Dispersed tent camping options surround Wickenburg, Arizona, with sites extending from the Boulders OHV Area to Crown King in the Prescott National Forest. These primitive tent locations offer varying experiences, from desert terrain to higher-elevation pine forests, with many sites sitting between 6,000-7,000 feet in elevation for those seeking relief from summer heat.
Most tent campsites in the Wickenburg region lack developed facilities, with only a few locations providing vault toilets. Sites may be set on dirt, gravel, or desert terrain with minimal grading and no designated tent pads. The Boulders OHV Area provides pit toilets and cleared dirt camping areas accessible to standard vehicles, while higher-elevation sites like those near Crown King require high-clearance 4WD vehicles to navigate rough forest roads. Water is not available at most locations, requiring campers to pack in adequate supplies. Fire regulations vary seasonally, with some areas enforcing strict fire bans during dry periods.
Tent campers frequently find solitude at sites farther from main roads, particularly on weekdays when OHV traffic diminishes. The Enchanted Forest Trail Campsites and Copper Basin areas offer forest surroundings with more shade than lower-elevation options, though recent visitors have noted trash issues requiring extra diligence when selecting a site. Higher-elevation locations provide cooler temperatures during summer months, making them popular retreats from desert heat. Sites near Horsethief Basin Lake offer additional recreational opportunities. One camper described the Crown King area as "peaceful, quiet, serene, and soothing" with "amazing weather all year round," though access becomes extremely limited when snow is present.
"The area to camp is marked clearly with signs and there is a metal fence surrounding the area as well. Pit toilets are here and were cleaned when we used them."
"If you dont mind occasional off road vehicles driving through during the day, its a good spot with plenty of room."
"There’s also a much more difficult trail from lake pleasant that requires very experienced off-roading 4x4). Great food and drinks(alcohol) at the crown king saloon and Mimi’s Cafe."
"The Hazlitt Hollow campground and Horse Thief Basin Lake are ~7 miles from the main city of Crown King and definitely require a high clearance vehicle (4x4 highly recommended)."
"Several fire rings on the site we did not use. Great stay for exploring in the car to Sedona and driving Hwy 89a"
"The sites are close to the dirt road leading up the butte. Lots of hiking, biking trails. Its close to town so very busy with outdoor enthusiasts. Some campsites are cleaner than others."
"Lots of shade but area of sun to charge my batteries. Minimal cell service, but I'm from Colorado and I have Xfinity. I'm pretty sure they use Verizon towers."
"It’s not super level but decent space to maneuver to find your favorite orientation. Our problem was that we operate with Verizon and TMobile."
"We drove to the end and then came back and took a left up a hill next to another campsite! It was a great site and clean. We were presently surprised!"
"Nice trees and trails. Verizon is doable even with the tall pines. Quiet considering the closeness of the campsites"
"Quiet, surrounded by trees, trail’s nearby. You need a little clearance to get into camp 7 but nice to be away from the road."
"I'm still new to this and I only have Quartzsite and Yuma as reference points, but Prescott isn't nearly as user friendly. One of the places I went to didn't exist."
GuideSite 27 is nice, however, you are directly below the power&telephone lines. Sweet forested setting, clean facilities and some hiking trails. Very convenient to Prescott, but you do get road noise from Hwy 89, especially during the day.
TravelerAbsolute shithole! As soon as I pulled in my truck was swarmed with thousands of flies (no exaggeration!) if I hadn’t just traveled from Colorado and was exhausted I would have immediately left. My trailer was then infested with flies as well. It’s going to take days to get rid of the infestation. Despite that, I did give it a two-star rating for the views.
TravelerCampsite 1 was where I stayed. There is a little creek running through the middle of the site. There was a lot of rain and the storm drain from the road empties to this run off. Site is basically cut in half. Road runs around this site so not very private. The area is beautiful and the service road well maintained. Good for a night or two while passing through. 7 night limit. Cell service for Verizon was weak but worked.
ScoutThe road gets progressively rougher as you approach the higher-numbered sites, with significant ruts and rocks that can make trailer access challenging. I had to enter site 17/18 through the neighboring camping area to avoid potentially damaging my truck and trailer.
Site 17/18 is a large, shared camping area with several possible spots, including an elevated area. It's set back far enough from the road that the occasional passing vehicle isn't bothersome. Plenty of large trees provide shade without completely blocking solar exposure.
Unfortunately, there's considerable trash and discarded tarps around sites 17 and 18, and several nearby sites appear to have long-term occupants. This detracts from the camping experience.
On the positive side, I found a reasonably level spot for my trailer without much effort. Site 19, just up the road, looked more appealing.
Overall, a workable dispersed camping location, but the rough access, litter, and atmosphere make this a generous 3 out of 5.
GuideThis is a nice easy spot that is close to town. The camp sites have paved parking, fire ring, bbq pit and a picnic table. If you are looking to set up a ground tent, don’t plan on bringing anything too large. Sites do not offer a lot of privacy but they are decently spaced apart
LegendClose to Pheonix. Spacious sites. Good trails. Clean facilities. Some wildlife.
LegendClose to Pheonix. Spacious sites. Good trails. Clean facilities.
ScoutNice campground, serene with a large cactus next to every spot
ScoutThis campground is nice. Clean bathrooms for being vault toilets. The hosts were very helpful and informative and welcoming
Tent camping around Wickenburg offers dramatic transitions from low-desert terrain to pine-covered mountain landscapes. Elevations range from under 2,000 feet near town to over 7,000 feet in the northern camping areas, creating temperature differences of 15-20 degrees between sites. Winter overnight temperatures in lower elevations average 40°F, making December through March popular for desert campsites, while summer camping concentrates in higher elevations.
Trail exploration: 7+ miles of connected paths through the area surrounding Copper Basin Campsites connect to larger trail networks. "You need a little clearance to get into camp 7 but nice to be away from the road," notes camper darleendamon S., who appreciated the trails nearby and feeling distant from town despite relatively close proximity.
Off-road vehicle recreation: Multiple designated routes across the dispersed camping areas near Wickenburg. The Boulders OHV Area provides direct access to trails. "Miles of desert and washes to explore with tons of dispersed camping sites," writes Caitlin S., adding that "nearby washes lead to tons of trails near castle hot springs that can lead to various abounded mine sites (including Anderson Mill)."
Fishing at high-elevation lakes: Seasonal catch opportunities at locations above 6,000 feet. One visitor to the Crown King area notes, "The lake fish species present include Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, and Muskie" at Horse Thief Lake, offering varied fishing experiences depending on season and elevation.
Year-round accessibility of different sites: Campers can find suitable temperatures by selecting camping areas at different elevations. When camping at FDR79 Trittle Mountain Road, joseph M. found a "Nice forested area in Prescott Forest" with varying site levels, while another camper reports that site 5 offers "decent space to maneuver to find your favorite orientation."
Cell service at select locations: Coverage varies significantly between camping areas. At Enchanted Forest Trail Campsites, one camper reports "Verizon is doable even with the tall pines," while another notes difficulties at other locations: "Unfortunately neither carrier had a good enough signal here for us to spend the week we planned."
Seclusion despite proximity to towns: Many sites feel remote while remaining relatively accessible. "This place is gorgeous the sites are spaced well," writes Chef Rebecca S. about Enchanted Forest, while another camper appreciated site #11 which "was well separated from the other sites."
Road conditions vary dramatically: Many camping areas require high-clearance vehicles. For Crown King Area (Horsethief Basin lake), one visitor explains the challenging access: "This majestic spot is roughly ~26 miles (from Bumble Bee) of bumpy dirt roads, steep terrain, switchbacks, and the occasional one vehicle bridge."
Fire restrictions change seasonally: Check current regulations before arrival. In the Boulders OHV Area, a camper notes it's "GREAT for the fall/winter/spring months" but summer brings additional fire concerns and heat challenges.
Weekend traffic patterns: OHV noise impacts many sites Friday-Sunday. At Copper Basin, one camper warned the road is "some kind of rodeo for fast four wheeling with loud music and louder engines. All night complete with a scream at 2am."
Trash issues at some locations: Recent visitors report deteriorating site conditions. A camper at Enchanted Forest notes, "Unfortunately there's been a lot of homeless and left behind trash when we stay we always leave with bags and bags of trash."
Site selection for safety: Choose established areas with definable boundaries. Boulders OHV Area offers "several fenced in and cleared dirt areas to park and pull through trucks, a camper, tent and car, etc." according to Miriam D.P., making it easier to establish a safe camping zone.
Bring extra water: No reliable water sources exist at most sites. When visiting Boulders OHV Staging Area, Daniel B. found "Huge area to disperse camp with an actual bathroom," but notes that water is not available and must be carried in.
Schedule around OHV activity: Weekday camping offers significantly quieter experiences. "If you dont mind occasional off road vehicles driving through during the day, its a good spot with plenty of room," explains one camper about the Boulders area, though weekends bring considerably more traffic and noise.
Weather preparedness: Temperature swings of 30+ degrees between day and night. One camper describes Crown King area as having "amazing weather all year round, but extremely limited travel available while snow is on the ground."
Site leveling challenges: Few naturally level spots exist in most areas. At Trittle Mountain Road, Ryan experienced challenges: "It's not super level but decent space to maneuver to find your favorite orientation."
Resource planning: Limited services require full self-sufficiency. A visitor to Crown King recommends: "The main city of Crown King has a general store with essentials and a 1 pump fuel station. Prices are steep so best advised to fill up on gas and supplies before heading up."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Wickenburg, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Wickenburg, AZ is Boulders OHV Area with a 4-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Wickenburg, AZ?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Wickenburg, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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