Planning a dispersed camping trip near Roosevelt? The Dyrt can help you find the best dispersed campsites for your next trip. You're sure to find the perfect dispersed campgrounds for your Utah camping adventure.
This is a dispersed camping area.
Primitive campground without individual sites. Campers are allowed to camp where they desire and may or may not have a picnic table. Two vault toilets dispersed throughout the campground. ALL GENERATORS AND MUSIC OFF (10pm-7am)
$15 - $25 / night
Primitive campground without individual sites. Campers are allowed to camp where they desire and may or may not have a picnic table. Three vault toilets dispersed throughout the campground. ALL GENERATORS AND MUSIC OFF (10pm-7am)
$15 - $25 / night
From floating to a remote campsite along the Green River to camping at a developed site next to a historic ranch, the Vernal Field Office provides camping opportunities for all recreationalists. Contact the field office to learn more.
North Fork Camping Area is for dispersed camping.
Camping in undeveloped areas (outside of designated campgrounds) is permitted. Please stay on existing roadways when accessing these undeveloped areas, and follow the practices in "Caring for the Forest" when camping in undeveloped areas. Camping in undeveloped areas must occurr within 150 feet of a designated route in Utah and within 300 feet of a designated route in Wyoming, at least 1/4 mile away from any administrative site, (boat ramps, guard stations, campgrounds, or visitor centers).
This is a dispersed camping area.
Guide
Windy Park, like a lot of camp areas in Ashley National Forest is free, dispersed camping. The only rule is that you have to camp within 150 feet of a developed road. There is a 16 day camp limit for leaving your camper in the same camp spot like most of the locals from Vernal do (leave it on the mountain, and come up on the weekends, or for the hunt, etc.). There are many ATV roads, and hiking trails in the area. It's a quick drive to Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Enjoy the aspen and pine groves located throughout Ashley National Forest. Weather can be unpredictable in the Uintahs, so prepare for anything! We've had hail and snow in July!
Traveler
Love McCoy Flats! Totally free dispersed camping, so crawl off in there and set up wherever your heart desires and your vehicle allows. Fantastic sunsets and spots to accommodate any vehicle with or without 4wd.
Legend
This FS road is very rocky, rough and steep, and high clearance and good tires are recommended. Free dispersed camping up first 0.1 mile in pine trees. More sites higher but the road access is tough. No RVs, Travel Trailers, or low clearance vans, imho. Only overlander types should consider camping here IMHO. Cell signal is actually good.
Legend
This dispersed camping area is free and is along FS road #049 into Greens Draw area. Area is shielded from hwy 191 noise. However it has a strong ATT cell signal (no Verizon or TMobile). No toilets, tables or metal fire rings. No dumpsters. No water. True boondocking.
Traveler
I followed the other reviewers advice and went with #838. There are tons of dispersed camping options in Ashley National Forest. I stayed at this site on a Monday and I was the only one there.
Legend
This dispersed camping area is free and is along the FS roads that are on backside of a ridge behind the forest and is shield from hwy 191 noise. However it has a strong ATT cell signal (no Verizon or TMobile). Sites are along the FS roads and look east into the large valley meadow Bowden draw area. No toilets, tables or metal fire rings. No dumpsters. No water. True boondocking
Legend
This dispersed camping area is free and is along the FS roads that are on backside of a ridge behind the forest and is shielded from hwy 191 noise. However it has a strong ATT cell signal (no Verizon or TMobile). Sites are along the FS roads and look east into the large valley meadow Bowden draw area. No toilets, tables or metal fire rings. No dumpsters. No water. True boondocking. Locals seem to stash TTs all summer in these sites.
Legend
McCoy Flats BLM is a mt bike focus recreation area with a network of excellent nonmotorizrd singletrack trails. Dispersed free camping allowed, and currently there are several nice vault toilets scattered along the main access paved road.
This camping area is at the third new vault toilet. Lots of room for large TTs. No trash dumpsters and no water, but cell signal is excellent 5g five bars. Only few miles from main hwy on an old paved pothole filled road. And then only 3 miles back into Vernal and a Walmart on this end of town, so logistics are very good.
LegendWide open BLM area 3 miles from Hwy but paved (potholes!) into the TH. Vault toilet but no water, trash or designated campsites. Cell signal is very good on all carriers. Camping seems to be mostly around the TH corrals area. Note there is an extensive network of nonmotorized Mtb singletrack trails in this area, and there does not seem to be any restrictions on e-mtb bikes. Could be hot and windy as no trees or shade here!
UPDATE 2022 BLM has added two more vault toilets in this area besides the original main TH.
Future plans are for a developed BLM CG with fees but dispersed camping would still be allowed outside a set distance (1/2 mile?) radius from any future CG.
Legend
Forest road #839 is a popular dispersed camp area due to the flat topography and the smooth graded dirt road. Close to hwy #44 so some hwy noise. Free dispersed, 16d limit, no water, no trash, no toilets. Cell signal is marginal.
Legend
Overlander camping only recommended. This area is just outside of Dinosaur National Monument on the Blue Mt Road...leaves the NPS and crosses a small piece of State land and then a BLM sign notes you are on BLM. Flat area to camp at this border and more large flat spots behind on State lands also ( State land here allows 15d camping). HOWEVER, to get to this spot you have to enter the NPS Dinosaur National Monument and deal with an entrance fee, but if you are a Senior like me..it is free and you are good to come and go as you wish!. Note that on the NPS section of the Blue Mt Road they note " no trailers" not sure if that is enforced but could be an issue, however I have seen TTs camping on the State and BLM along this area. This dispersed is likely better suited to the van/ truck camper types. Once you leave the NPS the road goes from graded gravel to native surface dirt that could be an issue if wet. The cliffs on both sides of this dispersed camp area has glyphs but you have to work to find them! The Blue Mt Road then continues into a big scenic valley and then climbs steeply to the point of pines ridge area...would not go there unless you have a good overlander setup with good tires! Cell signal is good due to tower array in sight on top of blue mtn.
GuideCamped across the road from established free camping. Our site was private and no ATVs so it's pretty quiet too. Some road noise, but it drops off around 11 pm.
LegendI love that you can camp just about anywhere off of the main drag here. There are several dispersed camping areas here, I liked Oaks Park the best! This is a great second option though. Lots of ATV trails and like previous reviewers have said, many people leave their RVs parked up here. We camped near two RVs but no one was home so we had the place to ourselves. Flaming George is close as well, but we prefer free, solitary camping.
Ranger
Lots of wildlife, didn’t see a bear though. Stargazing!! Tons of hikes in the area, can’t remember the names of the trails I did. This is dispersed camping from the US Forest Service so you drive around until you find a patch of grass or sand you like by the road (but only drive on the roads). Dispersed camping is very popular out west---do not expect any facilities. Best place to get more detailed info is just by calling the ranger office, as the road is closed in winter and reopening times vary. Beautiful and a true wilderness experience without having to haul your gear on your back!
GuideMassey Meadows is a beautiful place to camp. Mostly wide open meadow like spaces where you just pull up your camper and park (dispersed camping). There are a lot of beautiful places you can explore, including Massey Cave. However, usage is so high that I recommend trying to camp a little lower in the Dry Fork Canyon area. The two are connected by a wonderful trail system called the Flume Trail. The Flume Trail runs next to the river, and is absolutely beautiful. It's huge for mountain biking and hiking, and offers 10 to 24 miles of trail. There are several developed campsites on both sides of the road, each with fire rings and picnic tables. I highly recommend camping in Dry Fork/Red Cloud Loop/Massey Meadows area.
Legend
This is a primitive camping area by Sheep Creek Lake. No amenities, no established campsites, no toilets, no garbage dumpsters, no water, no cell signal. Road access is gravel graved. A primitive boat ramp is available. This lake seems to be more of a Fish and Game nursery lake for raising Colo River Trout.
GuideWell off the beaten path. Nearest boondocking neighbor is over a mile away. Good att coverage
RangerThis was one of my favorite finds during my trip through Utah earlier this summer. We were checking out Flaming Gorge and, predictably, all the campgrounds were booked full. I prefer cool dispersed camping anyway, so I decided to venture off some forest roads to see what I could see. And man, that paid returns!
As you head down this forest road (it is a bit rough, low-clearance cars might have a rough go of it, as well as full-sized RVs) you'll see multiple minimal dispersed campsites, most with small man-made rock firepits and nothing else. You're back in the trees, but they aren't overly heavy, so the light comes through just fine, and you'll have open spots as well. One dispersed site on the way to mine looked to have an incredible view, but alas, it was taken.
My site was very large, right where the fire road (more a trail really) seemed to split in two directions. Tons of flat ground for tents, a big healthy stone firepit, and plenty of wood around to harvest. Set up shop as soon as I found it and glad I did. So quiet, big and open, trees for the hammock - basically everything I look for when I try and find a cool place to camp.
Highly, highly recommended. Would camp here again in a heartbeat. Unfortunately I was too excited to remember to get any good photos of the site itself, so instead, please drool over the shishkabobs I got going on the fire, and the trees at dusk.
Legend
This dispersed camp area is at FS #547, it is not at end of pavement like the other review notes. No cell signal, no toilets, trash dumpsters, water or any designated sites with tables or metal fire rings. Another open area called Round Park is 1 mile down the #547 road on a good gravel road and is much nicer area to camp but still no cell signal. I disliked Dyer Park.
Legend
This area is reached on east side of bridge at the Green River on hwy 40. Go 1.5 miles on paved road to jct with BLM road 17. This BLM road is wide graded gravel and seems fine for TTs larger campers. Go 3 miles to corrals. Roads get narrower and sandy past this point. Campsites are scattered down the narrow two track roads to viewpoints overlooking the Green River and Dinosaur National Monument. Cell signal very good on TMobile and some on ATT, but no Verizon. Locals use this area to OHV and target shoot. No toilets, water, tables or dumpsters. Free dispersed, no designated areas.
Legend
This dispersed camping area is called the " range study" site but there is no sign saying such. It is a very large open area along a dirt road FS #217 that runs down a flat open ridge toward the summit of this area. Sites are obvious and very large with lots of turn around space for large trailers. 16d limit and a sign warning about "Residential Camping" which seems to indicate this site is used by the locals to stash trailers for the season. Cell signal was very good for ATT, only extended network for Verizon and TMobile was nada. A single vault toilet is at the cattle guard close to the hwy. No dumpsters, water, tables, or metal fire rings.
Legend
A bit of a trashy area, glass, cans, shot shells, likely a weekend party spot for teen parties. No cell signal either.
This site is long ways from Vernal, so the McCoy flats BLM dispersed area is a much better option... Excellent cell signal, only a few miles into Vernal and a Walmart.. and it has new vault toilets and is free dispersed hanging with the MTB crowd
LegendRanger Review: INNO INH120 2-Tray Bike Rack at the McCoy Flats Dispersed Camping
Campground Review: This type of camping is my jam…not crowded, primitive and scenic, and free. The only reason why it is getting 4-stars is because of the wind…not so much my jam. It did die down overnight but then it picked up again the next afternoon. McCoy Flats is located about 6 miles southwest of Vernal, UT and you stay here for the proximity to amazing mountain bike trails. This trail system boasts 46 miles and 15 trials for all skill levels. If you are a mountain biker, this area is not to be missed. The camping, therefore, is dispersed along the main road from the designated trailhead. The main road is paved then you can pull of and set up camp along any unpaved spur road. It is primitive camping…whatever you bring with you is what you have. When you are done, don’t be that guy, and pack out your trash. The area is wide open but is susceptible to wind, which makes this a great area for vans, RVs or trailers. But if there is no wind, tents are awesome. You are also in the high desert plain, so watch for snakes. Because you are within the trail system, you can set up camp close to a trail and not have to move your vehicle, which is nice. The other nice thing about this area is a forest service pit toilet at the trailhead. So if digging a cat hole is not your thing, there is a toilet accessible. Overall, this area is going to become one of our regular haunts not only for the scenery but the trails.
Gear Review: Since we were visiting McCoy Flats, I figured this would be the best time to test out the INNO INH 120 2-tray bike rack and as a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get the opportunity test out gear from their awesome partners from time to time.. The popularity of tray racks have grown over the past few years and this rack clearly demonstrates why. It was super easy to put together right out of the box. It fits both 2” and 1.25” hitches securely so you don’t have to purchase converters which extend the rack out further. It fit our two fatter tire bikes (3” tires) with ease and the grooved channel in the tray would easily fit the skinny road bikes as well. Plus, it can adjust to different size bikes (i.e. kid sizes).
Sure, it can fit a lot of bikes, but how secure is it? One word…AMAZING! Each tray has two arms which secure over the tires so both the front and back tires are secured. The bikes have very little movement when loaded (any movement detected is normal from the rack in the hitch or due to the car hitting a bump) and the bikes don’t touch each other. This prevents any scratching or potential damage while in transport. The latching mechanisms are durable and easy to tighten/loosen, making loading and unloading super easy. We have had this rack on our car for the past week and due to the ease of use my husband has gone riding every day. When not in use, the rack folds up easily and sleekly (it does not stick out obnoxiously from the back of the car).
Three things I want to warn about. 1) If you are at risk of scraping your car when going over a bump or down a curb, you will definitely scratch with the hitch on. Higher clearance vehicles won’t have any issue, but a car may risk some loud scrapes. The hitch seems to be taking them well, though. One benefit is the trays are slightly tiered, so if you do scrape, you scrape the area where the rack goes into the hitch and not the trays. 2) Be sure to load and secure your bikes with fully pumped tires. While this may be a no-brainer for some, we caught this before heading home. As mentioned, it secures your bike by the tires, so if your tires are low, it may not be as secure. 3) While the rack is metal, it does have plastic coverings and the plastic covering the area between the hitch and the rack has already started to crack along seams. This may be due to the scrapes from bottoming out or perhaps it is designed to come apart as I can push it back together, but in any case it has no impact on the performance of the rack, so I am not too worried about it.
Overall, the INNO INH 120 is an amazing bike rack and well worth the investment for anyone who is or wants to ability to easily pack up for a ride. I don’t think I will ever own a prong bike rack again.
Legend
This McCoy Flats area is a mt bike non-motorized trails recreation focus area. This site is going to be a future developed BLM CG, but for now it is still free dispersed. There is an older vault toilet up in the junipers and a new vault toilet out by main paved road. New campers to this site should recon first before hauling a TT up these narrow entrenched two-track sandy roads. The right fork is best IMO. Only vault toilets here currently, no dumpsters, no water, but cell signal is good. This site is the first of three new vault toilets along the main road. Note: screenshot of BLM proposed CG map is attached here.
LegendThis place was awesome. I stayed for 4 nights & had the place to myself for 3 nights. There’s 3 miles of road you can disperse camp off of. If you drive 1.5 miles in, thought toilets were added in a really nice area on your left. I stayed there and there was ample room for 10+ rigs & lots of privacy. You can keep going to the bike trailhead and stay too. There’s no water or trash. There’s small trash bags in the toilets but would not recommend that being your main source of disposal. Area is 15 minutes from town, which has it all! If you need a shower, you can go to the community center and it’s only $1.50 for hot showers. Felt safe here and deafly would stay again. Had a fantastic AT&T service and the stargazing was unreal. During my last night, I did have some rodents try to get underneath of my hood so if you’re going to be staying stationary for multiple nights, be aware.
Legend
This is a free dispersed area and I was there in August and the site had about 6 trailers that seemed to allow be pre- staged for the hunting season. No tow vehicles or people around. Same situation at any other free dispersed site on the Ashley NF above the town of Vernal Utah. This site did have a vault toilet, but no water, fire rings, tables or trash cans. However, cell signal was good so maybe that'll is why this site seems popular. Three stars due to the vacant TTs hogging sites.
Legend
This open area is where there was an old rope tow ski area back in the day. This is in on FS Rd 47D and is a good gravel road but is really one lane. Lots of nice camping in the tree edges around this meadow area. Cell signal tower is up on the ridge above. I only had ATT signal, no Verizon or TMobile. No tables, no vault toilets, no trash dumpsters, no drinking water...this is a free dispersed area.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Roosevelt, Utah, where you can immerse yourself in nature without the constraints of traditional campgrounds. With stunning landscapes and a variety of outdoor activities, this area is perfect for adventurers seeking a more rustic experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Roosevelt, UT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Roosevelt, UT is McCoy Flats MTB Trailhead with a 4.9-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Roosevelt, UT?
TheDyrt.com has all 32 dispersed camping locations near Roosevelt, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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