Dispersed camping areas near Hildale, Utah extend across the region's high desert plateau, which averages 3,500-4,000 feet in elevation. The landscape features juniper forests, sagebrush flats, and sandstone formations with temperature swings of 30-40 degrees between day and night common during spring and fall camping seasons. Road conditions vary widely based on recent weather, with flash floods occasionally transforming dry creek beds into impassable routes during monsoon season.
What to do
Mountain biking at Gooseberry Mesa: Located about 30 minutes from Hildale, this area offers world-class mountain biking trails with technical slickrock sections. "Gooseberry mesa biking is incredible. The road to the mesa is very washboarded and will rattle the daylights out of your car. The sites are fairly spaced out and have great views," notes one visitor to Gooseberry Mesa.
Swimming in Virgin River: During summer months, cool off at nearby water access points. "It's about a 20 minute drive from Zion NP. You can get some refreshment under the trees and in the river," reports a camper staying at North Creek Dispersed Camping.
Stargazing: The remote locations offer minimal light pollution for exceptional night sky viewing. "Eye candy from this location made us not want to leave. The sunset, the moon, horizon to horizon of billions of seen stars, and a gorgeous sunset," describes a visitor to Hurricane Cliffs area.
Explore slot canyons: Several accessible slot canyons exist within driving distance. "Just minutes from Belly of the Dragon and 10 minutes from parking lot turn off to Peekaboo Slot," writes a camper who stayed at Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping.
What campers like
Creek access for cooling off: Several sites offer water proximity during hot weather. "The stream is a great place to put some chairs and cool off. I will definitely be coming back here on my next Zion trip!" shares a visitor to North Creek Dispersed Camping.
Distance from Zion National Park: Many campers appreciate the convenient staging areas for park visits. "About 15 minute drive outside of east entrance to Zion National Park. Accessibility was good (old broken up paved road that turns to gravel so no 4x4 needed)," notes a camper at BLM Road #71 Gravel Pit Dispersed - BLM.
Cell service availability: Several dispersed camping areas maintain usable connections. "Nice place with good enough cell to work remote...Riverside spots are mostly for vans/tents. Wind and heat were rough for my stay but this was a better move than out in the open as there is some tree cover," reports a camper at North Creek.
Pre-established fire rings: Many sites feature established fire pits. "Great flat sandy sites. Easy to set up! Creek was dry but trees were lovely!" mentions a camper about free camping near the North Creek area.
What you should know
Road conditions require preparation: Many access roads have challenging sections. "Road in was bad washboard first few miles. At the turn it's gets better. Fairly level sites with great views. Good cell service with verizon," notes a camper at Gooseberry Mesa.
Weather extremes impact planning: Temperature swings and wind conditions can be significant. "It's called Hurricane for a reason! Very easy pull off the highway and gorgeous views. Nice spot when it's not windy. Wind came up around midnight and it was like being in a hurricane for 5 hours," warns a visitor to Hurricane Cliffs BLM dispersed #54.
Seasonal crowding: Popular areas fill quickly during peak seasons. "We were a little cautious after reading some of the other reviews but we had a great nights sleep here. A large space, others joined us as the night went on and we weren't bothered by noise and were close to the stream," reports a camper at Kolob Terrace Road.
Limited amenities: No services available at any dispersed sites. "This place is fine if you're desperate- there's tons of spots! But the fields in and around the camp area are filled with human and animal poop...they really need to build some pit toilets or something out here because it is really gross!!" cautions a camper about certain BLM areas.
Tips for camping with families
Choose creek-side locations: Water access provides entertainment for children. "This site has numerous spots, most are close together but the campground was not full at all allowing plenty of space and privacy. There are sites on both sides of the creek," suggests a visitor to North Creek Dispersed Camping.
Consider privacy levels: Site selection impacts experience with neighbors. "We had a super sweet spot that was pretty secluded until... one moment where we really wish we had been secluded," notes a camper about BLM land camping near Kolob Terrace Road.
Plan for dust management: The fine desert dust impacts comfort. "The area was beautiful, but the campsites don't have tables or firepits. There was also a huge cattle ranch near where we camped, and the noise made it hard to sleep," reports a camper about general BLM lands.
Stay on designated routes: Many areas have private property interfaces. "This pull off is in the middle of a 7% down grade. So it can be challenging with traffic to make the turn. With that being said it is a beautiful area," advises a visitor to Mt Carmel Old 89 Dispersed Camping.
Tips from RVers
Arrival timing matters: For optimal site selection, arrive early. "Arrived in the dark but we were able to find a site in the 30's range- loved it especially when we woke up in the morning and saw the view. We stayed a second night tucked into a ravine next to some boulders and we definitely liked the wide open spot the first night best," shares an RVer at Hurricane Cliffs BLM Dispersed.
Prepare for basic conditions: Bring all necessary supplies. "It's easy to miss the turn onto the dirt road, so definitely scout it out on Google maps ahead of time. The road can be muddy and rutted after a rain, so take weather into account. That said, we got our 30 year old 30 foot motorhome in and out multiple times," notes an RVer about Kolob Terrace Road dispersed camping.
Consider height and length restrictions: Some areas better accommodate smaller vehicles. "The road is very bumpy and campsites are close enough to hear neighbors but not bad at all for free camping," reports a visitor about Hurricane Cliffs.
Scout locations in daylight: Navigation challenges increase after dark. "If you have a higher up car to get to where I went. I have a Honda HRV and took it really slow and didn't have any issues. I got to the location and kept going and found a shaded area at the bottom of a hill," suggests a camper about BLM land camping options.
