Best Dispersed Camping near Montezuma Creek, UT

Montezuma Creek is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Discover secluded campsites where you can reconnect with nature. Or maybe you like to bring your family and friends along. Either way, there are Montezuma Creek campgrounds just for you. Find the best campgrounds near Montezuma Creek, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Montezuma Creek, Utah (49)

    1. BLM Dispersed on San Juan River

    8 Reviews
    Montezuma Creek, UT
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 587-1500

    "A little difficult to find the turn off when arriving at night but a fun bumpy road down to the bluff. Beautiful river view when you awake in the morning."

    "Lots of space to choose from with no amenities good views of sunrise and san juan river, recommend a somewhat off road capable vehicle for this area."

    2. Valley of the Gods Dispersed Camping

    46 Reviews
    Mexican Hat, UT
    28 miles
    Website

    "Plus even if your vehicle can handle the soft soils you'll wreck the road for everyone once the deep ruts dry out and harden."

    "Free primitive camping with amazing views. No facilities. Pack in and pack out. Plenty of spaces to chose from."

    3. Abandonded Bridge on San Juan River

    2 Reviews
    Bluff, UT
    11 miles

    "Thankfully we were the only ones there as it was difficult to maneuver our rig back around to be set up to leave."

    "Still here, was able to make it in with a 6” clearance. Close to front."

    4. Dispersed Mexican Hat Camping

    36 Reviews
    Mexican Hat, UT
    31 miles
    Website

    "After entering, the dirt road to the right takes you to camping in front of the Mexican Hat there’s quite a few spots that are big rig friendly."

    "Road condition: probably want all wheel drive, but you might get to some spots without it

    Fee: there’s a hand-painted sign that says to pay online but it was unclear who manages the site."

    5. Butler Wash Dispersed - Bears Ears

    4 Reviews
    Bluff, UT
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 587-1500

    "No way to get to Bears Ears National Monument unless I had a 4x4 and I have a Subaru outback. Found a great spot that was completely quiet and perfect for stargazing."

    "The ride on Lower Butler Wash Road to reach this site was no problem for our campervan. Crossed 2 dry washes; took it slow. One of several dispersed sites along road. The site is well off the road."

    6. Butler Wash Pay Station Dispersed Camping

    2 Reviews
    Bluff, UT
    19 miles

    "The Lower Butler Wash Road is home to many fantastic car and van camping options. The dirt road is well-maintained and suitable for most vehicles."

    "Dispersed camps are scattered all along this road to the north. No water, no trash, no toilets except the two porta-potties at the pay station. Cell signal is fair to no e depending on location."

    7. Comb Wash Dispersed Camping Area

    10 Reviews
    Blanding, UT
    26 miles
    Website

    "This is a dispersed camping area within Bears Ears National Monument. There are a few designated spots, as well as just open flat spaces where you can set up camp.  "

    "this spot was awesome. somewhat far away from amenities-Blanding is about 25 minutes away

    be prepared with water and let people know where you are-it can feel pretty isolating just because it’s dry and"

    8. Valley of the Gods Road Dispersed

    10 Reviews
    Mexican Hat, UT
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 587-1500

    "This time we got the remote site we were hoping for.

    Most sites are right off the main road. Easily accessible by rv’s and cars. Our site was off the main road."

    "The first spots at the beginning of the road were meh, best for an RV not my taste for tent camping as they are super open with little privacy from the road."

    9. Recapture Reservoir

    13 Reviews
    Blanding, UT
    29 miles

    "No signal but there is some at the bottom of the entrance.

    WARNING: if you don't have an off-road capable vehicle don't listen to the GPS, it took us down a super sketchy back road."

    "This one particular was one of the most beatiful dispersed camping areas we’ve visited. It is located on a shore of the lake (that you can swim in)."

    10. Cannonball Mesa

    2 Reviews
    Towaoc, CO
    21 miles

    "Very remote area. Beautiful night sky. and peace. The entrance is a gate in a private land, drive about 1 mile to BLM land, mostly dirt roads."

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Montezuma Creek, UT

248 Reviews of 49 Montezuma Creek Campgrounds


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

    Comb Wash Dispersed Camping Area

    Awesome Area

    This is a dispersed camping area within Bears Ears National Monument. There are a few designated spots, as well as just open flat spaces where you can set up camp.  The first few spots are accessible by any vehicle, just watch the soft sandy road after a rain. 

    We found a spot close to the main road and didn't have a problem in our 26ft class c.

    Further back you'll find more sites, but you'll have to cross a wash and the sites will likely need a 4wd & high clearance vehicle.

    No cell service. 

    No amenities other than vault toilets. No garbage service.  Area was nice and clean, hopefully it stays that way.

    Some of the sites have picnic tables and a metal fire ring, but some have nothing other than a stone fire ring to mark the spot. 

    No fee.

    Beautiful area, nice hiking and walking available in this whole area.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 1, 2023

    Valley of the Gods Road Dispersed

    Easy to access amazing sunsets!

    Second time camping with my kids here. This time we got the remote site we were hoping for.

    Most sites are right off the main road. Easily accessible by rv’s and cars. Our site was off the main road. Don’t venture off the main road without high clearance and perhaps 4 wheel drive. If you can tho the few sites set up this way are even more remote and awesome!

    Only bummer was no campfires allowed at this time.

    It is hot in July, but cools off at night. Constant breeze, no bugs. Bring shade as there are no trees except for a couple of spots by dry river beds. The trees do bring bids with them…

    Amazing views and no light pollution or sound at night.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 14, 2023

    Snow Flat Camp 13 - Bears Ears

    Worth the Drive Up

    Snow Flat Rd is rough in a few places for a non-high clearance vehicle, but it's worth it. This site was really good for my campervan, but I don't recommend the drive to this spot for larger campers. The site was large & relatively flat. Had a clean rock fire ring. Private area nearby for toilet setup. Wonderful view from the top of this mesa. Wildflowers were blooming at the site. Site was well off the road. There were a handful of offroaders passing by on their way to/from Comb Wash. Otherwise, very quiet & peaceful. No amenities. No T-Mobile nor AT&T service.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 24, 2024

    Picket Road BLM

    Quiet with view

    A big rig friendly place with space for several cars. The road get a little washed out the further you drive in. High clearance and 4x4 recommended especially when it’s raining. Stunning view

  • Steve M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 27, 2024

    Butler Wash Dispersed - Bears Ears

    Secluded, serene, and silent beauty!

    Way up there where it's hard to breathe! Had to do things slowly and deliberately but a beautiful setting. No way to get to Bears Ears National Monument unless I had a 4x4 and I have a Subaru outback. Found a great spot that was completely quiet and perfect for stargazing. No bear issues but no facilities of any kind whatsoever. Go prepare!

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 2, 2024

    Abajo Flat Camp

    Beautiful Spot

    We needed a place to overnight on our way to AZ. This site is about 3 miles off the highway with the last 1.5 miles on a decent dirt road. I think it would be hard to navigate in the rain/wet.

    Beautiful views!

    There is room for a couple of rigs if they aren't too big. We have a Ford F350 with a 21-foot TT. There is room to turn around

  • Casawndra P.
    Jan. 17, 2022

    Comb Wash Dispersed Camping Area

    Super Cool-Middle of Nowhere

    Comb Ridge is incredible, read about it!

    this spot was awesome. somewhat far away from amenities-Blanding is about 25 minutes away

    be prepared with water and let people know where you are-it can feel pretty isolating just because it’s dry and no service

    very spaced out-i stayed in one of the first areas so i can’t speak to how good the road is but it is dirt and sand.

    i had no service

    felt very safe!🤍

    Pack in pack out-leave no trace and that also means don’t leave trash in the campfire ring🤍

  • Jeff V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 24, 2025

    Valley of the Gods Dispersed Camping

    Great Place, but bring water and firewood

    It's a breathtakingly beautiful spot with a fair amount of simple pull offs for camping.  Unless it's raining or just finished there won't be any water.  There is precious little vegetation as well, but a fair amount of rock outcroppings to block the wind, which howls come spring and is far more common than precipitation.

    Speaking of which, don't push your luck if it has rained recently, as the clay softens and becomes slick, packing around tires, and everything else.  Plus even if your vehicle can handle the soft soils you'll wreck the road for everyone once the deep ruts dry out and harden.

    Some sites have fire rings but that's the extent of facilities, although there might be a port-a-potty by the western entrance to the road, closer to the Moki Dugway.   Summers get hot, and I'd head up to Cedar Mesa if so. 

    There ample dispersed camping on Cedar Mesa, as well as plenty of scraps to get a fire going.  This is one of the greatest concentrations of smaller Ancestral Puebloan (formerly Anasazi, which is controversial and regarded as insulting by today's Pueblo tribes) villages, so there are a life time of ruins to explore.  

    Researching ahead of time will pay off, but both the BLM station by the Kane Gulch trailhead and the Natural Bridges National Monument visitor center have maps, guidebooks, and advice.  Please follow the regulations, as this is a sacred ancestral site for numerous indigenous peoples. 

    The Recapture Lodge at the east end of Bluff has decades worth of old maps to hidden sites for those who want a hotel (I recommend them highly, having visited off and on since the 1990s).  They'll give great advice if asked. 

    Both Natural Bridges and Hovenweap offer something precious in short supply across southern Utah, amazing and beautiful hiking, abundant ruins, and few visitors (this is the rare part).  Both are far more enjoyable than Arches or Zion, which are now overrun by tourists. 

    Valley of the Gods, Cedar Mesa, and the nearby national monuments (also Canyonlands, which isn't as packed as the other famous national parks) offer a chance to experience Utah's red rock country without standing shoulder to shoulder with other visitors.  That's getting increasingly difficult to find as the beauty of the region is well known by now. 

    p.s. Those wanting even more solitude should ask about the off site ruins managed by Hovenweap: you'll often have these to yourself.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 16, 2025

    Burch Canyon Road near Natural Bridges National Monument

    Great boon docking near Natural Bridges National monument and Bears Ears

    Very nice boon docking area near Natural Bridges national Monument.  No toilets or water but the visitors center is a short drive and has restrooms open 24 hours, WIFI and fresh drinking water.  At least 20 campsites.


Guide to Montezuma Creek

Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Montezuma Creek, Utah, where stunning landscapes and serene environments await outdoor enthusiasts. This area offers a variety of spots for those looking to escape into nature without the constraints of traditional campgrounds.

Scenic River Views while free camping near Montezuma Creek

  • Enjoy breathtaking morning views at the BLM Dispersed on San Juan River, where the river's beauty is complemented by peaceful surroundings.
  • The access road may be rocky, but it's manageable for most vehicles, making it a great choice for those seeking adventure and stunning vistas.
  • With no facilities available, this spot encourages a true back-to-nature experience, perfect for those who appreciate solitude and natural beauty.

Stargazing Opportunities for dispersed campers

  • The Butler Wash Dispersed - Bears Ears area is renowned for its clear night skies, making it an ideal location for stargazing enthusiasts.
  • Visitors have reported complete silence and minimal light pollution, allowing for an unobstructed view of the stars.
  • Be prepared for a remote experience, as there are no facilities, ensuring a true escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Tips for free and dispersed camping near Montezuma Creek, Utah

  • When visiting the Valley of the Gods, be ready for windy conditions, especially in the afternoons, but enjoy the stunning landscapes that make it worth the trip.
  • Many dispersed sites, like those at Mexican Hat Rock, provide ample space for privacy, so you can enjoy your camping experience without feeling crowded.
  • Always practice Leave No Trace principles, especially in areas like Comb Wash Dispersed Camping Area, where maintaining the natural beauty is essential for future visitors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Montezuma Creek dispersed camping located in Utah?

Montezuma Creek dispersed camping is located in southeastern Utah within Bears Ears National Monument. This area is part of the larger region that includes Comb Wash Dispersed Camping Area and Butler Wash Dispersed - Bears Ears. Most sites are accessible via dirt roads, with some requiring high clearance vehicles, especially after rain. The area is approximately 25 minutes from the town of Blanding, which is the closest location for supplies and amenities.

Are there any amenities at Montezuma Creek dispersed camping sites?

Montezuma Creek dispersed camping offers minimal amenities, typical of true backcountry camping. Like Valley of the Gods Dispersed Camping, you'll find no water sources, toilets, or trash services. Some sites may have primitive fire rings. For basic services, campers can visit nearby Burch Canyon Road near Natural Bridges National Monument, where the visitor center offers 24-hour restrooms, drinking water, and WiFi. Come prepared with all necessary supplies including plenty of water, food, and waste disposal bags.

What activities can you do while camping at Montezuma Creek?

Montezuma Creek offers excellent stargazing opportunities similar to those at Dispersed Mexican Hat Camping, with minimal light pollution for spectacular night skies. The area provides access to hiking trails throughout Bears Ears National Monument, archaeological sites, and stunning desert landscapes. Photography is popular at sunrise and sunset when the red rocks glow brilliantly. Off-roading on designated routes is available for those with appropriate vehicles, similar to experiences at Cottonwood/Elk Mountain Road Dispersed Campsite. Wildlife viewing, particularly for desert species, is also rewarding in this remote area.