Top 10+ Dispersed Free Camping near Big Water, UT

When our original dispersed camping spot didn’t work out we drove down the road and found this little gem, right outside the entrance to Bruce Canyon National Park. There are a bunch of designated USFS camping spots. They’re level-ish, fire rings, and pretty easy to get to. We have a 1992 (renovated!) motorhome and we got to spot 17 no problem. We could have gone to 17-19, but then the road got to rough for our old girl. Lots of quads and sideXsides riding on the dirt road, kicking up dust till about 8:30PM but was not a big deal. Solid free camping right near the park!

Not a lot of campers this far down the road. There were quite a few near hole in the rock road right outside of Escalante. Perfect for astrophotography! Sporadic cell service with sprint/t-mobile. Dirt road to this area is not the best. Very much like a washboard and rough. BLM lands so camping is free.

Bumpy dirt road going in. Large area with plenty of private dispersed camping spots.

So this is the dispersed camping area in a beautiful location. It is only about a quarter of a mile off Utah 24 on hole in the rock road. There's no water there no pit toilets there are no fire rings there are no picnic tables. But it's free. And there's a cell phone signal.

This is FS road #205/225 and is the access to an Arizona Trailhead. The FS road is very good graded gravely and runs along a wide flat forested ridge. Dispersed camp sites are scattered along this main road and down open FS spur roads. Nite that FS rules note that dispersed camping needs to be 1 mile away from developed recreation sites on open FS roads per the MVUM (https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/kaibab/maps-pubs/?cid=fseprd490027) but not sure if the Arizona Trailhead counts...there are several great camps within first mile on this FS road. Cell signal is mixed and dependent on your provider and line of sight to Jacob lake area. Verizon and Tmobile worked for me, but my att phone did not. This area is about 7 miles south on hwy 67 from Jacob lake on way to the GC north rim. The nonmotorized Arizona Trail is adjacent to the FS road and runs close to many of the dispersed sites, so this area is great if you want to hike or mt bike the trail.

There are 26 DESIGNATED dispersed camp sites in the Dixie NF special management area part of Dave's hollow close to the Bryce NP boundary. The west part of Dave's hollow does not have the designated only restrictions, however there are way less campsites available. Cell signal is very good for the entire area. Note there are no vault toilets, no dumpsters and no water in the Dave's hollow area and all the roads are dusty dirt and could be muddy if wet.

Amazing spot that gets you right up to the river blasted walls of the mountain. I followed the path to the spot deeper. We can hear coyotes howling in the distance. I have dispersed camped for the last 8 months straight over 9k miles now, and I’m so happy with this spot. It’s one of my favorites so far. It’s clean, secluded. I am here in June, and it’s hot. BEWARE you need 4x4 and high clearance. You absolutely will get very stuck if you attempt it in anything else. Enjoy!

These "designated" dispersed camping sites are on the river south of the lake. There area total of 10 sites scattered down the main road. Each site seems quite large and some are better that get farther off the main road which is a dusty mess. No tables or metal fire rings, no garbage or water. Also NO cell signal at any of these sites. Sites are free and 14d limit.

Aspens are nice but small. This area is part of the Warm Fire that burned in 2006. It is all young aspens now. No shade and somewhat exposed. No cell signal either. This area is also a trailhead for the Arizona trail but no vault toilet here. This is not a good site for dispersed camping IMO. Do not know why anyone would add this area to the dyrt database. A much better dispersed camping area is back toward the north a few miles on hwy to the FS road #205/225. Another Arizona TH is there but area is nicely forested and the TH has a vault toilet. Note that dispersed camping rules say a camp has to be 1 mile from a developed recreation site, and on an open FS road via the Forest MVUM, but not sure if that includes a TH only.

Decent dispersed camping with room for any sized camping rig.  Okay area for star gazing except toward Escalante to the northwest.

Awesome dispersed camping with stellar cell service, close enough to Escalante that you can drive in quickly for groceries or water. Just mind the cows!

FS Road #205 at Hwy 89ais also a trailhead for the Arizona Trail. There is a kiosk and a vault toilet of at the trailhead area. The dispersed sites are along FS road #205 as you head west. Several very nice ones along the road, however FS dispersed rules note no camping within 1 mile of a developed recreation site and not sure if that includes a trailhead? Need to consult the Kaibab NF MVUM for open roads for dispersed camping. The #205 road is a very good condition gravel road but side spurs are usually diet two track. No designated sites, no water, trash, or metal fire rings. Cell signal is dependent on camp site and line of sight to cell towers north of Jacob Lake. This area is in a timbered draw so most sites not likely good for cell signal. The vault toilet at the trailhead is a bonus.

Great site. There is plenty of dispersed camping and if you go early enough in the day to u can get some prime spots. Fire rings are already made and sites are well spaced for noise control and privacy. There is a lake close by and a stream that runs through the camps.

The FS road #247 is a nice gravel road in for about a mile, after that it narrows just past an open area with gravel piles...would not go much past with a TT without a recon first. 3-4 nice sites on the flats along the road...no toilets, water, trash dumpsters or metal fire rings. Cell signal was surprising ok due to close proximity to the towers just north of Jacob Lake. Dispersed Camping is allowed along open FS roads per the Kaibab NF MVUM (https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/kaibab/maps-pubs/?cid=fseprd490027).

This site offers dispersed camping along forest road with drive up sites. The site had a fire ring and was near a trail that offered about a 15 minute walk (or 3 minute drive from the road we came in on) to a vault toliet bathroom. There were a few other campers in RV's and camper shells but we never heard or saw them from our site since the sites were so widely spaced. If you like a private spot under the stars and surrounded by large pines then this is for you.

We decided to disperse camp for the weekend of Halloween. Weather was beautiful, but cold during the evening due to the moisture in the air. The location is literally a few minutes off the 89A, not too hard to miss the service road turn off. We checked out the other sites about a mile in and everything was a little wet/muddy, so we decided to set camp at this location. According to Kaibab NF MVUM, dispersed camping is allowed along open FS roads (https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/kaibab/maps-pubs/?cid=fseprd490027)..)

Space is very open with trees surrounding the area. This spot has a trail nearby, so we had seen a few hikers throughout the weekend. Previous campers created a firepit, but make sure to check with the North Kaibab rangers on fire restrictions (https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/kaibab/alerts-notices)..). Surprisingly decent cell service(Tmobile/AT&T).

About an hour and half to Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon. Along our trip there, we also went to Vermillion Cliffs/Marble Canyon. Very beautiful, must see places.

Super convenient with easy access off Route 12. Lots of level, open spaces short distance from entrance. Great basic dispersed camping in a 34 ft Class A motorhome with towed vehicle. Had decent cell service with AT&T. There are, of course no amenities or even pit toilets, although there are two dumpsters for trash and the town of Escalante is nearby with groceries and other necessities. Would absolutely stay here again. Also- if you have a smaller vehicle that you can take down the main dirt road (washboarded, but otherwise not bad) you can get to several good hikes. We really enjoyed the Zebra slot canyon (gets VERY narrow) and also the tunnel. Amazing lighting near midday as the sun is directly overhead. Both are moderately strenuous hikes. Bring plenty of water.

Decided to camp here in late October. There’s vault toilets to the left just after you turn right (south) from 89a.

It was COLD…which was to be expected at this time of year. But be prepared if you choose to enjoy this area in the “off season.” You can definitely expect snow at these elevations in October! :)

This area was exceptionally clean, even for dispersed camping. I only saw one other person turn off the highway and travel down the road while I was there.

From the looks of it, this forest road should be suitable for any vehicle, and eventually “loops” around to another forest road. I managed just fine on a motorcycle, but didn’t venture too far back as I knew I’d eventually encounter ice in shaded areas of the roadway.

You’re not far from the Jacob Lake Inn if you fancy yourself a hot meal or a pastry when they’re open. 😊