Best Dispersed Camping near Littlerock, CA

Dispersed camping zones surround Littlerock, California, primarily on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands and Angeles National Forest areas. Several primitive sites are accessible within a 30-minute drive, including BLM Desert Site, East Mojave Camp, Bell Mountain Road, and Rim of the World Byway. These public lands permit no-fee camping in undeveloped areas with varying levels of seclusion. Angeles Crest Overlook provides roadside pull-offs that accommodate overnight stays, while more remote options extend into desert landscapes east of town.

Access roads to most sites range from paved highways with pullouts to unmaintained dirt roads requiring high-clearance vehicles. Several locations, including Stockton Flats Yellow Post Sites, explicitly recommend 4WD access. "Trail was fun but definitely needed 4x4," notes one camper about Stockton Flats. Most areas lack basic amenities, with no drinking water, restrooms, or garbage service. Fire restrictions apply throughout the region, with complete bans at Angeles Crest and Heaton Flats sites. Camping duration is typically limited to 7-14 days, though enforcement varies by location.

The dispersed sites near Littlerock feature stark desert landscapes transitioning to mountain terrain toward Angeles National Forest. Sites vary considerably in terms of solitude and visitor experience. BLM Desert Site provides desert vistas with minimal traffic, where according to one visitor, "It's a great little secluded spot about 4 miles off the highway in the desert." East Mojave Camp similarly offers isolation but requires preparation. "Very remote, absolutely nothing out there. You can get far enough away from the highway that you don't need to worry about people driving by," reports one camper. Cell service remains inconsistent across the region, with better coverage at higher elevation sites. Roadside locations like Angeles Crest can experience late-night traffic and occasional noisy visitors, especially on weekends.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Littlerock, California (8)

    1. Angeles Crest Overlook to LA

    8 Reviews
    La Cañada Flintridge, CA
    23 miles

    "I loved car camping here! When I stayed, there were no other people who stayed the night, but quite a few people came throughout the night just for 20 minutes at a time or so."

    "Great view but on the weekend we had multiple cars doing donuts really close to our van. I felt uncomfortable with that."

    2. Stockton Flats Yellow Post Sites 3-8

    4 Reviews
    Wrightwood, CA
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (909) 382-2851

    "Great for campers that meet 2 criteria 1) You have a Jeep, Truck it similar vehicle that can go off-road. 2) You enjoy dispersed camping (no water/restrooms etc) If both are yes, this place is amazing"

    "Trail was fun (definitely needed 4x4) and the sites around has good shade and good size open spots. Best to get there early as possible to secure a spot."

    3. Heaton flats

    1 Review
    Mount Baldy, CA
    23 miles
    Website

    4. Rim of the World Byway (near 15 fwy south) Dispersed

    3 Reviews
    Lytle Creek, CA
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (909) 382-2851

    "There were some cars parked near the entrance, but if you go a bit further down alongside the road you can find some nice spots."

    "Easy in and out but next to train tracks. Quick stop friendly ;)"

    6. BLM Desert Site

    4 Reviews
    California City, CA
    44 miles

    "I wasn’t sure when driving out here at night in a minivan, but the dirt road didn’t give me any trouble and I still had some service with Verizon."

    "Away from highway enough. Very windy. Great sunset and sunrise."

    7. Bell Mountain Road

    2 Reviews
    Apple Valley, CA
    44 miles

    "There is some garbage, target shooting in the distance and the occasional maniac driving through too fast and kicking up lots of dust. Generally it was quiet."

    "many Trucks at night. don't drive to the campground just search a space after road ends"

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Littlerock, CA

22 Reviews of 8 Littlerock Campgrounds


  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 13, 2023

    East Mojave Camp

    Very very remote

    Very remote absolutely nothing out there. Definitely somewhere you need to be aware of your surroundings. You can get far enough away from the highway that you don’t need to worry about people driving by. There is nothing out here. The road to it is unmarked and very unmaintained Would definitely recommend high clearance vehicle if you want to be further away then 100 feet from the highway. Lots of wash outs. Beautiful sunrise. We were the only people there.

  • Les R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 29, 2024

    Heaton flats

    Not always allowed

    Camping outside esablished campgrounds within the Angeles National Forest is sometimes prohibited, you have to be on top of reading recently published orders on https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/angeles. Currently, camping is allowed for 7 days or less, see here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/angeles/alerts-notices/?aid=78080 The people I saw camping here looked to have been set up somewhat permanently though. I wouldn't feel comfortable setting up a tent here, but it could be an okay rest area at the beginning/end of the hike to Bridge to Nowhere.

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 10, 2025

    BLM Desert Site

    Great spot

    I wasn’t sure when driving out here at night in a minivan, but the dirt road didn’t give me any trouble and I still had some service with Verizon. It’s a great little secluded spot about 4 miles off the highway in the desert. I missed the sunset but caught a beautiful sunrise.

  • Joseph R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 26, 2024

    Angeles Crest Overlook to LA

    Nope

    It’s basically car camping along the Angeles Crest highway, there’s small pull out spots and, some spots overlooking the forest but kids do tend to party up here and, drive about 100 miles a hour up and, down the road all hours of the night. It can get a bit scary, if you’re alone. Oh cell service non-existent unless you’re closer to the bottom but even then it’s spotty. It’s not a typical campground but it does do the job for a couple days. You will see cars vans along the pull outs coming up but I believe you can car camp on the overlook I have not as I’m more a quiet type person. Be careful though there’s a white van that teams up with a black truck they tried to break in my car while I was sleeping. It is very dangerous and luckily I carry at all times and have cameras.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 10, 2025

    Rim of the World Byway (near 15 fwy south) Dispersed

    Quick stop, nice rocks

    We stayed here for two nights, and it was a pretty pleasant experience! There were some cars parked near the entrance, but if you go a bit further down alongside the road you can find some nice spots. Use Google Maps; Waze takes you the wrong way, cause it's just right off the freeway, not down a long, very bumpy dirt road.

  • J
    May. 27, 2024

    Stockton Flats Yellow Post Sites 3-8

    Prepare the climb; also not for big RVs

    The turn is not marked well, in fact the coordinates are a little bit off. If you miss the turn like we did you have to go 5 miles or more to get a turnabout big enough to turn around. You climb a big steep hill to get to the turn in. On the way back down from the turnaround we almost burned out or brakes. We decided not to go to the site because it looked like a one lane road and too tight for our 35 ft bumper pull. Disappointed because pictures from others looked great and it is a beautiful area. We found a spot near the road that I’ll post for others.

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 16, 2025

    Rim of the World Byway (near 15 fwy south) Dispersed

    Nice stopover for me

    Arrived at 2;30 pm. Windy. I wanted a place where I could let Bella off leach, so I put it in 4 wheel drive to pull my TAB trailer. Found a good spot. I can see other bigger rigs they did not require 4x4. Interesting view. If your headed north on I15 do not take thirst access road. Almost a 4x4 road.

  • Nathaniel C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 6, 2021

    Stockton Flats Yellow Post Sites 3-8

    Great if you have a 4x4

    Specs if this campground are wrong, no toilets/water/etc.

    Great for campers that meet 2 criteria 1) You have a Jeep, Truck it similar vehicle that can go off-road. 2) You enjoy dispersed camping (no water/restrooms etc)

    If both are yes, this place is amazing.

    Deep in nature, beautiful area, no cost and you can almost always find a spot, even on a Saturday in summer.

    If you go the the end of 3N06 (main off-road path) there is a good hike that you can take for several hours.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 24, 2025

    East Mojave Camp

    Off Hwy 58

    Huge ruts in dirt road, there’s room to go around them. Several Joshua Trees .


Guide to Littlerock

Rustic camping near Littlerock, California primarily consists of undeveloped sites across Bureau of Land Management territory and Angeles National Forest at elevations ranging from 2,600 to 5,000 feet. The region experiences extreme temperature variations with summer highs regularly exceeding 100°F and winter lows occasionally dropping below freezing. Most dispersed camping locations require campers to be entirely self-sufficient with zero amenities and potentially challenging access roads.

What to do

Hiking from base camp: Campers staying at BLM Desert Site can access several informal desert trails for day hiking. "I missed the sunset but caught a beautiful sunrise," reports one visitor who found the spot offered good opportunities for early morning exploration.

Target practice: Bell Mountain Road area permits target shooting in designated zones. "There is some garbage, target shooting in the distance and the occasional maniac driving through too fast and kicking up lots of dust. Generally it was quiet," notes one camper who appreciated the open space despite occasional noise.

Stargazing: The remote desert locations provide exceptional night sky viewing with minimal light pollution. Rim of the World Byway campsites offer elevated viewing positions away from major urban centers. One camper mentions finding "nice spots" if you "go a bit further down alongside the road" to escape ambient light from the highway.

What campers like

Solitude and privacy: Most dispersed sites offer considerable distance from other campers. At BLM Desert Site, one visitor appreciated finding "a great little secluded spot about 4 miles off the highway in the desert" with limited traffic even during holiday weekends.

Road accessibility: Many locations can be reached without specialized vehicles despite their remote nature. A camper at BLM Desert Site noted, "the dirt road didn't give me any trouble and I still had some service with Verizon" while visiting in a standard minivan.

Scenic vistas: East Mojave Camp offers panoramic desert landscapes. "Beautiful sunrise. We were the only people there," reports one camper who ventured far enough from the highway to ensure complete privacy despite the unmaintained access road.

What you should know

Cell service reliability: Connectivity varies dramatically by location and carrier. At Angeles Crest Overlook, one visitor noted they "didn't have any service (Visible/Verizon), so that was a little scary" despite being relatively close to developed areas.

Vehicle requirements: Many sites demand high-clearance vehicles. At Stockton Flats Yellow Post Sites, visitors warn the "trail was fun but definitely needed 4x4" and note that the "specs of this campground are wrong, no toilets/water/etc."

Security concerns: Roadside camping locations can attract unwanted visitors. One Angeles Crest Overlook camper reported, "There were two others in our lot that stayed the night too... it did seem like maybe a teen hangout or something - cars did flow in and out occasionally through the night until around midnight."

Tips for camping with families

Best timing: Weekday visits significantly improve the camping experience with children. One visitor to Angeles Crest noted, "During the week it's more quiet," and recommended families consider "the trail pull off" where "my dogs really enjoyed the hike" rather than more exposed overlook areas.

Weather preparedness: Desert temperature swings require extra planning with children. East Mojave Camp experiences dramatic day-night temperature differences, with campers reporting comfortable days but requiring winter sleeping bags even in summer months.

Location selection: Choose campsites away from potential hazards. At Rim of the World Byway, a visitor recommends families "go a bit further down alongside the road" to avoid both the highway and train tracks for a safer experience with children.

Tips from RVers

Road navigation: RV access varies considerably between sites. One camper attempting to reach Stockton Flats with a 35-foot trailer noted: "The turn is not marked well... if you miss the turn like we did you have to go 5 miles or more to get a turnabout big enough to turn around. We decided not to go to the site because it looked like a one lane road and too tight for our 35 ft bumper pull."

Alternative parking: When designated areas prove inaccessible, nearby options exist. A camper at Rim of the World reported finding "easy in and out" access "by Rim of the world scenic byway and mormon rocks" that was "quick stop friendly" for larger vehicles needing to avoid more challenging roads.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Littlerock, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Littlerock, CA is Angeles Crest Overlook to LA with a 3.1-star rating from 8 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Littlerock, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 8 dispersed camping locations near Littlerock, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.