Best Dispersed Camping near Potrero, CA
Dispersed camping opportunities surround Potrero, California, mainly concentrated in the Cleveland National Forest to the north and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park to the east. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) also maintains some areas, including Otay Mountain Camp. Pine Creek Road Camp provides primitive camping within the Cleveland National Forest, while Blair Valley, Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves, and Mountain Palm Springs Camp offer options within Anza-Borrego. Kitchen Creek Road and Smuggler's Gulch present additional dispersed camping zones in the region. Most sites lack facilities and require campers to be self-sufficient.
Access to many dispersed areas varies considerably, with some requiring high-clearance vehicles. Pine Creek Road features paved sections transitioning to dirt roads with occasional rough spots. Blair Valley provides relatively accessible terrain for most vehicles, though occasional wind can make tent camping challenging. Some areas like Otay Mountain are difficult to locate, with specific access routes recommended. Most dispersed sites require advance permits, particularly in Cleveland National Forest, where campers must email for free authorization. Fire restrictions apply throughout the region, with complete bans in many locations, especially during dry seasons.
These primitive camping areas deliver diverse desert and mountain experiences with varying levels of seclusion. "Primitive camping. First come..., requires payment in envelope," noted one visitor about Mountain Palm Springs Camp. Pine Creek Road campsites provide exceptional privacy, with one camper reporting, "We only spent one night but we never saw another person during our stay." Blair Valley in Anza-Borrego receives particular praise for stargazing opportunities due to its dark sky designation. A visitor described, "On a moonless night the STARS were just ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!" However, some areas present challenges - Smuggler's Gulch has reports of shooting activity and debris, with one reviewer cautioning, "People come out here to shoot so be warned! There's also a lot of broken glass/rusty cans!"
