Painted Desert Rim Drive Dispersed Pulloff

Everything other reviewers say about this place is spot on. This run down defunct old county park is rough around the edges, but worth the drive off the interstate for the beauty, peace and quiet.

I’m giving it four stars simply because while its remoteness and scenery is on point, it feels a bit exposed with the highway in sight. We were the only campers there on a Sunday night, and felt a bit like sitting ducks (targets) for anyone with bad intentions driving by. Being the weary travelers we are, we our caution level remained high and on guard….just in case. It’s not a place I would recommend leaving a tent behind as a basecamp.

The highway is far enough away you can hardly hear the occasional car drive by. We didn’t have time to explore, but are super curious as to where to decrepit stairway down the bluffs lead to. The sunset was as others said it would be, with coyotes singing in the distance. Just open your doors facing west and you can sit for hours and hours taking in the wide open views.

Being so exposed high up on a flat ridge, it was a bit breezy. I can imagine it can get extremely windy and sandy during a dust storm.

We will definitely keep this spot on our list of good places to get some zzzzz’s!