Best Dispersed Camping near Ridgedale, MO
Looking for the best Ridgedale dispersed camping? Dispersed camping is an excellent way to get away from it all and to disconnect. Find the perfect dispersed campsite for your next adventure.
Best Dispersed Sites Near Ridgedale, MO (9)
1. Hercules-Glades Wilderness Area
Bradleyville, Missouri4 Reviews•7 Photos•118 SavesHercules Glades Wilderness Area is 12,413 acres of the most scenic and unique country in the Midwest. Its combination of open grassland, forested knobs, steep rocky hillsides, and narrow drainages offers unusual beauty and a measure of solitude within easy reach of wilderness lovers. The area is characterized by shallow droughty soils and limestone rock outcroppings. Eastern red cedar and oak trees are interspersed with open glades supporting native tall prairie grasses. Redbud and dogwood provide beautiful spring flowers, while smoke tree and maple put on vivid fall colors. A variety of wildlife species live within the Hercules Glades including white-tailed deer, raccoons rabbits, squirrels, turkey, quail, songbirds, lizards and snakes. Copperheads and rattlesnakes may be encountered. Roadrunners, collared lizards, tarantulas, wild hogs and black bears are some of the more uncommon wildlife residents. Limit your party size to 10 persons. No camping within 100 feet of trails, water sources and other camps.Practice Leave No Trace outdoor ethics; Never tie stock directly to trees. No motorized or mechanized equipment allowed. Trails: From the trailheads there is 32 miles of maintained trails which follows along open glades, forested ridgetops and Long Creek, the primary drainage of the area. Cross country hiking in other parts of the area is allowed. Key attractions along the trail include Long Creek Falls, panoramic views of the Ozarks countryside, and a variety of native communities including open limestone glades and mixed forests. Rating: More Difficult to Most Difficult with steep terrain, stream crossings, sparsely marked trail, and elevations from 600 to 1200 feet. Length: 32 miles Best Seasons: Fall, winter, and spring. Leave No Trace: Pack out what you pack in. Restrictions: Foot and Horse only. Safety: No drinking water is available at parking areas or along the trail; bring what you will need, or be prepared to sterilize water you find. During temperate months, be prepared for biting insects, poison ivy and high temperatures. Be advised of hunting seasons. Avoid using the trail during excessively wet periods. Surface Type: Unsurfaced, native material.
- Pets
- Fires
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
2. Hercules Glades (Watch Tower)
Bradleyville, Missouri3 Reviews•1 Photo•50 Saves- Fires
- Phone Service
- Dispersed
- Picnic Table
- Toilets
3. Sam's Throne Recreation Area
Mount Judea, Arkansas16 Reviews•31 Photos•519 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Dispersed
- Toilets
- Alcohol
4. Blair Ridge Rd Dispersed
Greeson Lake, Arkansas1 Review•1 Photo•25 SavesMany people enjoy the solitude and peaceful experience of camping away from large groups of people. Dispersed camping is the term used for free camping anywhere in the National Forest OUTSIDE of a designated campground and at least 100 feet from any administrative site to include trails, buildings and designated recreational areas. Dispersed camping means there are no toilets, no structures, no trash cans, no treated water, and no fire grates. There are extra responsibilities required for this type of camp. It's a must to educate yourself before you try it, but we hope the adventure of dispersed camping in the Mark Twain National Forest calls to you!
Picking a Campsite
If you are going to an area where others have camped, pick a site that's been used before. If there is no existing campsite, then follow these Leave No Trace guidelines:
Camp on bare soil if possible, to avoid damaging or killing plants and grass. Camp 100 feet away from any water source - plants near water and water sources are fragile. Camp 100 feet away from any administrative site (Trails, Recreational Areas and/or Building).
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Dispersed
- WiFi
- Alcohol
5. Woolum Dispersed Area — Buffalo National River
St. Joe, Arkansas6 Reviews•23 Photos•154 SavesWoolum Campground is a large open field at the Woolum access to the Buffalo River near St. Joe AR. There are no amenities at Woolum. There are no designated sites. A vault toilet is available. Fees are not charged at Woolum. Woolum serves as overflow when Tyler Bend campground is full.
- Fires
- Dispersed
- Toilets
6. Sugar Camp Lookout Tower Dispersed Area
Eagle Rock, Missouri1 Review•2 Photos•5 SavesYou can not camp in the tower - it is closed off - but there is area around the tower for off grid primitive camping.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- RVs
- Tents
- Dispersed
Recent Dispersed Reviews in Ridgedale
31 Reviews of 9 Ridgedale Campgrounds
‘Chelle S.
Guide
Sugar Camp Lookout Tower Dispersed Area
Beautiful and Peaceful
Mark Twain National Forest is always a great getaway. This location is tucked away from the main road and is easy to get to. Could easily get 4 rigs + in the sight. Established fire ring (be mindful of burn bans). Close to Roaring River and Table Rock lake.
Taylor M.
Traveler
Sam's Throne Recreation Area
Cute spot!
Quiet and beautiful spot in AR! Patchy cell service and no water hookups, but there are bathrooms, lots of privacy, fire pits, and trails connected to the sites! Highly recommend a visit here
Summer R.
ScoutSam's Throne Recreation Area
Title Required: Good. Quiet. Good and quiet.
Only stayed one night but it was very quiet and peaceful. There are surrounding trails that lead to some nice spots for a stunning sunset. These seem to be free established campgrounds, not dispersed. No trash service but there are vault toilets and fire rings. Great sites either way. Happy to stay again.
Conceptual S.Scout
Blair Ridge Rd Dispersed
Secluded
Tried to camp out before backpacking through Hercules Glade Wilderness but the trailheads were packed (weekend). There are two fire rings along this road. Both locations have full bars (Verizon). Little to no man made noise but be respectful, there is a private residence at the end of the road.
- KKelly C.Guide
Sam's Throne Recreation Area
Quiet & Serene
This is a great, and free, campground. Lots of sites, all are good.
- JJohn W.Scout
Woolum Dispersed Area — Buffalo National River
One of the best remote campgrounds in AR
I have visited this spot multiple times and camped right on the riverbank. Beautiful scenery year-round. I just tried to make a trip up there at the end of April (2022) and the final stretch of access road was blocked off due to erosion according to NPS. Not sure when main road will reopen. Ended up camping out at bakers ford just a few miles away.
Kloee S.
LegendWoolum Dispersed Area — Buffalo National River
Beautiful campground!
This was a beautiful park with a campground that we really enjoyed riding around and exploring. We were there in April and the dogwoods were blooming. There were hiking trails, nice clean restrooms, lots of bike riding and nice large spaces. We had full hookups to boot!
Candace R.GuideWoolum Dispersed Area — Buffalo National River
Buggy but Beautiful
So many options to make your home away from home! Grassy meadows or river side oasis, you choose! This is definitely the place to go to enjoy magnificent scenery and not be distracted by technology. Late September visit means the river is low, nights are cool and days are filled with sunshine. Bring the bug spray and sunscreen.
- bbriGuide
Sam's Throne Recreation Area
Peace on Earth
Amazing peaceful campsite. Can be eerie pulling up at night but is so beautiful and peaceful. On the right dark night you can see every star in the sky. Bathrooms are cleaned every other day.no running water or showers just two vault toliet. Some campsites have cell phone service. Att and had the best out of all of our phones. Place is completely free. Beautiful path to walk to see the open ozarks but not much else to do here. Bambi and her mom also seem to live here.
Anna W.Guide
Hercules Glades (Watch Tower)
Quiet and easy
We got here on a pretty hilly/twisty road late at night, found a spot close to the trailhead and had a quiet, peaceful night sleep. We saw just one other camper with a trailer close to the inlet. Just a quick stop on our way, we didn’t hike long in the morning but the trail seemed quiet and secluded; we didn’t see anyone else.
Bob W.TravelerSam's Throne Recreation Area
Secluded and Scenic!
Several first come-first serve sites for RV or tent. Fire rings at each site and vault toilets at each end of campground. Limited Verizon cell. Great hikes on bluffs overlooking valley.
- Ivan M.Scout
Sam's Throne Recreation Area
Gem of a Site
We camped right next to the trail head and apart from all the traffic during the day for the trail (cars coming and going) it’s great. The views off the trail are A1 and definitely a useful base amo if you’re rock climbing. Lots of bluffs set up for that. Compost bathroom s were super clean. Had a great experience there
- AAlexandraTraveler
Sam's Throne Recreation Area
Beautiful Area, Clean Campsites & Bathrooms
Pros:
-Campground was completely empty when I arrived on a Thursday evening in December.
-Sites are separated by trees, so some privacy.
-There are more than one compositing toilet on site& they are cleaned regularly.
-Beautiful cliff views are a short walk away.
Cons:
-No water access, so bring your own
- KKelsey R.Guide
Sam's Throne Recreation Area
The BEST view!
Private camping spots, with trees separating each site. There’s fit pits, but no rv hook ups and only a couple bathrooms there.
It is considered a national park spot so it’s not set up for rv, but if your van or rv is self standing is perfect!! - Clayton R.Guide
Sam's Throne Recreation Area
Gorgeous!
Road is kinda sketchy on the way up but the bluffs are fantastic!
- ZZahra N.Scout
Sam's Throne Recreation Area
Wrong Location
Went to this location to camp anticipating water campsites, no such thing.
The V.ScoutSam's Throne Recreation Area
Great Weekend Spot!
Campsites were spaced out and had great privacy. The trail was super close and the views were amazing.
- Jacob B.Guide
Woolum Dispersed Area — Buffalo National River
Extremly beautiful area, simple camp ground
I took a canoe trip down the buffalo river a few springs ago and I believe this was one of my stops. It was still early in the season so restroom facilities weren’t open yet. Bare bones camp sites with only fire pit rings. Beautiful area!
- Nikki M.Guide
Sam's Throne Recreation Area
Nice area
Nice campground sites mostly tucked up in the treeline. Hiking nearby
Crystal C.Legend
Hercules-Glades Wilderness Area
Hike in and camp, or just hike for day use!!
This area is a wilderness area so camping is plentiful. However in this particular are there is no organized campsite specifically. Instead there are several areas where you can with permissions hike in and stay.
My suggestion for camping along this area are to check with local restrictions, there are some that you will want to make sure you know first hand. Sometimes fire restrictions do change and these can be found at the beginning of the trails on the kiosks. Some areas also are not permitted for overnight parking so you want to check those out before venturing into the wilderness for a lengthy time.
Check with rangers of the area to make sure you are not in a register only or permit only area for camping!! Very important in this region.
Bring everything and then plot your course.
The 4 mile hike is amazing and has many beautiful view points however it is also quite treacherous in some areas. This area is also one which you will find many snakes lurking during warmer months so beware!!!!
I always suggest on wilderness hikes to not hike alone or camp alone but this one I found to be more problematic with limited to no cell service for assistance should you encounter danger.
Be careful but have fun!!!
- Shelly J.Guide
Woolum Dispersed Area — Buffalo National River
Quiet, spacious, with the best swimming hole!
This is a very primitive campground, but it's one of our favorites! We can almost always find a spot to camp and it's super easy to pull our trailer into every spot there. It's a horse camp and there are many spots with shade and some with none. There are two vault bathrooms, no tables provided, and not trash. We love the peacefulness of this place and will continue coming back.
- Kaci C.Scout
Hercules Glades (Watch Tower)
Lovely secluded area
Nice camping spots at the trailhead for Hercules glades. It was a beautiful, quiet area.
- Aimee S.Scout
Sam's Throne Recreation Area
Gorgeous views
Decent camping. Limited amenities, but enough. The views are 100% worth it!
Ashley F.
RangerSam's Throne Recreation Area
Primitive Sites & Beautiful Views
Sam's Throne Recreation Area really is a hidden gem, even for the non-climbers out there. We started a five day camping trip on a Saturday and sure enough, as we had already heard about this place's weekend popularity, the sites were packed. Many groups out there taking advantage of the beautiful March weather to hit the rock and explore all the many jaw-dropping routes on and around Sam's rocky Throne. Once the weekend ended though, there were an average of 2 or 3 other occupied sites in the area throughout the week.
Me, my boyfriend and our dog must have been the only non-climbers out there, which was completely fine because there really is SO MUCH to do and see. There are a number of trails outside the main established trails (see picture of trail map). Our second day there we spent eight hours skirting along the bluffs and exploring what looked like beautiful fairy lands.
The weather was perfect (high 50's/low 60's during the days and down to low 40's at night) and the bugs were almost non-existent (but we still defended ourselves from ticks with spray and covered legs).
We spent every day we were there exploring new spots and areas because the stretch of land is endless. What's nice is you can also drive 20 or so miles out to other beautiful spots like Pedestal Rock Scenic Area and Alum Cove Natural Bridge. We hopped on the Ozark Highland Trail for about six miles starting at the nearby Fairview Campground (which I highly recommend!).
And of course, don't forget to check out THE Sam's Throne, which is still accessible for those not harnessed and roped up. There is a climbable route that is fairly easy to moderate and allows you to access the throne and all it's glory. There are even a couple of fire rings up there which would definitely make for some breathtaking tent views. I may be partial to this place now because I happened to get engaged on the Throne at sunset during our last night there, and I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful experience.
I highly recommend this area, this forest, and hell the whole state for a great camping experience!
- Ramie W.Scout
Hercules-Glades Wilderness Area
Hercules Glades
I did the Coy Bald hike and loved it. Most of the trail was fairly easy to navigate, however the areas of open meadows were a little more difficult to find where it picks back up. The falls are a great rock feature when it’s dry and beautiful when they’re flowing.
- Kimberly K.Scout
Sam's Throne Recreation Area
Beautiful location
Good hiking trails and wonderful views nearby. Never disappoints.
- Miranda M.Guide
Sam's Throne Recreation Area
Beautiful location
Very beautiful place with vault toilets only and no running water. There are a few bears in the region so I would hang my food just to be safe. There aren't any specific spots for RV's but there are a few cleared areas with room to park an RV or trailer. Near the entrance to the facility right off of the highway there is a large gravel parking lot. This facility has day-use for rock climbing. Motorcycle friendly but there is a sign stating no OHV's. No trash cans, pack-in/pack-out facility. Donations are accepted but it is a FREE campsite.
Guide to Ridgedale
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Ridgedale, Missouri, where nature lovers can find serene spots to unwind and explore the great outdoors. With a variety of locations offering unique experiences, campers can enjoy hiking, wildlife, and the tranquility of the wilderness.
Dispersed campers should check out Hercules-Glades Wilderness Area
- Hercules-Glades Wilderness Area allows for camping almost anywhere, providing a sense of freedom for those looking to immerse themselves in nature.
- Be prepared for a rugged adventure, as the trails can be treacherous in spots, and it's wise to hike with a buddy due to limited cell service. The experience is rewarding, especially when you reach the scenic falls.
- Wildlife enthusiasts should be cautious of snakes during warmer months, but the diverse ecosystem makes for an exciting exploration of the area's flora and fauna.
Tips for free and dispersed camping near Ridgedale, Missouri
- Always check local regulations before setting up camp, as some areas may have specific restrictions regarding fires and overnight parking. The Hercules Glades (Watch Tower) offers a rustic experience with basic amenities like fire rings and a toilet.
- Bring all necessary supplies, as many dispersed camping spots lack water sources and trash disposal. The Blair Ridge Rd Dispersed area is a great option for those seeking solitude and a chance to disconnect from the hustle and bustle.
- Be mindful of your surroundings and respect the natural environment. The Sugar Camp Lookout Tower Dispersed Area is a peaceful spot where you can enjoy the beauty of Mark Twain National Forest while practicing Leave No Trace principles.
Scenic hikes for dispersed campers
- The Coy Bald Trail in the Hercules Glades offers a beautiful four-mile hike that leads to breathtaking views and unique rock formations. Many campers enjoy the refreshing swimming holes along the way, making it a perfect spot for a summer outing.
- For those looking for a quieter experience, the Hercules Lookout Tower Trail provides a more secluded hiking option with stunning vistas, ideal for photography and nature observation.
- Keep an eye out for wildlife while hiking, as the area is home to various species. The trails are well-marked, but be prepared for some rocky terrain, especially near the river crossings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Ridgedale, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Ridgedale, MO is Hercules-Glades Wilderness Area with a 4.5-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Ridgedale, MO?
TheDyrt.com has all 9 dispersed camping locations near Ridgedale, MO, with real photos and reviews from campers.