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Dispersed Camping near Alton, UT
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Several free dispersed camping areas exist around Alton, Utah, primarily on public lands managed by Dixie National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The region features notable dispersed camping zones including Tom Best Spring Road (FR117), Harris Rim and Stout Canyon, Uinta Flat, and Forest Road 090. These primitive sites are situated at higher elevations with many located in pine forests, providing natural shade and seclusion while offering convenient access points between Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks.
Most access routes consist of dirt and gravel roads with varying conditions, though many are accessible to standard vehicles. Sites like Tom Best Spring Road and Uinta Flat accommodate larger vehicles including RVs, while others may require high-clearance vehicles. No amenities are available at these locations—campers must pack in all water and supplies and pack out all waste. Fire restrictions apply seasonally, with many areas allowing campfires when conditions permit. Camping duration is typically limited to 14 days in any 30-day period, following standard public land regulations.
The area attracts visitors seeking quiet, forested settings away from developed campgrounds. "There are many different RV and tent sites dispersed throughout this area," noted one visitor about Uinta Flat, while another described it as having "remote and spacious dispersed sites with mature trees." Some campers mention moderate ATV traffic in certain areas, particularly Uinta Flat, where one camper observed "groups of 4-wheelers revving and riding up and down the campgrounds" after dark. Wildlife sightings are common, with several reviews mentioning deer in the Harris Rim area. Cell service is generally available at most sites, making these locations suitable for remote workers seeking natural settings.
Best Dispersed Campgrounds near Alton (140)
1. Tom Best Spring Road FR117 Dispersed - Dixie National Forest
"October 15, 2020 We wanted to be close to Bryce Canyon but not in all of the hub and chaos of people. This location is about a 10 minute drive away from Bryce. "
"Plenty of free camping opportunities as you drive down the dirt road. Space between sites is ideal so noise isn’t a problem."
2. BLM Road #71 Gravel Pit Dispersed - BLM
"This area is up BLM Road #71 and was the old hwy. The actual main camping area is an old gravel pit area but views are great, solar is plentiful."
"You could easily use this as a base to explore Zion if you dont mind no facilities. The view was spectacular, and our spot had an already made fire pit."
3. Uinta Flat Dispersed
"There are many different RV and tent sites that you can find dispersed throughout this area."
"We arrived just before sunset and found a great spot surrounded by big pines and aspen trees. Our spot was closely connected with a few other great spots but we were all alone."
4. Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping
"The road is rough I would recommend a high clearance vehicle to be able to drive farther. We don't have that so we were limited on how far we were willing to drive down the rough dirt road."
"Take the exit from 89 and cross the remnants of the old 89 road. You will find several spots with previously used fire rings."
5. Harris Rim & Stout Canyon Dispersed
"We were driving through looking for a quick place to pull off the highway for the night. It's a few tarred miles off the road, but wauper esy to find, even at 11:30 pm when we stopped."
6. FR 090 - dispersed camping
"We rented a van from Escape camper vans and this spot of easy to find and get to! We saw a lot of people with campers and vans."
"The road is a bit bumpy, but we were fine taking our time in our camper van. Lots of space between sites. The trees are gorgeous. & it’s super close to the entrance of Bryce Canyon National Park."
7. Uinta Flat Dispersed
"Remote and spacious dispersed sites with mature trees. The dirt roads throughout the area are decent, although there are some dead-ends so be prepared to turn around."
"But it’s great dispersed/boondocking whatever you want to call it. Great area. Lots of options. Got there late in the evening so couldn’t really explore. 4x4 isn’t a must but can help a lot."
8. Old Highway 89 Dispersed Riverside
"The spot marked on the map seems to be well outside of BLM, but there are signs that indicate private property nearby, but not here. There are also signs of previous campers."
"Easy to find, short distance (about 1-2 miles, along a stream,close to a gravel road with little to no traffic. Oh, there is an upper level camp space and a lower space."
9. Toms Best Spring Road - Dispersed Camping
"Dispersed camping in the beautiful Ponderosa pines of Dixie National Forest. The Forest Service road is easy to navigate. There are many dirt roads branching off of it with sites to choose from."
"Tom's Best Spring Rd aka FR117 16 day limit - posted
No campfires - posted
No cutting wood without permit - posted
Visible 3-4 on 4g
ATT 3 on 4g
GPS: 37.7301,-112.2523
Main road in is good."
10. Forest With a View
"Great off grid spot, nice tracks off the main gravel road you can park up at. Clear spots with plenty of pine cones and firewood lying around. Group spots."
"Deer came around morning & evening. Chose this site based on proximity to both Zion & Bryce. Muddy after precipitation, but dried quickly. Our site was very level."
Drive Time
- 1 hr 41 min from St. George, UT
- 3 hrs 24 min from Las Vegas, NV
- 3 hrs 52 min from Flagstaff, AZ
- 5 hrs 5 min from Prescott Valley, AZ
Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Alton, UT
443 Photos of 140 Alton Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Harris Rim & Stout Canyon Disperseds
Strawberry Ridge
Uinta Flat DispersedA
Uinta Flat DispersedC
Lava Flat Dispersed Camping Area
Old Highway 89 Dispersed RiversideS
East Fork Sevier River Dispersed Campsites
Mammoth Dispersed
Horse Camp Near Belly of the Dragon TrailT
Old Highway 89 Dispersed BLM Site
Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed CampingA
Dispersed Camping Reviews near Alton, UT
968 Reviews of 140 Alton Campgrounds
- ssandy S.
TravelerNorth Creek Dispersed Camping
Easy to find and close to Springdale…the road in a bit tough but any 4WD can get to a spot if you take your time. The sound of the creek at night is so nice and it was super peaceful!
TomScoutOld Highway 89 Dispersed BLM Site
Stayed multiple nights. Perfect location to nearby attractions / the town of Kanab. I was on arguably one of the closest sites to the Highway and road noise was not an issue. Cell service for T-Mobile: only if you are close to the highway. I recommend turning in off the highway and taking the first right hand turn and following it all the way down (youll drive on what asphalt remains of the old highway) and there a single spot about 1 mile down that road that is nice, private, secluded, and only may have 4x4 going up / down the hill next to you. No other traffic.
- LLeanne N.Scout
Tom's Best Spring Road Dixie National Forest
Many easily accessible spots, beautiful scenery
- Seren W.
GuideWhite House Free Camping
Spacious and Starry
As others have said the night sky and stargazing is amazing here. We found the road to the sites a bit difficult due to some rain that day but still manageable. I started by parking at the information area and walked the road to make sure it wasn’t too washed out. We loved waking up to the rock formations off in the distance as we did get in after dark.
- Seren W.Guide
Old Highway 89 Dispersed Riverside
Convenient
This was a quick convenient spot right off 89. I’m in a 20ft class C RV and made it to the very first campsite with no issues just using some careful navigation around the dip. There are sites back closer to the creek but the road was too rough for me to take an RV. Beautiful views of the mountain ranges to the east.
- LLorraine E.Traveler
Freemont Wash Dispersed Camping
We parked in the gravel area for the night. Easy on and off and flat. Lots of room. There a couple of spots further in that would have been fine but we didn’t want to level since it was just the night.
- JJaime F.Scout
Old Highway 89 Dispersed BLM Site
Super scenic
Level ground. Need clearance to get up to the spots.
- TTanner P.Traveler
Bear Flat
Beautiful view!
It’s a beautiful Mountain View!
Guide to Alton
Dispersed camping near Alton, Utah ranges in elevation from 7,000 to 8,500 feet, providing natural cooling during summer months when temperatures typically remain 15-20 degrees lower than surrounding valley areas. Most sites sit within Ponderosa pine and aspen groves, creating alternating patches of shade and sun. Winter camping is possible but challenging, with nighttime temperatures frequently dropping below 20°F from November through March.
What to do
Hiking to Amethyst Lake: Access this hike from Uinta Flat dispersed camping areas where one visitor noted it's a "great hike up to amethyst lake and awesome campground. Found a fire pit and was secluded in the trees but close to the lake."
Wildlife viewing at dusk: FR 090 camping areas provide excellent wildlife spotting opportunities, especially at sunset. "We saw several deer just before going to bed," reported one camper at Harris Rim & Stout Canyon Dispersed. "Due to animals being present in the area, there are also predators. We found a half eaten deer leg."
Mountain biking nearby: Tom Best Spring Road FR117 Dispersed - Dixie National Forest offers convenient access to local biking trails. "Close to Bryce Canyon and easy access to Thunder Mountain trail loop, awesome moderate mt biking trail," mentioned one reviewer who found the area perfect for combining camping and riding.
What campers like
Cell service for remote work: Most dispersed sites maintain surprising connectivity. "We had full bars with Verizon," mentioned one visitor to Tom Best Spring Road, while another stated the site offered "clear skies for starlink and solar." This makes these rustic camping sites near Alton practical for digital nomads.
Natural spacing between sites: Uinta Flat Dispersed offers significant privacy between camping spots. One camper described it as having "remote and spacious dispersed sites with mature trees" while another noted "camping spots are a little more spread out off the main drag and more in the trees which was nice for shade and hanging a hammock."
Access to multiple national parks: "Just 12 miles from the crush of people at Bryce Canyon, but a world away," wrote one camper about their experience at Tom Best Spring Road. Another mentioned being "just a few minutes outside Bryce" while still having "a lot of pullouts off the main forest road."
What you should know
Road conditions vary seasonally: Spring access can be problematic at FR 090 - dispersed camping where one visitor reported, "It's a beautiful area but with the recent weather the road into the camping area was closed. Very wet and slick mud." Another mentioned "based on previous ruts, it might be miserable in the rain."
Fire restrictions fluctuate: Seasonal bans occur frequently in summer months. "We have been when the fire restrictions have been in place and you cannot have a fire," noted one visitor to Uinta Flat. Check current fire status with Dixie National Forest or BLM offices before planning to build campfires.
Livestock encounters: Multiple areas experience cattle grazing. "Cows do wander into the campgrounds from the prairie, so be prepared if you have animals that might 'have a cow' like ours did," warned a visitor to Tom Best Spring Road. Another camper at Lava Flat mentioned "a flock of 1000s of sheep with sheep dogs that passed through one afternoon and through the next morning. It made it difficult to let the dog out."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed
campsite near Alton, UT?
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Alton, UT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Alton, UT is Tom Best Spring Road FR117 Dispersed - Dixie National Forest with a 4.7-star rating from 70 reviews.
What is the best site to find
dispersed camping near
Alton, UT?
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Alton, UT?
TheDyrt.com has all 140 dispersed camping locations near Alton, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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