Best Dispersed Camping near Bluff, UT

Dispersed camping around Bluff, Utah gives you a chance to camp away from crowds in some beautiful desert country. The dirt road beyond Hamburger Rock Campground leads to several primitive spots where you can set up camp. You won't find any facilities at these sites, so bring everything you need including water and waste disposal bags. Following Leave No Trace practices is essential in this fragile desert environment. Make sure to camp at least 200 feet from roads and water sources to comply with public land rules. Most areas limit stays to 14 days before you need to move on. Many of the best spots require vehicles with decent clearance, and roads can get pretty slick after rain storms. Always pack out what you pack in, and check current fire restrictions before your trip as they change throughout the year. The remote nature of camping near Bluff adds something special to exploring nearby places like Zion or Arches.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Bluff, Utah (45)

    1. Valley of the Gods Dispersed Camping

    49 Reviews
    Mexican Hat, UT
    13 miles
    Website

    "Plus even if your vehicle can handle the soft soils you'll wreck the road for everyone once the deep ruts dry out and harden."

    "Free primitive camping with amazing views. No facilities. Pack in and pack out. Plenty of spaces to chose from."

    2. Dispersed Mexican Hat Camping

    37 Reviews
    Mexican Hat, UT
    18 miles
    Website

    "After entering, the dirt road to the right takes you to camping in front of the Mexican Hat there’s quite a few spots that are big rig friendly."

    "Mexican Hat is free dispursed camping on BLM land outside of the town of Mexican Hat Utah. There are sites available for RVs, tents, vans, etc."

    3. BLM Dispersed on San Juan River

    8 Reviews
    Montezuma Creek, UT
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 587-1500

    "A little difficult to find the turn off when arriving at night but a fun bumpy road down to the bluff. Beautiful river view when you awake in the morning."

    "Lots of space to choose from with no amenities good views of sunrise and san juan river, recommend a somewhat off road capable vehicle for this area."

    4. Valley of the Gods Road Dispersed

    10 Reviews
    Mexican Hat, UT
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 587-1500

    "This time we got the remote site we were hoping for. Most sites are right off the main road. Easily accessible by rv’s and cars. Our site was off the main road."

    "The first spots at the beginning of the road were meh, best for an RV not my taste for tent camping as they are super open with little privacy from the road."

    5. Butler Wash Dispersed - Bears Ears

    4 Reviews
    Bluff, UT
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 587-1500

    "No way to get to Bears Ears National Monument unless I had a 4x4 and I have a Subaru outback. Found a great spot that was completely quiet and perfect for stargazing."

    "The ride on Lower Butler Wash Road to reach this site was no problem for our campervan. Crossed 2 dry washes; took it slow. One of several dispersed sites along road. The site is well off the road."

    6. Abandonded Bridge on San Juan River

    3 Reviews
    Bluff, UT
    4 miles

    "Gravel road right off 162, not too rough and high clearance isn’t needed. Sites are scattered, some loops some back-ins. One just past me has three large rigs."

    "Thankfully we were the only ones there as it was difficult to maneuver our rig back around to be set up to leave."

    7. Comb Wash Dispersed Camping Area

    10 Reviews
    Blanding, UT
    16 miles
    Website

    "This is a dispersed camping area within Bears Ears National Monument. There are a few designated spots, as well as just open flat spaces where you can set up camp.  "

    "this spot was awesome. somewhat far away from amenities-Blanding is about 25 minutes away be prepared with water and let people know where you are-it can feel pretty isolating just because it’s dry and"

    8. Butler Wash Pay Station Dispersed Camping

    2 Reviews
    Bluff, UT
    4 miles

    "The Lower Butler Wash Road is home to many fantastic car and van camping options. The dirt road is well-maintained and suitable for most vehicles."

    "Dispersed camps are scattered all along this road to the north. No water, no trash, no toilets except the two porta-potties at the pay station. Cell signal is fair to no e depending on location."

    9. Mexican Hat Rock

    10 Reviews
    Mexican Hat, UT
    18 miles

    "The entry road off the highway technically goes through private land."

    "Total awesomeness 😎 I'm confused though about the sign near entrance requiring a fee with no amenities. 🤔 This is BLM land!"

    10. Valley of the Gods

    5 Reviews
    Mexican Hat, UT
    16 miles

    "Easy access with 2-wheel drive for the first .5 of the loop at least (we didn’t go any farther). Breathtaking view of the 7-sisters and plenty of flat ground for tents."

    "The valley of the gods is astoundingly, beautiful and spending the night in the valley was near perfection."

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Bluff, UT

190 Reviews of 45 Bluff Campgrounds


  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 20, 2022

    Comb Wash Dispersed Camping Area

    Awesome Area

    This is a dispersed camping area within Bears Ears National Monument. There are a few designated spots, as well as just open flat spaces where you can set up camp.  The first few spots are accessible by any vehicle, just watch the soft sandy road after a rain. 

    We found a spot close to the main road and didn't have a problem in our 26ft class c.

    Further back you'll find more sites, but you'll have to cross a wash and the sites will likely need a 4wd & high clearance vehicle.

    No cell service. 

    No amenities other than vault toilets. No garbage service.  Area was nice and clean, hopefully it stays that way.

    Some of the sites have picnic tables and a metal fire ring, but some have nothing other than a stone fire ring to mark the spot. 

    No fee.

    Beautiful area, nice hiking and walking available in this whole area.

  • Summer H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 27, 2020

    Indian Creek Recreation Area

    The Best Dispersed Camping

    Indian Creek is awesome. It’s BLM dispersed camping about 2-3 miles from the Canyonlands Needles entrance. Dirt road in leads past Hamburger Rock Campground. Keep going and you’ll start seeing sites on the sides of the road. There are several pull thru and sites big enough for RVs. Lots of walk in and drive in tent camping sites. 

    You must camp where there is an established site evidenced by a fire ring. 

    This is no water, no toilet, primitive camping. You must pack out your own waste they do not allow it to be buried. 

    If you do not have four wheel drive be careful of the site you choose. The red sand is no joke and you will get stuck. It gets pretty busy from Thursday on but earlier in the week and day you have a lot to choose from. 

    An awesome primitive or boon-docking experience.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 1, 2023

    Valley of the Gods Road Dispersed

    Easy to access amazing sunsets!

    Second time camping with my kids here. This time we got the remote site we were hoping for.

    Most sites are right off the main road. Easily accessible by rv’s and cars. Our site was off the main road. Don’t venture off the main road without high clearance and perhaps 4 wheel drive. If you can tho the few sites set up this way are even more remote and awesome!

    Only bummer was no campfires allowed at this time.

    It is hot in July, but cools off at night. Constant breeze, no bugs. Bring shade as there are no trees except for a couple of spots by dry river beds. The trees do bring bids with them…

    Amazing views and no light pollution or sound at night.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 14, 2023

    Snow Flat Camp 13 - Bears Ears

    Worth the Drive Up

    Snow Flat Rd is rough in a few places for a non-high clearance vehicle, but it's worth it. This site was really good for my campervan, but I don't recommend the drive to this spot for larger campers. The site was large & relatively flat. Had a clean rock fire ring. Private area nearby for toilet setup. Wonderful view from the top of this mesa. Wildflowers were blooming at the site. Site was well off the road. There were a handful of offroaders passing by on their way to/from Comb Wash. Otherwise, very quiet & peaceful. No amenities. No T-Mobile nor AT&T service.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 24, 2024

    Picket Road BLM

    Quiet with view

    A big rig friendly place with space for several cars. The road get a little washed out the further you drive in. High clearance and 4x4 recommended especially when it’s raining. Stunning view

  • Steve M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 27, 2024

    Butler Wash Dispersed - Bears Ears

    Secluded, serene, and silent beauty!

    Way up there where it's hard to breathe! Had to do things slowly and deliberately but a beautiful setting. No way to get to Bears Ears National Monument unless I had a 4x4 and I have a Subaru outback. Found a great spot that was completely quiet and perfect for stargazing. No bear issues but no facilities of any kind whatsoever. Go prepare!

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 2, 2024

    Abajo Flat Camp

    Beautiful Spot

    We needed a place to overnight on our way to AZ. This site is about 3 miles off the highway with the last 1.5 miles on a decent dirt road. I think it would be hard to navigate in the rain/wet.

    Beautiful views!

    There is room for a couple of rigs if they aren't too big. We have a Ford F350 with a 21-foot TT. There is room to turn around

  • Jeff V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 24, 2025

    Valley of the Gods Dispersed Camping

    Great Place, but bring water and firewood

    It's a breathtakingly beautiful spot with a fair amount of simple pull offs for camping.  Unless it's raining or just finished there won't be any water.  There is precious little vegetation as well, but a fair amount of rock outcroppings to block the wind, which howls come spring and is far more common than precipitation.

    Speaking of which, don't push your luck if it has rained recently, as the clay softens and becomes slick, packing around tires, and everything else.  Plus even if your vehicle can handle the soft soils you'll wreck the road for everyone once the deep ruts dry out and harden.

    Some sites have fire rings but that's the extent of facilities, although there might be a port-a-potty by the western entrance to the road, closer to the Moki Dugway.   Summers get hot, and I'd head up to Cedar Mesa if so. 

    There ample dispersed camping on Cedar Mesa, as well as plenty of scraps to get a fire going.  This is one of the greatest concentrations of smaller Ancestral Puebloan (formerly Anasazi, which is controversial and regarded as insulting by today's Pueblo tribes) villages, so there are a life time of ruins to explore.  

    Researching ahead of time will pay off, but both the BLM station by the Kane Gulch trailhead and the Natural Bridges National Monument visitor center have maps, guidebooks, and advice.  Please follow the regulations, as this is a sacred ancestral site for numerous indigenous peoples. 

    The Recapture Lodge at the east end of Bluff has decades worth of old maps to hidden sites for those who want a hotel (I recommend them highly, having visited off and on since the 1990s).  They'll give great advice if asked. 

    Both Natural Bridges and Hovenweap offer something precious in short supply across southern Utah, amazing and beautiful hiking, abundant ruins, and few visitors (this is the rare part).  Both are far more enjoyable than Arches or Zion, which are now overrun by tourists. 

    Valley of the Gods, Cedar Mesa, and the nearby national monuments (also Canyonlands, which isn't as packed as the other famous national parks) offer a chance to experience Utah's red rock country without standing shoulder to shoulder with other visitors.  That's getting increasingly difficult to find as the beauty of the region is well known by now. 

    p.s. Those wanting even more solitude should ask about the off site ruins managed by Hovenweap: you'll often have these to yourself.

  • Casawndra P.
    Jan. 17, 2022

    Comb Wash Dispersed Camping Area

    Super Cool-Middle of Nowhere

    Comb Ridge is incredible, read about it!

    this spot was awesome. somewhat far away from amenities-Blanding is about 25 minutes away

    be prepared with water and let people know where you are-it can feel pretty isolating just because it’s dry and no service

    very spaced out-i stayed in one of the first areas so i can’t speak to how good the road is but it is dirt and sand.

    i had no service

    felt very safe!🤍

    Pack in pack out-leave no trace and that also means don’t leave trash in the campfire ring🤍


Guide to Bluff

Dispersed camping near Bluff, Utah offers camping options across varied elevations ranging from 4,500 to 6,500 feet, with most sites located along unpaved roads through arid desert terrain. Summer temperatures typically exceed 100°F during July and August, while spring and fall bring more moderate temperatures in the 70-80°F range. The San Juan River provides a water source for some camping areas, though road conditions vary significantly after precipitation events.

What to do

Hike to ancestral ruins: Butler Wash features several hiking trails leading to Ancestral Puebloan sites. "Bathrooms are located next to one campsite but are easily in walking distance of all campsites. Good amount of space in between neighbors so one can choose whether to be private or socialize. While hikes around the area are accessible, I recommend driving to the hike overlooking Bears Ears," notes Reed H. from Valley of the Gods Dispersed Camping.

Explore natural bridges: Less than an hour drive from many dispersed sites are less-crowded alternatives to the popular national parks. "Both Natural Bridges and Hovenweap offer something precious in short supply across southern Utah, amazing and beautiful hiking, abundant ruins, and few visitors (this is the rare part). Both are far more enjoyable than Arches or Zion, which are now overrun by tourists," suggests Jeff V. from Valley of the Gods Dispersed Camping.

Stargaze after dark: The remote location means minimal light pollution for exceptional night sky viewing. "Once the moon set that night, the stars were amazing on a beautiful clear desert night," shares Brian P. from Valley of the Gods Dispersed Camping.

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Many dispersed camping areas offer good separation between campers. "Dispersed campsites off the side of the trail gives many options to get the best from this area," writes Mark S. from Valley of the Gods Road Dispersed. Another camper adds, "Spots are scattered, some loops some back-ins. One just past me has three large rigs."

Cell service in select areas: Some camping locations maintain usable cell signals despite remote settings. "Surprisingly decent cell service here," notes Meghan B. who stayed at Valley of the Gods Dispersed. Another camper at BLM Dispersed on San Juan River shares, "Cell signal is fair to none depending on location."

Wildlife viewing: The area supports diverse desert wildlife. "I'm also pretty sure a Coyote was in my immediate vicinity in the evening," reports Iris A. from Comb Wash Dispersed Camping Area. Another camper mentions, "Hummingbirds galore. Mule deer, coyotes." Near San Juan River, campers report, "Lots of hummingbirds and lizards."

What you should know

Road conditions vary seasonally: Dispersed areas become difficult or impossible to access during wet conditions. "Unless it's raining or just finished there won't be any water. There is precious little vegetation as well, but a fair amount of rock outcroppings to block the wind, which howls come spring and is far more common than precipitation. Don't push your luck if it has rained recently, as the clay softens and becomes slick, packing around tires, and everything else," warns Jeff V.

Changing fee structures: Some previously free areas now charge fees. "Very cool site! Nice and Quiet and the site we selected was very level. Would definitely stay here again," notes Rex S. from Mexican Hat Rock, while another camper adds, "I'm confused though about the sign near entrance requiring a fee with no amenities. This is BLM land!"

Limited facilities: Most areas have minimal or no amenities. "No amenities other than vault toilets. No garbage service. Area was nice and clean, hopefully it stays that way," explains Laura M. from Comb Wash. Another camper adds, "Road is native surface and would be muddy if saturated. No water, no trash, no toilets except the two porta-potties at the pay station."

Tips for camping with families

Temperature planning: Schedule family visits during moderate temperature seasons. "Summers get hot, and I'd head up to Cedar Mesa if so," recommends Jeff V. Another camper notes, "Would be best to arrive after or near sundown seeing as it was in the 100's most of the afternoon and evening."

Accessibility considerations: Select sites based on your vehicle capabilities. "The dirt road is well-maintained and suitable for most vehicles," notes Matt B. from Butler Wash Pay Station Dispersed Camping, but adds that some locations are "best suited for overlander types or short wb vans."

Heat protection: Limited natural shade requires bringing your own shelter. "This is a great spot to camp, quiet, and the view was just amazing. Numerous spots available and access to the San Juan River," shares Kenz P. from Dispersed Mexican Hat Camping. Another review notes, "Bring shade as there are no trees except for a couple of spots by dry river beds."

Tips from RVers

Leveling challenges: Many sites require effort to find level parking. "We had a great night in August, we got there around 7PM to avoid the heat of the day. Lots of spots and saw very few people," shares Brian P. Another camper notes, "When we arrived it was howling wind and blowing sand. We worried the side of our van would be nothing but primer in the morning."

Site selection for larger rigs: Carefully assess site access before committing. "Easy to get to, not very level. No hook ups but great boondocking spot," explains Trey S. Another camper adds, "Arrived after 8pm with our crew cab truck and 14ft travel trailer. Thankfully we were the only ones there as it was difficult to maneuver our rig back around to be set up to leave."

Wind preparation: Secure everything when camping in open areas. "The afternoon was very windy and made it a challenge to set up but the wind died down in the evening," reports one camper at Abandonded Bridge on San Juan River. Another notes, "The ground is also extremely dry and hard but with a mallet you can get the stake in and it will stick like concrete."

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities are available at dispersed camping sites around Bluff?

Dispersed camping around Bluff is primarily primitive with minimal amenities. Indian Creek Recreation Area offers BLM dispersed camping with several pull-through sites suitable for RVs, but lacks facilities. Similarly, Burch Canyon Road near Natural Bridges National Monument provides nice boondocking spots without toilets or water, though the visitor center a short drive away offers 24-hour restrooms, WiFi, and fresh drinking water. Most dispersed sites feature established fire rings but no trash service, potable water, or restroom facilities. Pack in all necessary supplies, including plenty of water, and be prepared to pack out all waste. Cell service is typically limited or non-existent throughout the area.

Where can I find dispersed camping near Bluff, Utah?

Several excellent dispersed camping options surround Bluff, Utah. Valley of the Gods Dispersed Camping offers breathtaking scenery with multiple pull-offs accessible to most vehicles. The main road is generally navigable for cars and RVs, though high clearance is recommended for off-road sites. Another popular option is Comb Wash Dispersed Camping Area within Bears Ears National Monument, featuring designated spots and open flat spaces. The first few spots are accessible by any vehicle, though be cautious of soft sandy roads after rain. Both locations offer stunning views and the authentic Utah desert experience within a reasonable drive from Bluff.

Are permits required for dispersed camping in Bluff, Utah?

Most dispersed camping areas near Bluff don't require permits, but they do have regulations to follow. At Butler Wash Dispersed - Bears Ears, camping is allowed without permits, though access to certain parts of Bears Ears National Monument may require 4x4 vehicles. Similarly, Picket Road BLM offers permit-free camping. Standard BLM rules apply to most areas: camp in previously disturbed sites, stay within 150 feet of designated roads, and limit stays to 14 days within a 30-day period. While permits aren't typically required, it's advisable to check current regulations with the Monticello Field Office of the BLM before your trip, as rules can change seasonally or during fire restrictions.