Best Dispersed Camping near Ranchita, CA
Planning a dispersed camping trip near Ranchita? The Dyrt can help you find the best dispersed campsites for your next trip. Search nearby dispersed campgrounds or find top-rated spots from other campers.
Best Dispersed Sites Near Ranchita, CA (33)
1. Blair Valley Primitive Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Julian, California32 Reviews•112 Photos•1023 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- ADA Access
- RVs
- Tents
2. Pine Creek Road Camp
Mount Laguna, California3 Reviews•3 Photos•66 Saves- Pets
- ADA Access
- Tents
- Group
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
3. Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Mount Laguna, California5 Reviews•8 Photos•468 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
4. Peg Leg Dispersed
Borrego Springs, California1 Review•7 Photos•40 Saves- Pets
- Phone Service
- RVs
- Tents
- Group
- Standard (Tent/RV)
5. Yaqui Wash
Borrego Springs, California1 Review•9 Photos•29 Saves- Pets
- Tents
- Group
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
6. Coachwhip Canyon — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Coolidge Springs, California3 Reviews•6 Photos•66 Saves- Pets
- Phone Service
- RVs
- Tents
- Group
- Standard (Tent/RV)
7. Truckhaven at Ocotillo Wells State Vehicle Recreation Area
Salton City, California4 Reviews•4 Photos•45 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- ADA Access
- Dispersed
- Trash
9. Mecca Hills Wilderness
Mecca, California8 Reviews•17 Photos•275 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Dispersed
- Toilets
- Alcohol
Recent Dispersed Reviews in Ranchita
73 Reviews of 33 Ranchita Campgrounds
E.
Scout
Blair Valley Primitive Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Great escape from the city!
I followed the coordinates provided and it took us right to the trailhead. We saw a few other campers but overall, the campground was ours for the weekend. We did some light hiking and exploring but otherwise took advantage of the peace and quiet that was available to us. Gorgeous sunsets and sunrises and epic star gazing! Being a dark sky community, we were able to see so many stars and constellations. We saw shooting stars nearly every minute and we were also able to find Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune all with the naked eye! Next time we will pack a small telescope and I'm sure we will see more!
Watch out for cactus and needles that are buried in the sand. It is not recommended to bring dogs or walk barefoot for this reason. Our sandals and boots both had many needles stuck in the rubber soles after the trip. Being in the valley, the winds were very light but there is a possibility of strong winds and sand storms so be prepared. Temps averaged 70-75 during the day and dropped to 38-42 at night but with a small fire and proper gear, we were plenty comfortable. Fire rings are provided at some locations however the ranger informed us we could build a rock ring and line it with tin foil which worked great.
The road in was a bit rough in some areas. Wash out and silty sand could pose problems for smaller vehicles or campers so use your best judgement. Single track roads in/out so you will need to yield off the main road when encountering larger oncoming vehicles, which could also be difficult for inexperienced offroad drivers.
- T
Tony B.
Traveler
South Ridge Yellow Post Sites
Awesome dispersed site with amazing views
Very nice to find a campsite this private on a weekend in southern California elevation is high enough that temperatures were very enjoyable (mid 80's)
Gabriel S.Scout
Pine Creek Road Camp
Nice quick and easy getaway
Quite easy to get to. I drive an Acura RDX and had no problems (I actually had a lot of fun driving the road).
There were way more flies than we were expecting. Prepare to get swarmed. Luckily just gnats and no mosquitoes from what we experienced.
We applied for a permit on Friday and did not get it by Saturday when we departed. Luckily, no rangers patrolled during our stay.
Some spots with good shade.
- ddavidTraveler
Pine Creek Road Camp
Peaceful and secluded
A great spot if you want to get away and enjoy some alone time. It’s a little warm in the day in august this time of year so you can’t hike around or explore too much. My girlfriend and I stopped in Julian on our way out to get a late lunch and then head to the campsite. The road is paved until you turn off Lone Creek Road and then it is a dirt road. I have a stock Rav4 and it was able to drive on it although there are a few spots you need to be careful at so you don’t scrape the bottom of your car. We only spent one night but we never saw another person during our stay
Rose D.TravelerBlair Valley Primitive Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Quiet
Peaceful dispersed campground. Wide open great views. Didn’t even know I had neighbors until I walked around in the morning and saw neighboring campers over the hill. Clear skies when I went back in November, could get pretty windy. Saw some coyotes pass by my camp.
anna I.Scout
Kitchen Creek Road
Decent spot to stop
Pretty small spot off the road, does get kind of loud from cars but overall a decent and clean spots
Kique S.TravelerSouth Ridge Yellow Post Sites
Great spot!
This is a great area. I recommend you bring extra mosquito repellent. Have fun!
Carter M.ScoutBlair Valley Primitive Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Beautiful area but lots of bugs
Here in late May and the bees and other bugs have been nonstop on me the whole time I've been here. It's a really beautiful area and the spots are spacious
- NNani D.Scout
Pine Creek Road Camp
Dispersed Camping
This was a last minute Memorial Day weekend trip with my boyfriend and 2 dogs. Friday sent an email to SM.FS.DescansoRD@usda.gov requesting the free permit (after doing research and finding out you need one), filled out the form, and got it back in the same day. Easy to get there, easy directions once there just make you pass the sign that says leaving the recreation area after that you can find any spot and camp. It was a little bumpy but nothing too bad. Drove with my jeep renegade that isn’t a 4wheel drive. A little busy due to the holiday but not too bad. Cyclist riding by, vehicles, and hikers. Which was nice saying hi. Hardly any service for my carrier which is T-Mobile. Definitely will camp out here again.
- MMo H.Traveler
Painted Canyon
Amazing stars
Absolutely quiet and an amazing starry sky
Ideal for tents
Anne M.ScoutBlair Valley Primitive Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Great weeknight spot
Visited early May. Arrived right before sunset, there were people close to the bathrooms, but lots of space to spread out if you drive a little.
Heather K.
RangerBlair Valley Primitive Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Great spot for a night or two
Tons of dispersed spots down the road.
Dickie Simmons S.TravelerBlair Valley Primitive Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Great off grid camping w/ easy access
Easy access to most designated campsites. Enjoy the changing colors at dusk. My area had 2 bars of verizion service.
- MMarco M.Scout
Kitchen Creek Road
Pretty but busy
People riding motorcycles, trucks,screams, not a good place for solo camping for sure
- JJoe C.Scout
Box Canyon Dispersed
Sweet spot
Pretty sandy - would recommend 4wd but i suspect you could get in without. got my jeep deep into the canyon between coachella weekends and was the only person there.
- AAbe C.
Guide
Yaqui Wash
If you just want to get outdoors...
There are a bunch of campsites along a service road that is parallel to a main road, several hundred feet away. This whole area is essentially within one valley, so you have mountains on both sides. It is well vegetated and allows for fairly easy hikes up the soft slopes.
The parking spots are right alongside the road, so for van camping is not so great, but tents can be put away from the road and therefore it's much more suitable for tenting.
The stretch of dirt road closest to the main road is Sandy, but manageable bull in a two wheel drive. This is where most of the campsites are. Further along the road, there are fewer camp sites, so they are more dispersed, however the road becomes more rocky and jutted, but for those wanting a bit more privacy, this is the spot to be.
I would like to come back in camp in this location. So i'm going to mark it to return another time.
- AAbe C.Guide
Yaqui Pass Camp
Easy stop if you need, otherwise keep driving
Drove in..., drove out. As another review noted, it's a big parking lot. Fine if you just need a place to pull over, nothing of value there..., maybe proximity to a hiking trail.
- Nick M.Scout
Kitchen Creek Road
Cool
Rainy
- AAmanda M.Scout
Kitchen Creek Road
Decent. Tough time of the year
Could be maintained. Went during a very rainy season. So it could definitely be attributed to the time of year. Will be another opportunity in the future.
Mary B.GuideBlair Valley Primitive Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Serenity
We arrived passed 10pm on the dirt road with no other campers. Beautiful site in a quiet location with endless views and there’s no fee. Who could ask for more?
Sarah M.GuideBox Canyon Dispersed
Deep sand, close to busy road side.
This is ideally a good spot, but the sand is way too deep to get far enough off of the road.
- Sarah M.Guide
Mecca Hills Wilderness
4x4 required, super deep sand
Drove up this road thinking it would be okay, but as I got closer to the location, the sand got deeper. At night it was especially hard to see. Any of the roads going off the main road were too deep with sand to get into without getting stuck. Had to turn around and ended up parking closer to JT park.
- BBrad C.Traveler
Painted Canyon
Absolutely stunning & so much fun
This place should be part of the park system. Stunning diversity in color and rock formations. If you hike to the top of the loop, you’ll not only feel like you’ve accomplished something special, but you’ll also get to see the rock formations and vegetation change with elevation. In the higher points of the hikes, you can see the Salton Sea from afar. Absolutely stunning at sunrise and sunset.
s E.TravelerBlair Valley Primitive Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Great campground
AT&T: 1-2 bar signal. First time to go out camping in the desert. I’m so glad it was at this location! So spacious, beautiful views. It’s quiet, clean, just very peaceful.
Karin P.GuideMecca Hills Wilderness
Great camping
Very nice spot for camping. Loved the trails, nice sunrise. Will definitely come back
- Karin P.Guide
Mecca Hills Wilderness Dispersed Camping
Beautiful
Very nice camping area, beautiful sunrise, nice trails. Its pack in pack out, pit toilets. Watch little dogs as the area has hawks.
- Karin P.Guide
Blair Valley Primitive Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Beautiful and spacious
Favorite free campsite so far. Free for 30 days, pack in pack out, there are pit toilets near the entrance, no liter removal or water. Horses and dogs allowed. Beautiful views and trails. There are quite a few bees though, other than that, loved it.
Guide to Ranchita
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Ranchita, California, where you can immerse yourself in nature without the constraints of traditional campgrounds. This area offers a variety of stunning landscapes and opportunities for outdoor adventures.
Scenic Views for Dispersed Campers
- Experience breathtaking vistas at Blair Valley Primitive Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, where wide-open spaces and clear skies create a perfect backdrop for stargazing.
- Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere at Yaqui Wash, surrounded by mountains and lush vegetation, ideal for those seeking solitude.
- Capture stunning sunsets and changing colors at dusk while camping at Pine Creek Road Camp, which offers easy access to designated spots.
Tips for Free and Dispersed Camping Near Ranchita, California
- Always check for any required permits before heading to Yaqui Pass Camp, as some areas may have specific regulations despite being free.
- Be prepared for the elements at Coachwhip Canyon — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, where wind can be a factor, especially during certain seasons.
- Bring insect repellent when visiting Pine Creek Road Camp in late spring, as bugs can be quite prevalent during that time.
Activities While Free Camping Near Ranchita
- Explore the unique mud rock formations and hiking trails at Coachwhip Canyon — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, perfect for adventurous campers looking to discover hidden gems.
- Take advantage of the spacious spots at Peg Leg Dispersed for boondocking, where you can set up camp and enjoy the surrounding desert landscape.
- Engage in wildlife watching at Blair Valley Primitive Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, where you might catch a glimpse of coyotes and other desert creatures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Ranchita, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Ranchita, CA is Blair Valley Primitive Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park with a 4.6-star rating from 32 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Ranchita, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 33 dispersed camping locations near Ranchita, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.