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A large part of the Spring Mountains is remote and undeveloped. Visitors can venture out and set up camp in these remote areas with just a little planning from the guidelines below The best known areas in the Spring Mountains include Mack's Canyon, Champion Road, and Lovell Canyon but those can get crowded in warm weather. Dispersed camping is NOT allowed in the vicinity of developed recreation areas such as campgrounds, picnic areas, or trailheads. Many people drive or hike out on Forest Service roads into the woods and find a clearing or a spot with a nice view or good shade. Do not drive on meadows to access your camping site. Drive on existing roads to prevent resource damage. Dispersed camping is allowed outside a one-mile perimeter away from campgrounds and 100 feet from any stream or spring. To prevent resource damage please keep your campsite within 150 feet from a roadway. How to Pick a Campsite If you are going to an area where others have camped before, pick a site that has been used before. Plants, soil and wildlife are impacted by new campsites so using existing ones will minimize your impact in the forest. If there is no existing campsite, then follow these Leave No Trace guidelines. - Camp on bare soil if possible, to avoid damage or killing plants and grass. Do NOT camp within 100 feet of any water source, as plants near water are especially fragile. - Do not camp in the middle of a clearing or meadow; try to make your campsite less visible so that other visitors will see a "wild" setting - Do not try to level or dig trenches in the ground at your campsite. Pick a tent site that is already level with good drainage. Going to the Bathroom in the Woods Dispersed camping means no bathrooms and no outhouses. That means extra care has to be taken in disposing of human waste. To dispose of feces, dig a hole six (6) inches deep at least 100 feet away from any water source. When you are done, fill the hole with the dirt you dug up and take your toilet paper with you to dispose of in a proper waste container. A ziplock bag is helpful for this. Never defecate or leave toilet paper on top of the ground since it could easily get into the local water source and contaminate it. Treating Your Water We used to be able to take a cup and drink directly out of the sparkling creek, a rushing waterfall, or a clear, deep lake. There is NO safe water source anymore. With an increasing population and visitation to the Spring Mountains, water sources have been contaminated with invisible micro-organisms that can make people very ill and even kill them in some cases. Giardia is a common contamination that has been spread through improper toileting and wild animals to many water sources. It will cause diarrhea, cramping, and other physical problems. The only way to ensure that water from any undeveloped source is safe is to treat it. That means heating it until it comes to a rolling boil, using water purification tablets or a water purification filter. Water from faucets in developed recreation areas has been tested and treated and is safe to use without treating.
$50 / night
Over 50 miles of maintained trails wind through the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, along with 4 campgrounds, 7 picnic areas, and remote areas for dispersed camping.
Scout
We got in late, but had no problem finding it and setting up. We just stayed for one night, but it was great. It’s right by Sawmill Trail head if you are going there.
Traveler
I often stop here when I’m near Vegas. It’s mostly quiet except for holiday weekends. Places to hike and wonderful views. No amenities, pack it in and Pack it out.
Traveler
Spent one full day and night here after spending about a week in the park. Absolutely amazing spots close to town but far enough at the same time. Minimal cover from the wind is the only drawback. 3 bars 5g with ATT and booster, pulling 300mbps with redzone wireless.
Scout
Verizon had excellent reception, enough room between campers to run a generator without bothering anyone. Lots of litter everywhere. It would be nice if people would haul out more trash than what they bring in. After all it is free camping.
RangerThis is my third night of 5. Every night has been very quiet. There are campers around but you barely hear them or see them during the day. At night you could sometimes catch a light. T-Mobile cell service for the phone calls is great for data it's. Almost done existent. I have thoroughly enjoyed my stay.
Scout
For an rv like 3 spots not even spots just turn arounds at start of shitty road other than that do not go unless you have dirt bike..etc stayed maybe 1 hr barely cooler than vegas went
Scout
Was so nice to get out of Vegas and have trees around! We enjoyed a relatively cool day and just enjoyed the nature.
Keep in mind that as other have mentioned, many people leave trash, ride ATVs, play music, etc.
You can not have fires, only propane, fuel stoves with a shut off.
T-Mobile has no signal here.
TravelerIt was an aight spot. did the job. the spots are like behind a sketchy gas station, so i drove down a little bit so i wasn’t near it. tons of garbage. other than that, decent morning view ! stayed safe the whole night. can’t complain.
Traveler
Parking Coordinates: (36.3636285, -115.6685757)
Relatively easy dirt road. This spot was located right before the road closure. Was able to fit the truck and a ground tent with amazing views overlooking the valley below. Visited June 22nd it was 110 in the city but up here at 7700 feet it was a nice 85-90 during the day and a cool 65-70 at night. Not a lot of tree shade at this spot but if you create your own it helps during the day.
ScoutFair warning, my boyfriend and I camped on the Saturday of Father's Day weekend so this may have skewed my rating.
The campsite was amazing! Private, very big for just the two of us, and a good combination of sun and shade. The site was very easy to get to in a 4WD truck even on the narrow two way road, smaller cars may have some issues. The views were limited but beautiful! It was hot during the day and wonderfully chilly at night. Bring lots of water, sunscreen, and good food that you can eat cold or heat up on a propane stove - no fires allowed!
The bugs were BAD all day, I swore off DEET but that trip I would've bathed in it. I was very excited for a quiet get away and quiet I did not get because of a group that rode their ATV up and down Champion road incessantly. Due to this, the dust was absolutely horrible and unfortunately the birds stayed away which is my favorite part of camping :(. The campsite was LITTERED with used pieces of toilet paper, baby wipes, glass, plastic - all the trash you can think of. We spent about a hour trying to pick up as much trash as possible, please do the same. We decided to call it a night when the sun set however people were blasting music in a neighboring campsite... why do people play loud music in nature? No clue.
So to summarize, my boyfriend and I had a WONDERFUL trip however inconsiderate people really know how to test a camper's patience.
GuideWe went further up near intersection of 157 and 158. Lots of open spots and almost no one around. Height of your rig could limit site selection. Even with high roof Sprinter we had some issues with low branches. Lots of shade. No real views, but lots of privacy. Some trash. Not horrible, but a good reminder to pick up after yourself so we can keep these public lands open.
ScoutThere are several spots to camp. Beautiful sight.
ScoutStayed for one night during the week and wasn't surprised by the higher traffic based on the other reviews. Nice spot to get out of the heat and enjoy the beautiful terrain.
Traveler
After climbing the giant hills out of Baker, my 1984 Vanagon was ready for a rest. We pulled off at Bailey Road and it was quickly dirt road, but certainly manageable for any SUV or Truck. After about 10 minutes (3.1 miles) there were campsites. Plenty of spaces and spread out. HOT in the late spring but overnight temperatures were excellent at about 65F.
TravelerWe arrived before sunset, full of small spots along the road, which allows everyone to have their own space surrounded by vegetation. We have a van, it is easy to leave the main concrete road to enter the pitches, some are bumpier than others. The sites I saw were clean with leftover campfire pits. I recommend this spot, it is specific to Death Valley and located 30 minutes from Red Rock or 1 hour from Las Vegas. For the night of May 2, no problem with the wind, very good weather conditions
ScoutNone of the other reviews mention that there's a rehab center compound located here with lots of in and out traffic at all hours. We spoke with a local ranger and that's how we learned about it because it's hidden. We then looked it up online and read scary reviews about it. Others need to be aware and make their own decisions. We also found questionable items in our site here.
Guide
Just 10 miles down a great, stereotypical, paved desert road off of I-15 you’ll find an unmarked turnoff as the road curves. The turnoff quickly becomes a dirt road that runs straight for miles. On the right side is the Mojave National Wilderness and on the left is the Mojave National Preserve where camping is allowed in designated areas only. These are marked pretty well and can easily accommodate groups (see “camping” below). The road is easy (see “Approach” below) and I’d feel comfortable taking a 2wd sedan to at least the first campsite which is only about 200m from the road. Fires are allowed in fire pits only which both sites I saw have.
Camping There are two designated dispersed campsites that I saw. I didn’t drive much past the second site though the road wasn’t difficult. The sites are well established and well marked. Some places look like they could be campsites but they are marked as “No Camping.” Look for the established areas with a fire pit that have the designated camping signs. They are located next to rock formations that help block the wind and give you a place to get on top of to look around. Watch out for snakes! The first one is maybe 200m down the road on the left. It has a driveway leading to a circular area so it would be good for a pull through camper or two. It’s large enough for a few campers, I’d say, or several vehicles. Pretty ideal if you had a horse trailer (there is not water source) as across the site is a good equestrian/hiking trail. I chose this one because it was actually smaller and I didn’t want to take up the larger second site. The second site is visible from the first but not close enough to interact much. The rock formation is larger, it’s more hidden from the main road, and has more space for vehicles. Better for a group - even a large one. Check the sign on the way into the preserve to make sure fires are allowed that day. Firewood can be purchased at the market in Baker.
The Approach and Ace Test The exit off of I-15 is convenient - stop in Baker immediately on the right for supplies then right across the interstate is Kellbaker Rd - the paved road that goes through the Mojave. After the mile 10 marker, the road turns right and in the middle of the turn is an unmarked paved driveway. Turn onto that driveway and it becomes a sandy dirt road that runs straight. There are some signs that say “No Motor Vehicles” and “No Camping” but these signs are talking about not leavening the road. You’re fine if you stay on the road. There are some pull offs that look like campsites but they will have rocks across the path and have signs saying no camping. Look for the designated camping signs and pull offs with a fire pit. This road does pass the Ace test for me (Ace was my 216 VW Jetta that I took on roads like this often); however, there are a couple spots toward the second campsite and beyond that I, personally, would do with Ace but if you’re less comfortable, the first campsite is maybe 200m in and any car could make that easily.
Activities The trails are well marked and one can explore the Lava Tubes which is just across the dirt road and easy access. It’s hot even in spring so bring a lot of water - more than you think you need. WATCH OUT FOR SNAKES. I had a fire and it was great to sit, relax, and stargaze. There isn’t a lot of light pollution so on a clear night, it’s awesome. Further down the paved road, there are other things like more Lava Tubes, some mines, and a trail you can drive along to check out water tanks. I like this camp area because it’s isolated and out of town but close enough to get supplies while allowing access further into the preserve. You can also go check out the World’s Largest Thermometer in Baker as well as an Alien kitsch shop and a few restaurants.
Weather I was there towards the end of April and it was in the 90’s and sunny during the day, a hot breeze coming from the west. At night, it was clear and starry and a low around 65.
Cell Service and Other Services I had 3 bars of Verizon LTE and was able to text and send videos and do some of my remote work. There are no amenities; however, Baker is just 10 miles away and has a few gas stations and a market that have pretty much everything from laundry detergent to firewood.
Scout
Great place to stop off the 15 on the way to where ever you're going! One other car other than us at this spot. Few other campers closer to the main road.
TravelerLarge flat open space with several fire pits. Some highway noise, but nothing terrible
Scout
Lots of spots, but the area is trashed. Garbage all over the place and used tires, looks like folks use this area as a dump. Also looks like there are some folks living in a fifth wheel near the highway.
Guide
Nice place to camp for free if you don't mind having some neighbors. Close to the highway but little traffic noise. Worked well for an overnight before going into the park the next morning.
Guide
Be careful, the location this takes you to is a wildlife refuge. It is posted as day use only, no camping. A super cool place to visit during the day. Be sure you are not on private property or within the refuge and there are spots to pull over to camp in your vehicle.
GuideLarge space, you can park on the pads or the dirt. Very close to the park. Right off the highway and easy to find. No water, no restrooms and no cell service. Be careful if you tent camp off the pads. My tent got some holes from the tiny rocks, even with a good foot print. Some are just very pointy. Overall great free spot, can’t complain. Would definitely camp there again.
GuideSeveral firepits, leveled big area. You can continue on this dirt road to get farther from the freeway to get a quieter sleep. I dropped in very late, so I didn't want to go further exploring in the dark, but I saw campers drive further out.
ScoutSearch for a clean area. Up higher. Seems like lower down people leave a mess.
Guide
The options were nice and the views were gorgeous but there seems to be a lot of long term living people around in their cars as well as a decently large homeless population around. I didn’t feel very safe so I only stayed one night. Along with that, there was so much litter and trash.
GuideThis was a short drive north of Vegas, and it’s worth it to get up into the mountains! The views are great, and it’s a fun place to explore. There’s a spot right off the road and then a few spots as you go up the road.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Tecopa, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Tecopa, CA is Lovell Canyon Dispersed Camping (Spring Mountain) with a 4.6-star rating from 50 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Tecopa, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 29 dispersed camping locations near Tecopa, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
