Best Dispersed Camping near Valleyford, WA
Dispersed camping sites dot the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands surrounding Valleyford, Washington, with several free primitive camping options within an hour's drive. Hog Lake Campground, despite its name, functions as a dispersed camping area with multiple pull-off spots along a gravel access road. Fishtrap Recreation Area offers additional dispersed camping opportunities, while Bonnie Lake Island provides a unique boat-in primitive camping experience. These sites typically have no designated boundaries or numbered sites, allowing campers to select natural clearings where previous use is evident.
Access roads to most dispersed sites are unpaved gravel with occasional rough sections that may present challenges during wet weather. High-clearance vehicles are recommended for some areas, particularly at Hog Lake where reviews mention drainage ditches that could cause issues for larger RVs or trailers. Most sites permit camping for up to 14 days. Facilities are minimal to nonexistent—no drinking water, electricity, or sewer hookups. Some areas like Fishtrap and Escure Ranch have vault toilets, but Hog Lake's facilities are seasonal, with the gate to the lake sometimes locked. Fire restrictions may apply seasonally, though most sites permit campfires when conditions allow.
The primitive camping landscape offers varied terrain, from lakeside spots to open prairie settings with limited shade. Wildlife sightings are common, including deer and coyotes. "We heard coyotes howling from a distance but only knew they came into camp because they left footprints in the frost," noted one Hog Lake visitor. Another camper mentioned, "There is a trail that goes to Hog Lake and the boat launch area which is only accessible on foot when we were camping." Bonnie Lake Island requires paddling up Rock Creek about a mile and another half-mile up the lake, occasionally navigating around beaver dams. The island offers a unique camping experience, though space is limited to "enough flat spaces for a tent or two and trees for hammocks."
