Looking for the best dispersed camping near Lonetree? The Dyrt can help you find the best dispersed campsites for your next trip. From secluded to easily reachable, we offer dispersed campsites near Lonetree just for you.
As one of the most aptly named landscapes in the country, the vast scenery of Flaming Gorge may not fit into your camera. The Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area (NRA) is centered long the 91-mile section of the Flaming Gorge Reservoir and a rugged section of the Green River. The mix of climate and topography provide year-round recreation. The southern part includes colorful, narrow canyons, and conifer forests; the northern part is surrounded by high sagebrush deserts and rock mesas. Campgrounds, lodges, marinas, boat launches, swimming beaches, fishing areas, and hiking/ski trails are available along the 360 miles of shoreline and tucked into mountain retreats. Close at hand are the quaint communities of Manila, Green River, and Dutch John, which have accommodations and other services. ALTERNATIVE DESCRIPTION OF IMAGE 1 FOR ACCESSIBILITY PURPOSES ALTERNATIVE DESCRIPTION OF IMAGE 2 FOR ACCESSIBILITY PURPOSES ALTERNATIVE DESCRIPTION OF IMAGE 2 FOR ACCESSIBILITY PURPOSES test
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).
As one of the most aptly named landscapes in the country, the vast scenery of Flaming Gorge may not fit into your camera.
The Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area (NRA) is centered long the 91-mile section of the Flaming Gorge Reservoir and a rugged section of the Green River. The mix of climate and topography provide year-round recreation. The southern part includes colorful, narrow canyons, and conifer forests; the northern part is surrounded by high sagebrush deserts and rock mesas. Campgrounds, lodges, marinas, boat launches, swimming beaches, fishing areas, and hiking/ski trails are available along the 360 miles of shoreline and tucked into mountain retreats. Close at hand are the quaint communities of Manila, Green River, and Dutch John, which have accommodations and other services.
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).
Dispersed camping south of Buckboard Marina.
The Flaming Gorge NRA is located in the northeast corner of Utah and the southwest corner of Wyoming. It is South of I-80, between Green River and Rock Springs, Wyoming and extends into the Uintah Mountains towards Vernal, Utah. The area is a mixture of climate, topography, and recreation opportunities well suited to a variety of summer and winter interests. With 43 campgrounds hosting over 700 individual campsites and 27 group sites, all spread over nearly 91 water-miles (with a whopping 360 miles of shore line) plus countless mountain retreats. There is plenty of room for everyone. There is also the opportunity to set up “primitive” camping for those wishing a more secluded adventure, or river camps for those extending their river runs for more than a day. Close at hand are the quaint communities of Manila and Dutch John, Utah to offer accommodations and other services for more traditional vacationers.
$21 - $29 / night
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 occur 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!
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 is a great free camping site on BLM land. It is right across from the Moosehorn campground and is very close to Mirror Lake. Also only 5min drive from the Bald Mountain hime which offers incredible sunsets. There are a number of sites in this area and requires going down a dirt road. RVs can access the majority of sites. There are preexisting firepits and small clearings where tents can go. The prime, level spots are the best. There are a number of other sites that still have fire pits, but it is hard to find level ground for tents. There are lots of trees for those who like hammocking. Services are about 30 min drive from this location. Pack your own water!
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.
Guide
Nice river side camping on a rock beach. Antelope, deer and birds of all kinds are plentiful. There are 2 roads each has at least one really nice dispersed camping spot.
Legend
Campground Review: Dispersed Camping at Pyramid Lake, UT
Pyramid Lake is another gem of a mountain lake found in the Uinta Mountains of Utah. It is a small-medium sized lake you can drive to (with a small walk in) and has lots of National Forest dispersed camping. This area, while on National Forest, does require a recreation pass. A three-day pass is $6 which you can get at the various self-serve stations found along the main Mirror Lake Highway or it is free if you have a National Parks pass. It is on the honor system. So before I go into the camp area a few notes on getting there. Once you turn off highway 150 towards Murdock Basin, you have 6 miles of dirt/rock road ahead of you. A car can make it the first four miles, but a vehicle with at least 18” of clearance (and recommended AWD/4WD) is required as the road turns into sections of just really large rocks. You can stop and camp anywhere along that forest service road, but to get to either Pyramid or Echo Lake, you need the higher clearance.
The camping area and lake: it is dispersed camping so it is very primitive. No running water (either bring your own or a way to filter lake water), no pit toilets (bring a spade to dig a cat hole and bury or pack out your TP), tent or hammock camping (a pull behind trailer won’t make it the last few miles), scattered fire pits (practice extreme fire safety and make sure you fully put out any fire you start), and no garbage service (pack out whatever you pack in), aka typical backcountry camping. I loved it! The lake is beautiful and there is a trail you can walk around it. I did bring my inflatable paddleboard but didn’t end up breaking it out because it was too windy. But I will definitely return to paddle the lake another day. Multiple people were fishing and I could see the fish jumping as well. There is also a large boulder field on the South side of the lake which is fun to scramble around. I have decided my dog is part mountain goat. I chose a small spot about 50 meters from the water—halfway between the lake and where I parked the car. It was small and perfect for just one person and dog.
Downsides to the lake: While visiting a small mountain lake is always fun, there was a few things that didn’t meet my expectations (which are relatively low). The biggest thing which surprised me was how busy it was considering how rough the road was. It is really fun to see lots of people enjoying the outdoors but there were two larger groups of twenty-somethings that were really loud the whole night. I think one group played music and stayed up all night long and randomly walked down to the lake loudly with flashlights (which was really not necessary considering it was a cloudless, full moon night). They had dogs barking and generally seemed to not take the other people camping at the lake into consideration. Granted it was a killer spot for a group campout but it definitely affected by enjoyment of the evening. Overall, I really enjoyed the area and will return to camp again.
Gear Review: Matador Transit30 Duffle
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get the opportunity to test out gear for our awesome partners from time to time. I was given the privilege of testing out the Matador Transit30 packable duffle bag in grey. This bag, when stuffed is shorter but thicker than my phone but when unpacked is a full 30 liter duffle bag. For those who don’t speak liter size it is about the size of a typical medium Adidas duffle bag. It is made up of water resistant ripstop material, has one seam sealed zippered pocket, and the main pocket is accessed by a two-way seam sealed zipper.
Pros:
Cons:
Overall, I am very excited to use this bag for quick overnight camping trips and overall general duffle bag usage. I can see myself including this bag when I travel in case I need extra storage space. If you have a slight love obsession with gear bags (as I do), this is a must addition to your packing arsenal. Its versatility and weight are unmatched and time will tell on the durability (but I have a feeling it will hold up just fine!).
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
Beautiful spot up in the Uinta National Forest. The only fee is the recreation day pass which costs about $5 for 3 days. That's just to park your car. The trailhead begins about 50 yards to the right of the info kiosk. You hike in about 1.5 miles and the lake is surrounded by camping sites. Many firepits exist around the area and are all within 100-200 yards of the lake. You can hike around the lake which is very scenic. Mountain weather changes quick and we got caught in snow with a sudden drop in temp. Gear worked well and it turned out great. Make sure you sign the hiking log so rangers know you're out there. Can be found at the Wall Lake trail head. Cross over the little bridge at the lake and hike a little behind the trees to find some amazing camping spots!
Traveler
Dispersed camping all along the road past the Washington Lake established campgrounds
Scout
Great dispersed camp area with plenty of spaces and can camp right up on the beach.
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.
Guide
Great dispersed camping. Beautiful views and we were able to launch our paddle board right from the shore. Homemade fire pits worked well.
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!
Traveler
A great place to do some dispersed camping without being bothered. Right off the creek, and beautiful views. Easy to drive in with a smallish trailer. No defined camp rings to build a fire in
Traveler
Based on the review above, we stayed at the dispersed camping site just past sulphur campground and we were not disappointed. There was a little stream in walking distance across the meadow and we even saw a moose go through the campground in the morning!
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.
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.
LegendDuring this stay at the Gorge we decided to do some dispersed camping on a peninsula on the west side. There were plenty of spots everywhere but nothing was really developed. Besides that there were gorgeous views all around and many good cliff diving spots. One of our favorite spots is on the east side after you pass the dam. Red Canyon is also another great place to take in the view and get some good pictures.
Legend
West Fork Smiths Fork is a huge area to the west of China Meadows. Campers from all over the state venture to China Meadows to hike to Red Castle, and hunters from all over the country travel here to hunt deer and elk!
Hiking along the river will lead you south to Bald Mountain and Bald Lake. Dispersed camping is available throughout the entire area. Vast meadows are filled with various wildlife and gorgeous views!
The simplest access for most campers coming from Utah will be coming down through Wyoming, past Stateline Reservoir. The area can also be accessed from the west via Mirror Lake Highway, but will take significantly longer due to the overall length of dirt road you'll be required to travel on from that direction.
GuideDispersed camping on the Wyoming side is practically on a desert oasis so bring plenty of shade. Be prepared for a bit of noise from the ATVs, some dust, and a bit of fire ants during the day. Trust me, it's still so worth it. Spend both days there in the water. This rec area is amazing! Almost guaranteed to find plenty of space (well maybe not during a holiday weekend). Theres portapots by the entrance which depending on where you set up could mean a 10-15 drive so plan on hitting the bushes. Some wildlife, we saw 4 deer and a buck very close by. Cell phone service is available in certain areas. The Utah side is gorgeous but much more crowded. Maybe good to spend a bit of time here in day use and then close the day out over on the Wyoming side.
https://travelwyoming.com/flaming-gorge-national-recreation-area
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 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.
ScoutForest service (dirt) road leading to Lost Dog day use area in Flaming Gorge. There are places along the road to pull off and boondock, with great sunrise and sunset views and occasional glimpses of the gorge. looks like it might be dicey after heavy rain
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Lonetree, Wyoming, where you can immerse yourself in nature without the constraints of traditional campgrounds. This area offers a variety of scenic spots perfect for those seeking solitude and adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Lonetree, WY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Lonetree, WY is Flaming Gorge NRA Dispersed with a 4.7-star rating from 10 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Lonetree, WY?
TheDyrt.com has all 42 dispersed camping locations near Lonetree, WY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
