Top 10+ Dispersed Free Camping near Sterling, UT

    This BLM campground now has designated campsites, a picnic table, large deep fire rings, pit toilets and no trash service. Also no water.  The actual site now in October is 

somewhat overgrown with tumble weeds. Ground is very rocky but there are quite a few tents pitched.  

     Views are 7 on a 10 scale.

     Camp fee is now $15 per night. We used a senior pass and paid $7.50

      There also appears to be true dispersed camping on BLM land just to the NE of this organized camp and more about a quarter mile south on a dirt road.  There don’t appear to be any picnic tables, fire rings or toilets.

Wide open area south of Freeway exit 99, Miller Canyon Road. Going to the south the pavement ends and you are in a grey moonscape BLM land. Bentonite clay likely so do not be here if wet or rain in forecast. This primitive road goes for miles to the south into the north end of Capitol Reef Nat park, overlander types only!. Amazing that on the ridge to north is a nice cell tower, so couple bars LTE on ATT and TMobile, but not Verizon. Great spot if dry for a overnite stop.

Really enjoy staying here. Free camping and plenty of activities to do in the area. 

Climbing (Bouldering) 

Site seeing (Not far from The Wedge)

Beautiful area

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.

This is at Exit 108, Lone Tree Road. The BLM road to south is a graded gravel road so is much safer in wet conditions than exit 99 dispersed area. If you like wide open San Rafael desert landscapes this is a good one to explore. Cell signal close to Fwy I70 is very good TMobile and ATT, but not so good Verizon. This is pure desert dispersed exploration camping.

Just off of willow creek rd. Turn left at the map coordinates. You are at almost 8000 ft so not a winter camping spot. There is some ATV traffic but respectfully slow. Good roads in but we got there on a Sunday night and quite a bit of traffic heading out. I imagine the weekends are busy. Lots of spots to camp along the road but this one seemed the most private.

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.

Great dispersed place to stay. Was there on a thursday and saw 2 other people. Campsite I stayed at/the drive up is amazing during sunset

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.

I arrived at the campsite around 5pm in my Mazda CX-5 on a Tuesday, not a single person in sight. There was a pretty strong hail storm passing through during the night and the road was gravel so safer when wet. Beautiful views of the mesas and red rocks.

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

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.

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.

Many places to camp. For best selection arrive in the middle of the week. Good UTV trails nearby.

This was a great site to stop and pitch my rooftop tent. Not too far up the canyon, and it was very quiet. It is RIGHT next to a mountain bike trail, so expect some early-morning bikers to be coming down.

Overall, it was a great place to camp.

We got to a great spot on north beach and setup our camp. As soon as we got comfortable the strong winds came in and destroyed our canopy. When the wind stopped tons of sand mites and mosquitoes swarmed us the rest of the day. They were caked on the side of the tent and the vehicle. During the night there was a a large group of campers playing loud music and riding four wheelers and side by sides close to our camp until 3am.

This wasn't where we planned to camp but got too tired to drive any further. We are in a Toyota Camry and just hammocking. This spot worked out nicely. There was someone in the actual place of the coordinates. But we found a spot near by.

Perfect place to stop for the night. Road is fine. A few ruts. Super quiet.