Best Dispersed Camping near Joseph, UT

This spot is just into the Fishlake National Forest. There is nothing fancy about this location. It is just a grassy spot along the road as you start following the road into the national forest. There may very well be cattle in the area and that will depend on the time of the year. But, it would make a great base camp from which to ATV or ride horses.

No water available, Restroom is Vault toilet

Directions:

The Black Flat CUA Dispersed camping area is approximately 27.4 miles northeast of Loa. Head north on N Main St toward W 100 N St 0.6 miles. Turn right onto UT-72 N/E 500 N and stay on UT-72 N 9.6 miles. Turn right (east) onto FR015 for 5.6 miles. Turn left (west) on FR43F for 0.5 miles.

Take your fly rod, always remember to pinch your barbs. This includes meat-casters unless you are fishing to eat. 

Not crowded at all.

This site is located on the northerly side of the road. A number of fire pits exist in this area. It is readily apparent that others have stayed here in the past and it is a popular spot. Good only one other camper has been here in the 5 days that I have been here so far. There are any number of spots along this road that could be used for dispersed camping. The farther you go along the road the rougher it gets. I was able to find a lot of small sticks that had fallen off the trees to be able to use in my wood stove in a wall tent. It is about 5 and a 1/2 miles to the end of the road up the Canyon.

I found a spot on Eight Mile road, just off i-15, near the east side of the national forest. I drove up the dirt road for a while until I found a nice flat spot for the night. 

I could hear some road noise, but had 3+ bars of T-mobile 5g service. Not another person in sight except for maybe 2 cars that drove by during the night. Plenty of cows and cow patties around though!

Bonus: Eight mile road was a shortcut to westbound highway 50 and a nice way to start the drive in the morning.

Beautiful lake in Piute County near Antimony Utah. Large, level spot less than 6 yards from the water. A few large trees provide nice shade. There was even a picnic table.

Decent gravel roads made access easy. There were 3 different vault toilet locations nearby. Otter Creek State Park as well as a couple of RV parks and a store with a cafe are at one end of the lake.

Went kayaking at sunrise, the water was warm and smooth as glass! Be careful finding the right area to put in your kayak. We chose to do so along the shoreline near where we were camped, but sunk mid-calf in mud at the water's edge.

Saw lots of fish jumping in the water as well as ducks, gulls, geese, pelicans and more. Watched a deer stop by for a drink and a cow cross my camping spot.

The downside was pretty much no cell phone coverage.

There are 3 natural hot spring bath tubes on a private property in the meadows. Camping among the cows and having a bath in a natural hot tub while the sun is rising - it's a dream. There are a some camping spots around the springs and a sign that says "Enjoy and please donate" so the visit is by donation and not paying. The road to the hot tubs is very bumpy and mudy after a rain, better walk in. A very beautiful stop when you tired out from driving.

Wonderfully place for a night, Isolated and easy access. The coordinates are not correct, it s on the side of the lake, here are the one we used : 38.224007, -111.979199

If you’re looking for a fun backpacking camping trip where you’re guaranteed to see tons of wildlife, this is it. Not only will you avoid the crowded campgrounds, but you’ll be able to do it without hiking a million miles from your vehicle.

You can park at the trailhead and hike up only 2 miles before you start seeing deer and elk everywhere. You simply follow the river up the canyon, and choose from any of the small flat locations for tent camping, or pick a couple trees to hang a hammock. Choices are abundant. In the summer months, water is scarce so bring water. If the creek is full and running you can simply filter water.

There is a beautiful meadow area at the top of the trail before you begin to descend down the other side (another beautiful area).

Was able to hike in with my 8 year old, and he loved it. Great secluded dispersed spot for wildlife watching.

The drive in past the pavement was dusty, but not horrific. The road had been graded so there a lot of rocks on the surface of the road. No washboard. Campsite was fine. Just a few trees to keep us company. Bronco towing a Lance 1475.

Id say this place is good enough. Needed a spot in the area within 30 mins close to highway quiet dark secluded and it fit the bill

Pros:

No one else there

Vast huge area

Nice mountain view

Nice breeze 

Good temp in June

Beautiful night sky

Quiet enough in eve and early AM

Not many bugs

Super close to highway, right there

Flat!

Cons:

Some trash left behind in some areas

A highway patrol and dune buggy whizzed by next day super loud. There are giant mounds of gravel the dune buggy rides. We were there sleeping til 12pm tho so prob fine if u leave at a decent AM time

Could hear the highway slightly, not enough i needed ear plugs tho and Im sensitive to sound when sleeping

Got hot during day til 12pm

Its gravel

Not super nature-y cuz its all gravel under you and mounds of gravel, good views arnd far away tho

While we stayed here in our van without any trouble, there are nicer campgrounds around here.

Still, this was free and quick.

Some traffic even late at night, so only really best for van/car sleeping rather than setting up a tent.

Across the street is the lake and there is a store in the same parking lot.

We were looking for an easy place away from the interstate to split our drive from Idaho to St George in half.  There was no one here at all and found easy place with a tree to set up 26ft tt.  Let the dog roam free around meadow.  Further up are more sites but gets sandier and tighter

Arrived 3Jul24 at dusk.  There is standing water marsh with a frac tank, possibly for water for the quarry above.  Got out of the car to give dog a break and within one minute was scrambling back in.  Drove up hill to the quarry and got out with dog....still very bad mosquitos but some breeze.  Hid in the car while dog was out on a long rope for a while, covered with mosquitos.  After 10 minutes I had killed most that were in the car and the ones waiting at the doors and windows were gone.  I cracked the door and began pulling dog rope to get slack in and then had dog climb over me into back seat.

We drove east one Dyrt to Miller Canyon and it was AWESOME.  I remember maybe 3 mosquitos there.

There are only two things I can compare this savagery to (and I am in my late 50s):

Alaska (Last Chance Rd dispersed is WORSE--However, note that when I was in AK I wasn't asking for trouble--I was indoors during  mosquito hours--I am sure AK has mosquitos as bad as Last Chance if you go looking)

Canada Boundary Waters Boy Scout Canoe Base (about the same at dusk--only fools wouldn't have camp totally ready to be inside tents before mosquito hours.  Mornings were fine.

Great spot! The coordinates are incorrect so use the long/lat provided by someone in the comments. Woke up to snow and ducks!

We didn’t end up staying here because it was so windy, but if there wasn’t wind it would be a great place to stay. Multiple spots available along the river. There did seem to be someone who was living there, but there are spots available away from their spot. Picnic tables available!