Best Dispersed Camping near Ace, TX
Dispersed camping near Ace, Texas concentrates primarily in the Sam Houston National Forest, where several primitive sites offer no-fee overnight stays without developed facilities. Four Notch Hunter Camp, Sexton Pond, Sand Branch, and Kelly's Pond provide free camping options on public land. Rock Hole Dispersed and Bouton Lake Camp represent additional primitive camping locations in the region. These areas typically have minimal management presence and follow standard national forest regulations.
Access roads to most dispersed sites require careful navigation, with several campers noting the need to drive slowly on dirt and gravel surfaces. Four Notch Hunter Camp is accessible via dirt roads that most vehicles can handle when driven cautiously. Sexton Pond Dispersed sits at the end of a hard-packed gravel road with some potholes but remains passable for standard vehicles. Cell service is limited throughout the region, with one camper at Kelly's Pond reporting "only 1 bar of service." None of these sites offer drinking water, hookups, or sanitation facilities, and most lack toilets except for Kelly's Pond Campground.
These forest camping areas provide genuine seclusion for those seeking quiet outdoor experiences. The sites vary in popularity and usage patterns. One visitor to Sexton Pond shared, "I got lucky enough had the place to myself for almost 2 weeks," while another noted, "We were the only ones here." Four Notch Hunter Camp maintains tranquility except during hunting season, with a reviewer cautioning, "wear blaze orange!!!" Campfires are permitted at most sites including Four Notch, Sexton Pond, Kelly's Pond, and Rock Hole, though restrictions may apply seasonally. Kelly's Pond appears to attract some longer-term campers, as one reviewer observed it "did appear that some individuals have/had made this a more permanent home." Wildlife viewing opportunities and fishing are available at several locations, particularly at Rock Hole which features two ponds, one primarily for fishing.
