Best Dispersed Camping near Escalante, UT

This is an area of free dispersed camping along the FS Rd #117 (Tom Best Spring Rd). It is midway between Bryce NP and Red Canyon Recreation Area on the Dixie NF. The dispersed camping is along FS RD #117 ( good graded gravel road) for about the first 1.1 miles, after that camping restrictions are posted. Some of the side roads are dirt two track and also have many camping spots but beware wet weather on side roads. Cell service is very good for all providers. This area has no designated sites (yet) and there are no tables, metal fire rings, garbage dumpsters or toilets. However, at the main hwy across there is a rest area with a vault toilet.

After visiting two very popular Utah parks -- Zion and Bryce Canyon -- Capitol Reef was a breath of fresh air. And one of our favorite parts about visiting this park is that it was almost totally free!

When we arrived at the visitor center, they informed us that their only developed campground, Fruita Campground (first-come-first-served only, not reservable) was full for the night, and rangers were ready with a handout full of alternative camping areas. We had not dabbled into BLM (Bureau of Land Management) camping before, but this experience would encourage us to utilize it throughout the rest of our year-long trip to the national parks.

This “campground” is located about a mile outside of the national park, which allows great access to everything inside Capitol Reef. Usually free camping like this is harder to discover, but this pull-off is just off the road.

Benefits of camping in BLM land include the cost (free!), solitude (you can be as far away from people as you’d like), and easy access to the national park (in fact, most national parks are surrounded with National Forest Service or BLM land!). Downsides, of course, include the lack of amenities, the sometimes uninspiring scenery, and the feeling of uneasiness (can I really just camp here? For free?)

Capitol Reef’s BLM camping is plentiful, but this site was definitely the best. We were able to drive up on a high ridge of the pull-out area that the RVs could not easily access, so we felt alone and watched the gorgeous sunsets from our campsite each night.

During our five days in the park, we had some favorite activities: backpacking in Upper Muley Creek, hiking to Cassidy Arch, picking and eating fruit right off the trees in the historic orchards, hiking the tough Navajo Knobs trail, and, most of all, the Sulphur Creek trail through a narrow beautiful creek with three waterfalls to climb down.

You can read much more about our four days in the park on our blog: Switchback Kids (Capitol Reef)

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!

Upon entering Bryce National Park last year we discovered all of the campgrounds were full. We decided to ask a park ranger where else we could camp, he handed us a map (in the pictures) and sent us on our way. About 5-10 minutes outside of the park there is a series of dirt roads on the left hand side that offers free dispersed camping. Forest road 090 or 1173, the main road in the area is called The Great Western Trail.

The spots here are your typical dispersed camping, with no official marking for sites. No picnic tables or restrooms and there a no fire rings. We found a nice clearing with a rock fire ring already made. While driving down the dirt road we did see a few RV's and trailers, i would say you could comfortably take any vehicle down this way to spend a night camping. The road was fairly well maintained, a few bumps and holes along the way but nothing major. Id say all in all we drove about 10 or 15 minutes to find a camp spot.

The distance back to the National Park was about 10-15 minutes from our camp spot, well worth it to stay outside the park and save some money as well as have a nice quiet and private area. The directions we were given by the park ranger had us take an immediate left after the Bryce Canyon NP sign onto rd 090. We eventually found a spot about a mile or so down that area.

Note on the map, if you follow road 087 down towards the reservoir, the Park Service recommends this as the best place to view wildlife before dusk. Next time you are down in the area, try out these spots. You will not be disappointed.

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.

Bryce Canyon campgrounds were full, as well as the nearby designated campsites at Red Canyon.   We showed up at the nearby forest ranger's office who directed us to some nearby dispersed camping on the edge of Dixie National Forest.

This is dispersed camping, so no:

• Restrooms
• Water
• Trash
• Hookups/dumps
• Shops

Although since there is a designated campground just down the road, you can easily go there for water, restrooms, and trash.

This CG provided a good alternative to getting to Bryce Canyon without the mess of trying to get a reservation.  Red Canyon is also in between this site and the national park, which had some nice hikes and views of the hoodoos

Maybe we’re scardy cats. But there was no one else around us, and after the sun went down a spooky vibe took me and my 2 friends over. We ended up sleeping in the car and leaving first thing in the morning. Is 9 miles down a road, away from civilization. Definitely back country camping, and not for the faint of heart. Camp at your own risk. crazy beautiful views tho!!

Perfect level spot with a small rock fire ring & great sunrise & sunset views. On BLM land. T-Mobile cell service

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. Chose a site relatively close to the forest service road. If you're sensitive to dust may want to choose a site further off the access road as there is lots of dust kicked up every time someone drove in or out on the gravel. Convenient location to Bryce (about 15 minutes). Cell service for Verizon.

When the rigs pulling in and out stopped, the only sounds were the braying of cows (the herd wandered into the site) and the wind blowing.

Views! Peaceful! Free!

Small turnout, maybe 3 cars and an RV. Not much to do or see except a nice small river. Met a local that told me it is okay to stay overnight. Not sure if it is BLM land though.

This area is great for dispersed camping near Red Canyon and before you get to Bryce Canyon NP. Plenty of dispersed camping spots. There are no restrooms, water or electricity. Ponderosa Pine trees. Have stayed here several times.

When the Fruita campground is full an alternative is to camp for free on BLM land. We chose a spot 9 miles East of the historic district. As you approach the park heading West on UT24 turn left onto Notom Bullfrog Road. The first pullout in the left has several areas to park, some with rock fire rings. We chose the highest hilltop and pointed our window SW for the expansive view of the water pocket fold. For restrooms we used the NPS orientation point vault toilets located on the corner of UT24 and Notom Bullfrog Road, just a few seconds drive.

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

Right off of Hwy 12. If you take the first left turn off the main road, there are some awesome spots with great views. Nice level spots with fire pits. Roads are decent. Very quiet first week in Sept.

There’s a gas station 2 miles down the road. Very close to Bryce Canyon. Great free camping spot.

We spent a week along Beas Lewis Flat Road just outside of Torrey, to explore Capitol Reef National Park. This is free BLM dispersed camping with a 14-day stay limit, no sites or services provided. The first camping areas off of UT-24 get crazy busy, to the point that it looked more like a crowded RV park than a peaceful boondocking area; however, make a right just past the cattle grate and you can go several miles back in, in search of solitude. Just after making that right there's a small dry wash to cross that requires some clearance and decent approach/departure angles, but other than that the condition of the road is superb. Views stretch to the red rock cliffs north of UT-24 from Torrey to the National Park, including Capitol Reef itself and the Henry Mountains beyond. Cell service was solid on both Verizon and AT&T, and we had no issues working on VPN from our location or streaming HD video. There's a small general store in Torrey with a few staples and even a laundry available, but the nearest small-town supermarket is in Loa, 18 miles west of Torrey. We found the prices there to be reasonable given the location. You may get water and dump at the Fruita Campground inside the National Park for $5.
Watch our full-length video on both the camping and the National Park: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=296k\_D3AZIE

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.  This is the perfect location to get away from it all.  When you first arrive, you will see plenty of spots for RV's and travel trailers.  We traveled 1.8 miles and took a left turn on a small dirt road and found 5 or 6 campsites that were level and far away from each other. (We were the only one down this road).  

The site was level with a lot of space to spread out.  There was a firepit but no other facilities, so come prepared with everything you need. Due to fire restrictions, we didn't have a fire, and enjoyed seeing the Milky Way and shooting stars!  There is a pit toilet across the highway before you turn into the BLM land.  

We thought we would only stay for one night, but ended up there 2 nights since it was so beautiful!

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

Coming from Escalante, this site was one of the first high up the mountain that offered a long line of site. We pulled our van right in. There’s plenty of space and nice trees. Even though Escalante was hot, it was nice up here.

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!

i read that toms spring is closed on another site, and red canyon only has a couple sites so decided to come here since lots of sites along 12 miles of blm land! super easy to find a spot. just drive up the road til you find a dirt area that is available! we got lucky and found one with a fire pit made from rocks within the first mile or two. we played music and danced til 4 in the morning but nobody could see or hear us because the campsites are located so far from each other along the road. we went past 3 or 4 areas w campers before we found ours. we arrived late around 11:45pm. lots of stars out! was SO beautiful to wake up there in the morning! trees, seclusion, rock walls, quiet. lots of ppl did drive by in the morning to leave so if you are in a spot where you are camping somewhat close to the road, maybe bring ear plugs to pop in in the AM if you are sleeping there late. or park further off toward the other side of the spot away from the road. perfect spot! definitely stay here! ground was firm and easy for our van to travel on at least can say for the first few miles was. idk bout past that since didnt go that far.

We slept in our van which worked well because it seemed like most spots were on a hill or incline. The sites closer to the road are certainly bigger and more flat, but we had to drive a half-mile up the dirt road to find a spot away from others. Still, it worked as adequate secluded free camping outside of Bryce.

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.