Jeanie P.

The Dyrt Pro

Bellingham, WA

Joined March 2021

Best CG for cost in Copper Harbor

This place is self pay $15/night with lots of sites to choose from that accommodate tent or big trailers (not all sites are the same size). Some sites are more tucked away in the trees which makes you feel more secluded. The CG was never anywhere close to full when we were there. Lots of rustic cabins being built. Close to one entrance to the mountain bike trail system and about a mile bike ride into town on a gravel trail. We were in site 66 which got some road noise but otherwise was private.

Good for one night

We stayed here early July on our way to the Tetons/Jackson Hole area. Main road is very drivable for all vehicles but off shoot roads were looking more 4wd and clearance required to reach better camp sites. We found a spot right off the main road. The road has a steady spaced out stream of traffic so there was a bit of noise at night.

Great spot for the last minute planner!

If you're super last minute like us this is a great option in Yellowstone. It is one of a few 1st come 1st serve CG here, but it fills up fast in the peak season. Ranger station opens at 8am to register for spots but you can go in early and claim an open spot and pay when the station opens. Great spots and close to Lewis Lake which is great to swim or boat in.

Great views, if you can get a spot

We arrived on a Tuesday afternoon and got one of 3 spots left along the road over Shadow Mountain. Great spots and sites along the road with privacy, all spots are marked. Can make the road with 2wd and some clearance of accessed from the south side. There are 33 sites along the road (no pit toilet) and a lot with 17 sites and a pit toilet at the south end of the mountain base. Great views of the Tetons.

Great secluded spots in the Uintas!

We were here over 4th of July weekend and found a spot in this off the beaten path area no problem on Saturday afternoon. If you enter the road from the entrance closest to Haystack Lake TH, the road gets bumpy and narrow after about the 3rd site in (that's as far as we took our Sprinter van), 4wd needed to go further. If you enter the road from the farther entrance it is easier to drive. There are some spectacular sites in about the middle of the road with awesome views. No cell service.

Close to trails and Salida

We stayed here early-mid June. There are dispersed sites along silver creek as mentioned in one review, but there are more sites and larger sites if you continue along Marshall Pass Rd beginning about 1/4 mile past the junction to O'Haver Lake. Road is generally easy to pass with 2wd. Tons of aspens, great place to be in the fall when the colors change. Good cell reception with Verizon.

UFO's and camping

Interesting stop for a night. We just did a day trip here to see the UFO watch tower and alien trinket garden but decided not to camp as it was a super hot afternoon and there's no shade. The campsites are just on a flat dirt lot, there's tables, grills and firepits in each site and porta potties available as well as a dumpster. Kids had fun at the watch tower.

Great views!

Easy access to 4-5 dispersed sites close to the Hermosa Cr TH. The site farthest back has a log that you can use to cross the creek if it is high. We stayed here for 3 nights over the weekend and were the only campers, a handful of people used it as day use parking for fishing and biking. All sites are right on the creek. Hermosa Park Rd up to this point is accessible by 2wd. There are plenty of other sites along the road upto and past this spot too if you don't want a little more solitude. Great spot if you have kids! Hermosa Cr Tr is an awesome hike/bike ride.

Beautiful camping outside Purgatory

We camped lower than the pin, at the campsites by the Hermosa Creek TH. There are 4-5 campsites here and no creek crossings involved. We were here early June for 3 nights and the creeks were high, questionable to cross with 2wd but fine for 4wd. The first creek crossing on Hermosa Park Rd isn't until 1.75 miles after the TH area, and there are plenty of awesome spots before that. The road is well maintained and there are signs at all road junctions to keep you on the right track. If you camp by the creek there is catch and release fishing for cutthroat trout, lots of people there fishing during the day. Hermosa Creek Tr is awesome for biking/hiking/running too. Download maps before you get here as there is no cell service

Quiet, convenient, and beautiful

Stayed here 1 night in early June. Super easy access to dispersed camping, dirt road that is well maintained, no problem for 2wd and spaces large enough to accommodate big rigs. The camping starts about a half mile up the road. Most sites are just right off the road but there are some short dead end roads that offer a little more privacy off the main drag. Lots of trees that help with noise and block sites from each other. We got in at 5pm on a Thursday and all the spots along the first mile were taken but were able to find several good open sites. Good reception with Verizon.

Close to Bandelier and Los Alamos

We stayed here 3 nights over Memorial Day weekend. Got in Thursday night and there were plenty of sites to choose from. As other reviews have said, the sites are spaced out well and there were always sites available throughout the weekend. We camped on the road that immediately turns to the right. Along the entire length of this road dispersed camping is allowed. If you go to the left (high clearance is good to have but could make it with 2wd) dispersed camping isn't allowed till you're about a mile in (see map picture). There are some fun single track trails (Water Canyon and Perimeter Trail) accessible from the campsite if you plan on mt biking or running/hiking. Bandelier National Monument is about 15 min drive away and is a fun place to checkout and climb in some cliff dwellings.
Just as a side note we saw 3 coyotes our first night in and heard them howling in the AM and PM, so keep pets leashed if you bring them and keep small kiddos close!

Fills up fast but plenty of dispersed camping all along the road.

We tried to stay at this site on a Tuesday in late May, all 3 spots were filled. So we continued down the road where there are lots of other dispersed options just right off Cave Canyon Road. No facilities just rock fire pits. Lots of access to trails (hiking, biking, and horse access only). There's a good map of the trails located at Fort Stanton if you happen to visit there before heading here definitely take a picture. It gets hot here starting in May and not much shade available. As a side note the caves located just by the CG are closed.

Great swimming hole!

Our expectations of this place were low for whatever reason but it turned out to be pretty awesome. The lake at the Lea Lake CG is awesome for swimming or floating around in. Can walk to it right from the campsite which is a bonus. The bathroom has flush toilets and hot showers that don't cost to use (unlimited shower time after boondocking for 5 weeks was heaven!). Small campground overall. Tent sites are $10 (plus $4 reservation fee if booking online)/night. Each site has it's own water access, covered picnic table, and grill (which in May there was a fire ban so use of it was prohibited).

Camp with cows, moo!

Great little spot next to pit toilets in the Sacramento district of the Lincoln NP. Easy to find and can get there with 2wd no problem. This is a super popular spot on the weekend so the camping area and parking lot were PACKED all day when we were there on Saturday. Cleared out Sunday. Big OHV area. Nice trail access from the campsite that is OHV friendly, so not super great for running or biking. There is a small waterfall that we could see and hear from our campsite and a creek for for kiddos to play in. Its a free range area so cows are all over the place which was fun to see. Cloudcraft is the closest town, small and cute to visit.

Stopped here and kept going, you can do better

I don't know how to add a campground so I'll just review from here. This spot would be fine for a night if you get in late or plan to do the hike at the TH then camp. But you're literally camping in a parking lot. If you keep going down the road a bit farther, turn left onto a BLM dirt road (this camping area is listed on iOverlander app). There are a handful of dispersed sites just off the road. More private and space than the TH parking and close access to a TH that takes you up the Organ Needle. 2wd OK for access to most sites

Fine for just one night

We tried to stay at the Joe Skeen CG and it was full on a Wednesday. Searching further we found this spot. There are "no camping" signs once in the picnic area but nothing indicating no overnight parking or camping on the 3 spots near the TH for the Narrows Rim Trail. It was 7pm when we rolled in so we felt comfortable just staying the night in our van. In the morning we moved into the day use area and took turns doing the rim trail while our kids enjoyed playing in the picnic area. 2 pit toilets and garbage are available at this location.

Gorgeous, camp here!

Awesome find, definitely better than the "people pastures" along mt temple road. Lots of cool camp spots along the cliffs, not a lot of places to dig holes to do your business so bring a way to pack it out. Great place for kids to play and doggies to run around. Super close to Goblin Valley State Park and Little Wild Horse slot canyon.

Awesome sites among the sandstone

Great location at the end of the road in Arches NP. Close to Devils Garden Trailhead. Toilets that flush and potable water. No showers though. Some sites are definitely nicer than others if you can get one that backs up to the sandstone fins. Kids loved running around and biking. Long drive in and out of park if going anywhere else. Camp host was very friendly and attentive.

Close to Capital Reef

Great spot to crash for the night if going to Capital Reef or surrounding area. The upper area is essentially a big dirt parking lot so not alot of privacy (keep in mind if you're tent camping or not in a self contained vehicle). If you can manage your vehicle over the one drop at the top of the road that leads to the river, DO IT! These spots are much nicer. Get little river to splash around in and pretty back drop. Down side is that its close to the road and lack of space in upper lot.

Social or secluded

Camping off of FR 117 was just that right off the road, tons of spots and also very popular especially with people staying a week or so. We ended up finding a nice secluded spot off one of the dirt roads a little over a mile in. Spots are a little more spread out off the main drag and more in the trees which was nice for shade and hanging a hammock. Close to Bryce Canyon and easy access to Thunder Mountain trail loop, awesome moderate mt biking trail.