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Best Dispersed Camping near Hanksville, UT

321 Reviews

Dispersed camping areas near Hanksville, Utah provide free primitive camping options on public lands. The region features several notable sites including Goblin Valley dispersed areas (East and West), Temple Mountain Road dispersed sites, and Capitol Reef National Park dispersed camping. These undeveloped areas offer solitude and direct access to nearby attractions without fees. According to reviews, the East Dispersed Area near Goblin Valley has "several wide open flat areas to stay in" before turning onto the state park road, with sites accessible to various vehicle types.

No amenities exist at these dispersed sites. Campers must bring all water, pack out all trash, and properly dispose of human waste. Cell service varies significantly by location and carrier, with most areas having limited or no connectivity. Several campers noted that while the Goblin Valley entrance station has WiFi and a water standpipe available for dispersed campers, garbage disposal requires paying the $20 vehicle entrance fee to the state park.

Road conditions vary considerably throughout the region. Many sites require high-clearance vehicles, especially for accessing more remote locations. As one reviewer warned, "The dirt roads off the main road close to the state park are very rutted and washed out." Most areas near Goblin Valley feature level sites with good views but no shade, leaving campers exposed to winds. Weather conditions can be extreme, with high winds common and temperatures ranging from over 90°F in summer to below freezing in winter. Fire regulations follow standard BLM rules, with restrictions often in place during dry seasons. The standard stay limit for most dispersed camping in this area is 14 days.

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Hanksville, Utah (94)

    1. Dispersed Campground - Goblin Valley

    20 Reviews
    Hanksville, UT
    15 miles

    "The swell is beautiful and has miles and miles of open BLM to camp in! Boondock your trailer and you’ll have the place to yourself! Great for ATVs, stargazing, hiking and solitude."

    "Nearby there is commiting trad and sport climbs as well as difficult canyoneering routes."

    2. East Dispersed Area — Goblin Valley State Park

    14 Reviews
    Hanksville, UT
    14 miles

    "It costs $35 to camp in the State Park or $20 entrance fee, but there are so many dispersed spots in the BLM area right outside the state park boundaries. "

    "Paved road until turn off to sites. The dirt road to the sites was in good condition and no problem for Tahoe pulling 24 ft camper. Stayed at site2."

    3. Moonscape Overlook

    1 Review
    Hanksville, UT
    9 miles

    "Otherwise it was fairly quiet and we were one of three small groups camping overnight at the edge of the cliffs."

    4. West Dispersed Area — Goblin Valley State Park

    4 Reviews
    Hanksville, UT
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 781-4400

    "Run by Goblin Valley SP, the dispersed camping is incredible. It's located between the SP and Little Wild Horse canyon and offers an eastern and western section to camp."

    "The kids really enjoyed this location until about 10 in the morning! But it was very secluded and nice and you could see another site from it but no one was there."

    5. BLM Mix Pad Dispersed - Cathedral Valley

    6 Reviews
    Capitol Reef National Park, UT
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 587-1500

    "The dirt road should be accessible to most vehicles."

    "We made our own and enjoyed a nice fire but the wind makes it brutal when tent camping. All in all, great spot just outside of Capital Reef."

    6. Temple Mt. Rd. Dispersed

    9 Reviews
    Hanksville, UT
    20 miles

    "We had plenty of space for our 2 camper vans and easily accessible. There’s lots to do in the area; walking/hiking/MTB from the sites. No cell signal."

    "We found a nice spot after turning down both BLM campgrounds. It was very windy during our visit with wind whipping down the canyon. Over all it was reasonably quiet."

    7. Goblin Valley Dispersed Camping

    2 Reviews
    Hanksville, UT
    14 miles

    8. West Temple Road in Goblin Valley

    6 Reviews
    Hanksville, UT
    19 miles

    "Not much space and nobody else here, close to a quiet road, very basic site on top of a small mesa"

    "Can hear highway. Cell service was only one bar with Verizon."

    9. Capitol Reef National Park Dispersed Camping

    50 Reviews
    Torrey, UT
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 425-3791

    "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."

    "We were not planning on going to Capitol Reef on our Utah trip but we got some unexpected snow at Canyonlands so we headed out early. So glad we made the trip!"

    10. Hanksille UT Dispersed site Hwy 24

    1 Review
    Hanksville, UT
    3 miles
    Website
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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Hanksville, UT

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Hanksville, UT

321 Reviews of 94 Hanksville Campgrounds

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 3, 2022

    East Dispersed Area — Goblin Valley State Park

    Beautiful Area

    It costs $35 to camp in the State Park or $20 entrance fee, but there are so many dispersed spots in the BLM area right outside the state park boundaries. 

    Before you turn onto the road to take you to the state park there are several wide open flat areas to stay in. This area is pretty busy with boondockers but we found a secluded spot 1/2 mile from the Wild Horse trail head at 38.5815894,-110.7954139. There are several spots that are reachable by RV, but further back you’ll need high clearance and possible 4x4. 

    The dirt roads off the main road close to the state park are very rutted and washed out. The roads were doable in our 26’ class C but not really worth it when there are so many other easier options. 

    There is no water here and no trash service so pack in and pack out including your digested food.:) 

    There are pit toilets at the Wild Horse Trailhead, and there appeared to be some overnight campers at the trailhead as well. 

    No cell service from any carrier, and our cell booster did not help.

  • SwitchbackKids
    Jun. 26, 2017

    Capitol Reef National Park Dispersed Camping

    Free and easy access to Capitol Reef National Park!

    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)

  • Amber A.
    Aug. 31, 2016

    Blue Notch Canyon Primitive — Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

    Lake Powell shoreline dispersed camping

    You really need a jeep to explore this area. It’s incredibly beautiful here: the Utah you picture when your wanderlust kicks up. The campground is a primitive dispersed site along the lake with amazing views all around. This is Bureau of Land Management camping so it’s free and extremely basic, but they do provide drinking water in one place. There are a few little stone pits for fires but I don’t know if they restrict fire making (we used our gas stove to be safe). I hope to return someday.

  • Marc G.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 26, 2021

    Beas Lewis Flat Dispersed

    Beautiful boondocking between Torrey and Capitol Reef NP

    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

  • Greg L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2022

    BLM Mineral Point Dispersed Camping Area

    Nice free dispersed close in.

    This BLM two track sandy road is first open road on left past Horsethief BLM fee campground. Road goes about .6 mile and ends. About 10+ nice free dispersed spots, nothing designated but areas are obvious. Rock fire ring is all you get. No tables, no water, no trash. But cell signal is not bad. This area is best for high clearance tenters or Overlander types...the farther down the road it gets more slick rock ledgey bumpy. I would not haul a TT or drive a RV down there but sure some will.

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

    Black Dragon Pictograph Panel Dispersed

    Great Hiking

    First off do not pay attention to google directions as it will take you out of the way through a wash. There is quite an easy turn off right off of highway 70 (whether heading east or west, you can turn north off the highway). Once you turnoff of the highway there is a gate that may or may not be closed so once you go through leave it how you found it. 

    Follow the very manageable dirt road and there will be multiple pull out areas to camp in. The closer to the highway the more busy it is so keep driving. We found a small pull out between the two trails that take you on hike to the Spirit Arches and Petroglyphs and the other up through the wash to the pictographs. 

    The hike to the pictographs is much more interesting as you enter the narrow canyon. There are several spots that are reachable by RV, but further back you’ll need high clearance and possible 4x4. 

    There is no camping allowed within the canyon. At the trailhead though there are a few large areas for camping but probably easier with higher clearance. There is no bathroom, trash or water so pack in and pack out even that which you have already digested.;) 

    No cell service from ATT, Verizon or TMobile, but was able to get a bar or two on Verizon with the cell booster.  Oddly we did have cell reception on the hike within the canyon.

  • Pat S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 13, 2020

    Temple Mt. Rd. Dispersed

    Dispersed campimg along Temple Mt. Rd

    This is a cool wilderness area. It is state land in between BLM land.  This is an area between the Temple Mt. Campground East and the Temple Mt Campground a few miles NW. We reconned up and down Temple Mt rd. and the campgrounds. The dispersed camping seemed to be the best option for us. The two CG's in the area do have pit toilets but that seems to be the only plus. The East CG is super open and seemed like a staging area. The other CG had some ruins but was also open with no cover. We found a little space on the northeast side of the road back in a canyon that was nice. Only bad thing were the gnats. Last part of May and early part of June apparently is a bad time for gnats in the Utah desert.  

    There are quite a few spots on either side of the road that are kind of established with fire rings made from rock that people have put together. You can scramble over the rocks and hike through the washes. Some attractions near by are the pictograph panel, Temple Mt. ,Wild Horse Window, and Goblin Valley SP. There are also antelope in the area. This is a good place to stage out of if you can't get a spot in the Goblin Valley CG.  Remember there is no trash bins so pack it in and pack it out. Bury your poop.

  • Greg L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 20, 2023

    Goblin Valley Lower Wildhorse Dispersed Camp

    Easy access dispersed area

    This area is accessed by 4 double track dirt roads on right as you pass the new but uncompleted sign for the expanded Goblin Valley St Park. This area used to be BLM dispersed camping but was made part of goblin a year or so ago. Goblin still allows free dispersed on these sites as of 9.2023 but that could change in future? These two track roads go to the trailhead signs for Wildhorse Window and Wildhorse Canyon hikes. Nice level sites with good views but no shade and exposed to winds. Cell signal is dependent on line of sight to Hanksville cell tower. Goblin entrance station has wifi and a water stand pipe they let dispersed campers use. No garbage dumpsters unless you pay to access goblin park at $20 vehicle.

    There is also more free dispersed past the Goblin entrance station going out to Little Wildhorse slot canyon, but those areas have longer very rough access roads to get to camp sites and would likely be a problem with loose sand in spots or mud if wet. Plus no cell since on lee side of big Mesa feature.

    Note the two BLM developed fee CGs on Temple wash do not have water or trash.

  • Megan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 17, 2025

    Beas Lewis Flat Dispersed

    Easy drive in dispersed camping

    Easy drive in, wide, dirt roads. Must be at least a hundred different sites. Some are group sites with multiple fire pits all close together and there are several other roads leading to many other spots. Not much shading due to the short trees and shrubbery. Temps when I stayed were 60⁰s during the day and low 20⁰s at night. No dumping, no connections, this is off grid camping/boondocking.

Guide to Hanksville

Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Hanksville, Utah, where stunning landscapes and remote sites await outdoor enthusiasts. This area offers a variety of options for those looking to escape into nature without the constraints of traditional campgrounds.

Tips for free and dispersed camping near Hanksville, Utah

  • Many dispersed sites, such as Goblin Valley Lower Wildhorse Dispersed Camp, are located just a short drive from Goblin Valley State Park, providing easy access to hiking and breathtaking views.
  • Be prepared for limited amenities; for instance, Temple Mt. Rd. Dispersed offers no water or trash services, so plan accordingly and pack out what you bring in.
  • The area can get windy, especially at higher elevations, so consider sites like West Temple Road in Goblin Valley that provide some natural windbreaks.

Goblin Valley State Park for dispersed campers

  • The Goblin Valley st Park dispersed camp area is known for its stunning sunrises and sunsets, making it a perfect spot for photography enthusiasts.
  • This area allows for a variety of camping styles, accommodating both tents and RVs, with many sites offering seclusion from other campers.
  • While there are no toilets or trash services, the proximity to Goblin Valley State Park means you can enjoy the park's amenities during the day while returning to your peaceful site at night.

Dispersed campers should check out Fremont River

  • The Fremont River Dispersed Site offers a unique experience right by the water, providing ample space and privacy for a relaxing stay.
  • This site is conveniently located near Capitol Reef National Park, making it an excellent base for exploring the park's stunning landscapes and hiking trails.
  • With no cell service and a tranquil environment, this spot is ideal for those looking to disconnect and immerse themselves in nature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there free camping available near Hanksville, Utah?

Yes, free camping is abundant near Hanksville. Beas Lewis Flat Dispersed offers numerous free sites with a 14-day stay limit just outside Torrey, perfect for exploring Capitol Reef National Park. BLM Mineral Point Dispersed Camping Area, found on the first left past Horsethief BLM fee campground, provides about 10+ nice free spots with rock fire rings but no amenities. The area around Goblin Valley also has free dispersed camping options on BLM land right outside the state park boundaries, avoiding the $35 camping fee or $20 entrance fee for the park itself. Remember that all these areas are primitive with no services, so pack accordingly.

Where are the best spots for dispersed camping near Hanksville, Utah?

The Hanksville area offers excellent dispersed camping options. East Dispersed Area — Goblin Valley State Park provides numerous flat sites just before the turn to the state park entrance. Another popular option is Temple Mt. Rd. Dispersed, which offers wilderness camping between the Temple Mountain campgrounds. For those exploring Capitol Reef, numerous spots are available along dirt roads outside park boundaries. The area around Goblin Valley is particularly popular with wide-open spaces on BLM land. Many sites feature basic fire rings but no amenities, so come prepared with everything you need including water and waste disposal plans.

What BLM land can I camp on around Hanksville?

The Hanksville area is surrounded by extensive BLM lands offering numerous camping opportunities. Goblin Valley Lower Wildhorse Dispersed Camp is accessed via four double-track dirt roads past the Goblin Valley State Park sign. While recently incorporated into the park boundaries, it still allows free dispersed camping. Black Dragon Pictograph Panel Dispersed offers accessible camping with an easy turnoff from Highway 70. Other BLM options include the areas around Capitol Reef National Park, the San Rafael Swell region, and lands surrounding Glen Canyon Recreation Area. Most BLM sites have a 14-day stay limit and minimal amenities, typically just fire rings.

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