Dispersed camping options near Hurricane, Utah offer free overnight stays on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. This desert region sits at approximately 3,200 feet elevation with temperature extremes ranging from over 100°F in summer to below freezing in winter. Most sites feature no facilities and require campers to bring all supplies, including water and waste disposal methods.
What to do
Mountain biking on established trails: Gooseberry Mesa offers excellent mountain biking opportunities with maintained trails. "Gooseberry mesa biking is incredible," notes one visitor at Gooseberry Mesa. Another camper mentioned "There are hiking and biking trails all around so expect bikers but not too intrusive."
Creek access for cooling off: During hot months, some sites provide water access. At North Creek Dispersed Camping, one camper explained: "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!"
Stargazing without light pollution: The distance from urban areas creates excellent night sky viewing. "Stars were fantastic!" reported a camper at Hurricane Cliffs BLM Dispersed sites 40-48. Another visitor mentioned "Night time since you're on the main road can get bright and a little noisy... however the view makes it worth it."
What campers like
Good cell service for remote work: Many sites offer unexpected connectivity. A camper at Hurricane Cliffs BLM Dispersed Sites 20-35 spur reported: "I had 8-12 MB download and 12-15 upload speeds on my internet Verizon based." Another noted, "Very strong (20mbps) cell reception on both ATT and T-Mobile."
Easy access to Zion National Park: The rustic camping areas provide affordable bases for park exploration. "Only 30 minutes from Zion south entrance," reported one visitor about Hurricane Cliffs. Another camper at Kolob Terrace Road noted: "A really cool spot close to Zion... Pretty views up the valley."
Established fire rings at most sites: Many locations have pre-existing fire pits. "Sites are clearly marked about 5-10mins from the info board. Heaps of room!" wrote one camper. Another mentioned, "There are fire rings at each campsite and plenty of space (2-3 cars)."
What you should know
Road conditions vary significantly: Access roads can be challenging depending on recent weather. "The road is bumpy going in just take it slow," advises a visitor to LaVerkin Overlook. Another camper described Sheep Bridge Road as "pretty Washboarded right now. It is doable going slow, but your gonna rattle you're innards a bit."
Expect high winds in open areas: The Hurricane region gets its name honestly. A camper at Leeds Canyon Dispersed #1 reported: "It was also very windy at night (but not during the day) when I went... it was windy enough that I was getting legitimately worried about the well-being of my tent."
Sites fill quickly during peak seasons: Arrive early to secure preferred spots. "If you want a good spot, you should come really early. I got here at around 3 o'clock in the afternoon and it was almost full already," warned one camper. Another noted, "Spring Break week every site was packed. We had to wait for someone to vacate before finding something that would work."
Tips for camping with families
Look for creek-adjacent sites: Water access provides entertainment for children. "Great flat sandy sites. Easy to set up! Creek was dry but trees were lovely!" noted one camper. Another mentioned, "If you have a vehicle with high clearance, take the creek crossing and you will have many more options!"
Pack extra cleaning supplies: The desert environment creates constant dust. A visitor shared: "It was a nice spread out camp area. There were a couple of other vans there but the trees and campgrounds offered a fair bit of privacy."
Choose sites near vault toilets: Limited facilities exist at certain locations. "This particular spur has a trailhead at the end so there's a handful of cars going down to check that out but nothing major," explained a camper at Hurricane Cliffs. Another visitor to Gooseberry Mesa mentioned, "vault toilets at both trailheads but no water."
Tips from RVers
Scout first before bringing large rigs: Many access roads require planning. "Took a standard sized RV from Cruise America to site number 31 off of sheep bridge road. Access is from the trailhead signage and parking lot in between route 9 and 59 on sheep bridge. Site was huge, flat and had a solid fire ring," reported one RVer at Hurricane Cliffs BLM Dispersed sites 20-35 spur.
Longer rigs require specific site selection: Not all dispersed areas accommodate large vehicles. One camper advised, "We got in late but found a nice spot a little close to the road, but no pm noise. 5 am lots of cars heading to the bike trail near by. The road got a little dust and is washboard, but very passable with our truck and 26 ft trailer."
Solar power works well in open areas: The lack of tree cover benefits solar setups. "While the vegetation is very short it gives you 100% sunshine for your solar," noted an RVer. Another mentioned, "Wide open, strong solar all but 1 day."
