Best Dispersed Camping near Topaz, CA

Recent Dispersed Reviews near Topaz, CA

100 Reviews of 34 Topaz Campgrounds

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  S E.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 13, 2021

  Bridgeport Travertine Hot Springs Dispersed

  Quiet & Secluded

  I loved camping here. There’s a few spots off the road that leads into the hot springs, before you hit the sign that says no camping. Just pull onto one of the dirt roads on the left and find a spot! Any car or smaller RV could easily drive the road.

  There was no one else there when I was camped there, and as a solo female traveler I felt extremely safe. It was quiet and secluded, beautiful, yet only 10 minutes off of 395, less than a mile from the hot spring, and I had full LTE cell reception (verizon).

  There are rock fire rings that previous campers have made if you’re going to be here when camp fires are allowed. There’s no other amenities such as picnic tables or a bathroom, water, or garbage collection - this is free dispersed camping, so be prepared to be self-sufficient: pack out what you bring in and leave no trace!

• 

  Tim R.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 5, 2024

  Packsaddle Pass - El Dorado National Forest Dispersed

  Standard Dispersed Camping

  Standard dispersed camping on national forest land. Paved main road with dirt roads and areas for camping branching off. Plenty of room. Some areas have beautiful views of strawberry valley!

• 

  Ciara W.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 25, 2024

  Echo Summit Dispersed

  Not dispersed camping

  This spot is national forest, and overnight camping is not allowed. We had a knock from someone with the forest service the next morning who was very kind and let us know that overnight is not allowed.

  Look up lakes and forest in this area on google — not many places allow dispersed camping

• 

  Tom S.

  Traveler

  

  May. 14, 2022

  Dispersed Camping near Fort Churchill

  Gun pulled on me

  Don't camp here, had a gun pulled on me by a guy who "owns" BLM land.

• 

  Serena W.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 29, 2023

  USFS Silver Fork Dispersed

  Dispersed camping

  Plenty of dispersed camping spots. My flat spot that I found not too far from a Creek and I even had 2 bars on my cell phone and watch the movie.

• K

  Kailey C.

  Guide

  

  May. 20, 2020

  Dispersed Camping near Fort Churchill

  Alternate free camping next to the state park!

  Since COVID has closed all state and national parks to camping, we were happy to find this BLM land for an overnight. There are no services and the ground is a little bumpy/sandy but we were able to get around just fine in our camper van. There was a makeshift fire ring at our site, but it was so windy and dry brush everywhere that we didn't want to attempt to use it.

  We for service on both Verizon and Sprint! Had some coyotes track around our van over night so make sure you keep everything inside!

• 

  Wesley M.

  Guide

  

  Nov. 11, 2021

  Twenty Mile Beach Dispersed Camping

  Sweet spot right on the lake!

  This BLM site is 1 of 3 along the west side of Walker Lake. This is the northernmost BLM campground along Highway 95. Follow the signage along the highway. Access to the site is along a slow and easy gravel road that is wide enough for two rigs to safely and comfortably pass each other. As you come down the road into the campground you'll notice you have an option to turn right (south) or left (north). Both roads lead to a vault toilet building with access to drive right on down to the beach. We opted for a site near the northern vault toilet. The views are spectacular as you are surrounded by mountains on all sides with Walker Lake in the middle of it all! This is dispersed camping at it's finest! While you'll have to deal with a little bit of highway noise it's not terrible since it's Highway 95 and not heavily travelled by anything other than semi trucks. The town of Schurz is a mere 12 miles north of the site and has several amenities along with fuel. The towns of Walker Lake and Hawthorne are 10 and 20 miles to the south, respectively. Hawthorne is a more populated area with grocery, gas and other shopping amenities. Highly recommend to any other lovers of boondocking. We stayed during the second week of November and the weather was clear, light wind with highs in the upper 60s to low 70s with the lowest nighttime temp of around 38. We'll be back here again for sure!

• A

  Anthony F.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 14, 2024

  Hope Valley Dispersed

  Hope Valley dispersed

  Free camping

• K

  Ken J.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 8, 2019

  Dispersed USFS

  Beautiful Free Camping

  Several areas along Blue Lakes Rd offer dispersed camping. We had a wildflower-filled meadow to ourselves in early August with plenty of near-by trails for dirt bikes, Jeeping, horses, mountain biking or hiking.

• 

  Laura M.

  Legend

  

  Apr. 8, 2021

  Bridgeport Travertine Hot Springs Dispersed

  Amazing Hotsprings / Very Popular Spot!

  No camping is allowed at the hot springs themselves, but outside of the hot springs there are a few cleared out spots with fire rings where you can camp.  There is a cluster of about 6 spots fairly close together, as well as a few more isolated spots if you're lucky enough to get one. From here it is about a .5 mile walk to the springs. 

  So many cars zip in and out on the dirt road leading to the hot springs, from early in the morning to pretty late at night. The dust hasn't been too much of a problem but some people do drive rather quickly so watch out for your loose dogs and kids. It was also intermittently very windy.

  No services or amenities here, but it is really close to the town of Bridgeport for supplies, so pack in and pack out your garbage(and maybe a little extra) and bring water.

  The hot springs are amazing and we got a nice long soak by ourselves in the morning until around 11am when is starts to get busier. Clothing is optional at these hot springs but almost everyone was wearing something. Come sit in a hot spring and enjoy the free camping and extraordinary panoramic views.

  The road in is pretty washboarded and rutty in parts, so go slowly.

  You can hear road noise and hourly church bells :)

  Good Verizon, ATT, and T-Mobile reception.

  ** Gas here in Bridgeport is very expensive (currently $5.15/gal) so fuel up before you get here.

• 

  Alex P.

  Ranger

  

  Aug. 12, 2020

  Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping

  Dispersed and pleasant

  Dispersed camping not far from Lake Tahoe. Easy to drive into just be careful of potholes and large puddles from rain, even in summer. No amenities, but it’s a very beautiful area. There are herds of cows that will make their way through the area, please be respectful of them! Scott’s lake is just up through this area if you have 4x4 capability.

• V

  Virginia D.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 3, 2023

  Scout Camp at Fort Churchill

  Gorgeous Riparian Forest

  Scout camp is on the Carson river and within the tall cottonwoods. Camp in the shade or out in the open if it’s very windy as the trees can shed branches. Garbage collection and pit toilets. Nice trail along the River.

  As of October 2023 the access road to scout camp was washed out. But there is dispersed camping on the terrace to the south.

• 

  Susan L.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 17, 2024

  Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping

  What a beautiful place for our 40 ft 5th wheel

  We are new to dispersed camping and have a 40 ft 5th wheel as well as a GMC Denali 350 dually. We need a large space to fit into. We arrived on a Monday at noon and found that the large area about 1/4 mile in was not at all crowded. We had our choice of several places to set up. It is very quiet here, not hearing any road noise. A forest ranger told us there were more spaces up near the lake, but we didn’t venture up there.

• E

  Elliott L.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 29, 2024

  Leavitt Lake

  Great lake

  This is a beautiful lake. I like visiting it and geometry dash breeze which is amazing. Upon reaching the lake, you will discover approximately twelve camping spots. These sites are fairly basic, each equipped with uncomplicated stone fire pits, though only around half of them seem to feature picnic tables based on my observation. Upon our arrival, all the Lakeview sites were occupied, prompting us to locate a pleasant spot towards the back to set up our camp. Unfortunately, there is a segment of the camping area that would typically be open for use but was closed off by the Department of Fish and Game(DFG) due to environmental concerns. It's regrettable as there were some appealing campsites situated beyond that wooden barrier.

• C

  Cheyanne G.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 31, 2024

  Bear Valley Dispersed Camping

  Pin is incorrect

  So disappointing this app has failed us like 5 times now on camping spots. Not the right location.

• A

  Alex

  Traveler

  

  Nov. 8, 2023

  USFS Silver Fork Dispersed

  Endless Possibilities

  The coordinates listed on the app are simply for the entrance to the dispersed camping. There are infinite amounts of primitive roads to drive down and find camp. I stayed at N38.768811• W 120.238630° — on top of a peak that offered 360° views with sunrise and sunset right from my tent. At this specific sight, there are no overhead trees. Despite being primitive, the roads are well kept, even if you have a small SUV. It could get slightly tricky with a car. I stayed here for 7 days (10/31-11/6) and only saw one other person on the primivite roads. The above coordinates are about a 6 mile drive in from US50. You will see a campground on your right about 5 miles down when driving in, about a mile further down the road you will come up on the dirt road leading you up the mountain.

  A couple of notes:

  1. You are required to have a permit for any day/overnight use in Eldorado, including this area. They can be easily acquired at recreation.gov
  2. Cell phone reception is very spotty, in and out of a couple of bars throughout the drive in. — AT&T coverage. At the above coordinates, there were 2 bars of low grade coverage allowing basic texts to send. Not enough service for web browsing or sending photos via text.
  3. This area has been widely burnt by fires last year. There are still large areas unburnt. You will find yourself going in and out of them while driving.
  4. KEEP IT CLEAN — this area is immaculate and besides dug out fire pits, human trace is non-existent. Leave it cleaner than you found it, pick up your trash (and other’s if you see any), respect the area and it will respect you.
  5. NO CAMP SERVICES — There is no trash service or even dumpsters at the signed entrance; pack it in pack it out. There are no restrooms in the area either.
• 

  Jr A.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 9, 2024

  Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping

  Easy access and lots of spots

  You follow a dirt road and have camping spots along the road. When I was here it was jammed packed RV, vans and tents all set up along the road. To me it was good for a an overnight stay. No At&t service what so ever. Little highway noise.

• 

  Serena W.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 13, 2023

  Bear Valley Dispersed Camping

  Camp in Bear Valley Park

  This is a nice little private camp spot for the most part, There's a campground with its own fence around it for private camping With signs posted very near it, "no camping here" in the other spots without the signs good to go.

• 

  Raymond B.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 15, 2024

  USFS Silver Fork Dispersed

  Overnight stay

  We recently spent a night at this campsite and found it to be perfect for a quick overnight getaway. The area is spacious and conveniently located not too far off the main road, making it easy to access without feeling too isolated.

  There are plenty of sites to choose from, catering to different preferences. However, we recommend taking some time to survey the land before setting up camp, as some spots are slightly sloped.

  A huge plus is the gas station just about 5 minutes down the road. It’s well-stocked with all the convenient store items you might have forgotten at home, making it easy to grab any last-minute necessities.

  Overall, it was a delightful stay. Just remember, always practice Leave No Trace principles—pack out what you pack in!

• 

  Tucker B.

  Legend

  

  Mar. 29, 2021

  Bridgeport Travertine Hot Springs Dispersed

  Perfect One Night Stop

  This was my first stop after leaving Truckee and heading south.

  I rolled in later in the evening and found the many springs already quite full. Seeking some solitude, I opted to backtrack and find a camp spot on the road leading to the springs.

  From what I could tell, there were at least three springs and there could've been others hidden a bit down the hill.

  There's no camping right at the springs, but several pull-outs on the road in.

  I found a spot on the hill with a great view of the valley and Sierras to the east.

  Also wound up sharing a spot with two gentlemen who gave me some great recommendations for Death Valley.

  Woke up early for a solo sunrise soak in the main pool and had it all to myself!

• 

  Tisha S.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 12, 2021

  Iron MT. Dispersed

  This place is really cool and easy to find! Great views!

  This place is really cool and easy to find! Great views

  Weather isn’t to hot and very secluded.

• N

  Nick F.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 4, 2022

  Forest Route 4N39 Dispersed

  Not bad if you're looking for something quick.

  This road follows power lines pretty much for the entire length of the road. It would be a really nice area to disperse if they weren't there as the area is beautiful. That said, you don't need 4x4 but you definitely will need a vehicle with some decent clearance. There are some weirdly purposefully placed speed bumps? on the west end of the road approaching 4N01 and Spring Gap Rd that will let you know if you have enough clearance pretty quickly. Overall not a super terrible road to disperse off of. There are a lot more and a lot better spots nearby and it's not too far from Beardsley Lake which can get pretty busy.

• 

  Tim W.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 10, 2022

  Virginia Lake Rd. Boondocking

  Secluded with an amazing view

  Beautiful location and well secluded. Passed/saw only about 3 others during our one day stay here. Setup camp near the end of the road. A bit windy at night.

• 

  Orion B.

  Traveler

  

  Dec. 19, 2023

  USFS Silver Fork Dispersed

  Beautiful free camping is a real thing!

  My 9 yr old son wanted to try camping in or near the snow, and the weather was favorable on this December weekend (high 56, low 39). We are pretty new to camping and not hardcore, but this was very easy and comfortable. We camped right at the entrance because nobody was there and there was plenty of flat area. Easily accessible on paved roads. Spotted a rock climber on the nearby rock face when we arrived, who later came by to pick up his car he had parked there.

  Caldor Fire damage was evident everywhere, but this made it easy for my son to chop down a small dead tree that we used for firewood. It was breezy, which made it chillier than the temps indicated, but we were fine and very toasty once in our tent cots.

  We found a few beer bottles around (which we took home to recycle), and small amounts of building waste such as concrete. But overall the setting was peaceful and beautiful. Amazing to have a resource like this that's free. We brought a privacy shelter and portable camp toilet, and our own water. Those are really the only things you need that would normally be provided by a paid campsite.

• 

  Jasonne Y.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 13, 2021

  Bridgeport Travertine Hot Springs Dispersed

  Great spot to relax

  Camp just a small walk to the hot springs. Got crowed at the camp site toward the end of the day. Was still a relaxing spot.

• A

  Austin M.

  Traveler

  

  May. 26, 2021

  Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping

  Sweet Spot

  Easy to see right off the road with plenty of campsites down either side of a nice dirt road. Rocky and steep road access to Scott’s lake, but easy camping on the edge of the valley.

• 

  Shane C.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 17, 2022

  Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping

  Dispersed camping with campground layout/feel

  Camped here for a night in early October. Easy access and reasonably good road quality make it very RV friendly - I would say that it was at least 75% RVs/Trailers. Beautiful views of the valley and hills to the east. Most sites are obvious, with a driveway and stone fire ring. We like a more "dispersed" feel, but felt comfortable. 

  There are no services - bring all the water you will need and practice "leave no trace." This goes for your waste (human and animal) as well. I wish I could say that we didn't see any dog waste or "TP Flowers" but we did. Not a significant amount, but any is too much.

  The place was pretty much full, but still good vibes and quiet neighbors. Very close to Hwy. 88, so road noise and campers coming in looking for a spot after dark. Gets quiet later in the evening.

  Overall, a nice spot.