Rustic camping near Bonanza, Utah offers access to high desert terrain at elevations ranging between 5,000-7,000 feet with significant temperature swings between day and night. The region sits near the Colorado border, characterized by juniper woodlands, sagebrush plains, and dramatic rock formations. BLM dispersed sites in this area typically become muddy and difficult to access after rainfall, with several roads becoming impassable without proper vehicles.
What to do
Explore ancient rock art sites: County Road #23 south of Rangely provides access to several BLM rock art locations. According to one camper at BLM Dragon Trail, "The BLM Dragon Trail rock art sites are along County Road #23 south out of Rangely Colo... Camping opportunities start at the County road #100 access to the Shield site and then go south along County Road #23. Camping is possible at Shield site mp 5.6, Fremont Ridge site mp 9.7, Crooks Brand site mp 10.1 and Carrot Men site mp 11.6."
Mountain biking at McCoy Flats: Located about 6 miles southwest of Vernal, this area offers an extensive trail system with 46 miles of mountain biking trails. A visitor at McCoy Flats MTB Trailhead noted, "Wide open BLM area 3 miles from Hwy but paved (potholes!) into the TH. Vault toilet but no water, trash or designated campsites. Cell signal is very good on all carriers... there is an extensive network of nonmotorized Mtb singletrack trails in this area."
Wildlife viewing: The remote dispersed camping areas provide opportunities to spot deer, elk, and various bird species. At one site near Dinosaur National Monument, a camper reported, "Got a spot under the tree with a canal making me sleep to the sound of following water amongst where Dino's used to roam. I'm the only one here besides the wildlife!"
What campers like
Solitude and stargazing: Many dispersed sites offer isolation from crowds. At the North of Dinosaur CR16 Dispersed Site, one camper mentioned, "I drove further down the road slightly over the utah border and it was silent and serene with beautiful views. All the spots available on this road were gorgeous." Another visitor at Dragon Trail noted, "Found a site with a stunning 360 degree view. Clean, no trace of anyone else for miles."
Convenient access to supplies: Despite the remote feeling, many sites are within reasonable driving distance to towns. A camper at McCoy Flats shared, "One of the best spots I have found for full time RV/Van life. Extremely quiet with amazing sunsets. Full service on AT&T and Verizon. The town of Vernal is close by with a Walmart less than 10-15 minutes."
Diverse camping terrain: The area offers varied landscapes from open plains to wooded hills. At Dragon Trail, a visitor explained, "So thankful to have found this site! I found a completely isolated mountain top area with no one around. The views were amazing and the sunset was gorgeous! Clean, quiet and peaceful."
What you should know
Road conditions are challenging: Many access roads require high-clearance vehicles. At South Plug Hat Butte Camping, a camper warned, "Road was narrow and would have been tough with a tow behind camper. The site we stayed at did require 4x4 to get to and a top heavy vehicle (aka tall van or large truck camper) would have been a challenge."
Weather considerations: Wind exposure is significant in many sites. A camper at Dragon Trail mentioned, "It was windy at times but very comfortable temperature compared to the surrounding valleys." Another visitor noted, "The road going in and out is a bit bumpy/rocky though and some narrow edges with no guardrail."
Industrial activity nearby: Some areas have energy development. At Dragon Trail, a camper noted, "County Road #23 is a wide graded gravel road with dust abatement so no washboard and no dust. Look out for oil and gas trucks zipping up and down the road. At night area is very quiet but all bets are off on weekends as this area is also a designated OHV area."
Limited facilities: Most areas lack basic amenities. At Dinosaur Dispersed Site, a visitor described it as "just a quick sleep site close to the monument" with "no amenities but lots of deer!" Similarly, a camper at North of Dinosaur CR16 stated, "No shade, rocky, need a 4WD for some of the uphills. 10mile to sites on dirt road."
Tips for camping with families
Choose sites with natural boundaries: Find spots where children can explore safely. At Dinosaur National Monument, one camper shared, "Two of my friends and I stayed at this spot one night and I wish we had more time to spend at this spot because of the location, beauty, and remote feeling. Having a fire pit was great along with star gazing!"
Prepare for extreme temperature swings: Desert elevations mean hot days and cold nights. A camper at SR 98 reported, "Very quiet, no traffic, and great views. The road is in good shape—our stock extended Transit had no issues."
Plan for limited shade: Many sites offer minimal natural protection from the sun. A visitor to North of Dinosaur CR16 described the area as "Top of a hill, sagebrush, no shade" with "Smooth dirt road leading to short turn off loop with a fire ring."
Wildlife awareness: Teach children about local wildlife safety. At the Dinosaur Dispersed Site, a camper mentioned, "The train ran once in the evening. There are several fire pits from the looks of it. No amenities but lots of deer!"
Tips from RVers
Cell service for remote work: Many locations offer surprisingly good connectivity. A camper at SR 98, Rangely CO mentioned, "4 bars of Verizon. Pack it in, pack it out." Similarly, at North of Dinosaur CR16, a visitor noted, "Peaceful low-mid T-Mobile."
Access road reconnaissance: Check access roads before committing to a campsite. One RVer at Dragon Trail advised, "Note that many side roads are deadend in .5+ miles to oil and gas pads so recon first."
Maintain adequate supplies: With most sites located 10-15 minutes from towns, plan accordingly. A visitor at McCoy Flats shared, "This place was wide open but is susceptible to wind, which makes this a great area for vans, RVs or trailers. But if there is no wind, tents are awesome."
Parking challenges: Some sites have limited flat areas for larger vehicles. At South Plug Hat Butte Camping, a camper observed it was "Perfect for pop-up truck camper" but challenging for larger vehicles.
