park. Parking is first come, first served and I would expect at the height of winter in the East this place gets very full since it was well-populated when I arrived.

Mostly it is a place to spend time on the cheap or the locals to drop a boat in the water for slow-speed recreation. Tried fishing from the shore and while fishing is always good, the catching is variable, in this case, nuttin.

If you are camping with an RV, Mittry Lake would be a lovely place to spend a few days between October and April, not so much in summer.

My first time here we arrived a week before our friend group to secure a good location before the busy thanksgiving weekend and we were the only ones out by the dunes, but the ice cream truck still managed to find us! 😂

There are a lot of regulars who come to the dunes for group camping, and some of them have incredible set-ups, our neighbors rolled in with an 18 wheeler filled with side-by-sides, a flatbed filled with quads, and a hauler filled with bikes, along with 6 big rig RV’s.

This place isn’t actually free you need to buy either a weekly or season pass which runs from November to April ($35 or $150) and the longest you can stay is two weeks without moving your set-up. You can buy a pass at any ATV store or shop, but there is no way to buy one once you’re out here. Rangers and border patrol make the rounds to make sure everyone has a pass, and obeys all ATV rules on the dunes and sand drags.

There is trash at the entrance, slightly inside are toilets. Cell phone service is 5 stars (we work from our RV and had no issues), you can pay to dump and fill up water at the RV park a couple miles from here. The sand is soft, heavy rigs may need to air down.

This is not only a beautiful place, it is also a way of life, and a must do for anyone with a way to get out into the dunes.