If you're looking for some peace of mind I would go somewhere else. There are a few sites in this massive campground that might give you some privacy but not many - it is a big camping compound really, and clearly aimed at RVs and watersports types. I'm a tent camper that really enjoys privacy and quiet. Not gonna happen here. Not a bad place if that is what you're looking for though, hence the three stars.

The lake was also a bust when I went - the drought is pretty intense this year so the water level was very low and the water did not look appealing. Most of the people at the shoreside drove there to unload their boats or jetskis.

Better options nearby if you're willing to look. I bailed on my reservation and camped at a smaller site nearby next to a river. Much more my jam.

Camped one night here during the week and only had one other group there. One of those campgrounds where getting the right spot can make a big difference. I got #8 and I recommend it - it is the one in the corner closest to the river, so you have some privacy and easy river access.

Some of the other sites are pretty cramped and I could see this campground being a bit claustrophobic if it was fully, hence the four stars. But that said, for what it is, I appreciated it. Super easy access too, and only about 15 minutes from Truckee.

No cell reception on Verizon.

Easy access for any vehicle. I had Verizon service when I was there. Full amenities. River alongside it to jump in.

Almost no privacy though, and not the kind of campground I normally look for, but considering it was Saturday in the summer and we had no reservations, my friend and I decided to hell with it and threw down our tents and had a fun time regardless.

$25 is steep. This should be much cheaper.

This really is an RV spot. Yes, you can tent camp here but it's expensive ($24 for Oregon residents, $34 for out of staters) and it's right next to the road. It's loud. Really loud. Wake you up when you're sleeping loud.

That said, it does have all amenities: good Verizon service, firewood for sale, hot showers, tables, fire pits with grills, etc. And it's close to town. So for that it could be the right fit for people needing all that.

For me, I'd skip it, especially if you're in a tent.

Just visited this campsite today to see what's what, and hopefully set up camp. Alas, there isn't any Verizon service here, which I need to do work on the road, so I couldn't stay. Bummer too, because the area is gorgeous.

The campground itself is quite small, with some sites closer together and not enjoying that much privacy, and others tucked further back with more privacy. There's a river that runs next to the campground. The water was cold in October, but not that cold. I'd imagine on a hot summer day it'd be great for a dip.

Picnic tables, bathroom, and firepits. Alas, no fires allowed when I was there, but that is to be expected after such a horrible wildfire season in Oregon and the West Coast in general.

Would definitely camp here if I didn't need reception. Cool place, very quiet, beautiful locale.

I camped here for one night in early October, 2020. Cool campground that has apparently been "shut" for the season, so the normal fee doesn't apply. The forest service kept the campground open for hunters, etc. and aren't charging, so that's a win.

It's a somewhat small campground with two loops. When I got there all but one site were claimed, so I got the center site (#5) which doesn't have tree cover or much privacy. Definitely not the site I would have picked if I had more options - some of the other ones looked much cooler and more private, tucked back in the trees. Still, even with only one site to choose, it was still a really nice area. 

There are gentle hills all around, and a nice creek running right next to the campground. Toilets on-site, but I didn't have to use them so I'm not sure if they've been locked for the season.

Heads up - it was nice and warm during the day, but the temperatures plunge once it gets dark. I was tent camping and it got COLD. If you're headed this way later in the year, be ready for that. The water bottle I left out froze, and everything was covered in frost when I woke up, including my tent. 

Bear area, so bear lockers are provided. It's very dry, but apparently fires in the firepits are OK as long as you completely douse them out before you leave the site or go to bed. Given how cold it got, the fire was a godsend.

No cell phone reception on Verizon. About a 15 - 20 minute drive to the town of Dubois if you need to pick up supplies, although Dubois is quite small so you aren't going to get a lot of selection.

All in all, nice little campground. Would definitely camp here again, especially if I could get one of the more private sites.

I decided to check this place out since I love dispersed camping. Getting here is easy - just head south from Wall and you'll see it on the left when you see the radio towers. Little dirt road heads out to it.

Long stretch, and when I was there, lots and lots of RV campers, but no tent campers. Why? Two main reasons from what I can gather: extremely windy, and as a result, no fires. I don't know if it's actually a rule that you can't have fires here, but at least when I was there, you wouldn't want to try and manage a fire here anyway, even if you could throw together a decent stone fire pit. The wind is just too intense and the entire area is really dry. 

Another issue: the wind could easily result in you losing some of your tent equipment if you're not careful when you're setting it up and making sure it can't blow away. When I was there the wind was gusting toward the edge, so if you did have some of your stuff blow away, getting it back could be a real pain in the ass. Needless to say, if you are going to tent camp here - and it is definitely doable - stake it down well and be double-careful when setting up not to lose anything.

People mentioned goats in some reviews, and sure enough, I bumped into a small group of them. Seemed pretty harmless and quite used to humans hanging around.

The sunrise and sunset are supposed to be stunning, which I unfortunately did not have time to stay to confirm. Would definitely plan on a sunrise / sunset viewing if I find myself in this area again and the timing is right.

All in all, a cool spot, but it's gonna be a bit of a doozy for the tent campers if it's half as windy as it was when I was there.

Oh, and for you hammock lovers - not a tree in sight. Good luck! ;)

I found this place a few nights ago while in the Medicine Bow National Forest and what a find it was. So beautiful! The location is pretty amazing - right next to a lake, tucked up against the mountains, very quiet and pristine. The campground has all the amenities you'd expect: fire pits, tables, toilets, trash bins, and a water pump (although I couldn't figure out how to get it working). The sites vary in terms of privacy and style - some are closer to one another, others back a bit. Some are out in the open with no trees, others have trees (and I managed to get my hammock hung no problem.) Lots of variety. I say it has almost everything you need because I didn't get any cell service (on Verizon), which for those of us that are mobile workers that like to be able to work while camping can be a deal-breaker.

Nearby are some cool things as well: a trailhead to do some hiking, and a small chapel that is just sitting out in the middle of the wilderness. Very cool little spot to just sit and relax, even if you're not of the faith (god knows I'm not).

It was pretty much empty when I was there, just one other camper in their RV who was the host if I'm not mistaken. This could be because it's toward the end of the season, or perhaps because of the active wildfire that was burning not too far away. Either way, it was perfectly quiet at night, which I love.

Signs mentioned it being an active bear area, so practice all the regular food safety bear stuff - pack it away in your car or up a tree.

Only downside was a burn ban in effect, which given the elevation of the campsite can make for cold nights. You'll need to really bundle up if you can't have a fire to keep you warm. Also, it is now closed for the season, so if you're thinking about coming here in 2020 or early 2021, it won't be open. The rangers came by the next morning to let me know they were locking it down, partly due to the fire, and partly because it was getting close to seasonal closing time anyway.

Really glad I managed to catch this place literally the night before it was shut for the year. I would definitely come back.

This 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.

Drove through this campground back in June, but ultimately decided not to stay there because most of the sites were full and the few available were quite small and had very little privacy.

That said, other sites sat further back from the little dirt road that winds through the campground, are larger, and definitely looked like good options. I think it is really a bit of luck as to which are reserved and which aren't. 

Standard simple campsite amenities: toilets, firepits, tables. There's a little creek that runs through the campsite, and then a pretty large rock spire overhead (hence the name). 

The area is near Big Sky so you'll have ample hiking and other activities to get up to if that's your thing.

Note - the camp host really stressed being bear aware, as this is grizzly country and he said they definitely do come through the camp on occasion. So have your bear spray ready and know how to handle your food to keep yourself safe.

Would definitely stay here if I could get one of the nicer, more private sites.

Stayed here for a few days back in June. Since I've been lucky enough to be able to work remotely, I just needed to find a campsite that had cell reception so I could tether my laptop, and this one does (at least on Verizon).

It has a lot more to offer too though, as the lakeside location is pretty great. You can rent paddle boards and head out onto the water. Apparently this is one of the deepest lakes in the country. A local couple that gave us a ride on their boat told us they test submarines in this lake, or at least used to. I love random bits of interesting info like that.

All the standard amenities here, and then some. Restaurant / bar within walking distance.

The only thing that got to be a bit much is how crowded it was. Yes, the campground is large (four different loops in total, if I remember correctly) but still, felt like a zoo sometimes.

Still, if you're looking for easy, don't mind paying and ideally making reservations ahead of time, and can sacrifice some privacy, this will do you very well.

Camped here earlier in the year. Found it last minute after the sun went down. Quickly got a fire going in the fire pit and settled in. Wooded, cozy, bathrooms if needed. Honestly, we just stayed for the night, got up early, quickly checked out the nearby falls, and headed out. Our campsite, #5, wasn't that big but it fit the bill. The sites are decently spaced, although given I tend to prefer dispersed camping, I find most formal campgrounds can sometimes feel a bit crowded.

Would go back again to better explore the area, but I could take or leave this specific campground. Still giving it four stars because I feel like it could have more to offer for those willing to hunker in for a bit and poke around some, which we didn't have time to do.

Stumbled on this by just exploring the backroads near the BLM campground down the road. Technically this is USDA Forest Service land, but it is RIGHT next to BLM land. 

Being dispersed, they are primitive sites. You're going to find man-made stone fire pits but that's about it. There are a handful of dispersed sites in this area. We found one nestled right next to the creek. It was great, very peaceful for the most part, except for when you can hear people on their ATVs or dirt bikes tearing around the area. Since this is so close to a BLM recreation site, expect to hear those activities.

Some of these sites can be tricky to get to unless you have a good vehicle for it. I was renting a 4Runner at the time so no issues, but I don't think I would have been able to get to the further in dispersed sites if I was driving a Civic.

All in all, really great spots right next to the old town of Liberty, and worth the $0 you'll spend to camp here. Hell, maybe even worth more, not that you'll have to worry about that.

Full disclosure: I didn't camp here as I passed through this area en route to another dispersed campsite a bit deeper in. That said, we stopped here for a snack / water break and to filter some water so I had some time to explore.

The area is BEAUTIFUL. The lake is stunning, and sits nestled right up against some pretty dramatic mountains. Lots of trees and dispersed camping sites throughout. The hike in is about 7 miles, very gentle incline. Not too hard unless you're not used to carrying weight. 

When we went through, there were people camping, but not too many. Once we went beyond this camp area, we didn't see a soul. That's likely because of the really intense pass you have to go over to get to the dispersed site we were aiming for (see my review for that here: https://thedyrt.com/camping/undefined/flower-lake-dispersed-camping).

Tons of great hiking in this area as it is close to the Continental Divide Trail. A lot of it definitely involves going up the sides of mountains, but if you're day-hiking and not carrying a heavy backpacking pack, they're not that hard.

Bring bear spray. Hang your food. This is grizzly country.

For true back-country seclusion you'll probably want to go further in than this dispersed area, but for a less strenuous and equally as beautiful locale, this is a pretty amazing place.

Oh man, what an epic camping spot. Getting here is a doozy, but it is so worth it.

In early September, myself, my brother, and our two cousins decided it was time for a long-overdue reunion, and getting lost in the back-country was going to be the stage for it. We struck out from Bozeman, drove as far as we could go (past Lower Seymour Lake) and then once we hit the end of the road, strapped on our (very heavy - remind me not to bring so much food next time) packs and trekked in.

The trek is pretty damn tough if you aim to do it in one go, like we did. It's about 7 miles to Upper Seymour Lake (also very beautiful, and with dispersed camping), which isn't too strenuous, but then you have to cut over a pass to get to Flower Lake. That is pretty much straight up and straight down, switchbacks the entire way. I was struggling. The views from the top are amazing though. Also, don't mistake Page Lake for Flower Lake - once you descend the other side of the pass, you'll hit Page Lake before you hit Flower Lake. Page Lake is also beautiful and has dispersed sites, but keep going. I think you'll find it is worth it.

Once we got to Flower Lake, it was serene. From the time we left Upper Seymour Lake to the time we got back, we didn't see or hear another soul. Five days of just us. The area around the lake is pretty dramatic - it sits in a little valley basically surrounded by steep mountains. Around the lake there are a few areas with rough dispersed sites. Fire pits, a few logs to make "benches", that's about it. Plenty of space to throw tents down, and TONS of firewood from the dead trees in the area. You can camp out in the open if that's your jam, or in trees. We chose the trees for better cover and because that's where we found the best dispersed site. Flower Lake itself is beautiful but absolutely frigid, so we didn't go in. There is a little stream that feeds it where we gathered our water to filter, and I finally decided to take a half-bath. Good god it was freezing, but it felt good once it was over.

Definitely check the weather before going in. We got slammed with a blizzard that lasted all of the second day and night. We were expecting snow that day, but this was more than we were imagining. It was COLD. Intense wind. Lots and lots of snow. We didn't leave the campfire the entire time except to dig out our tents when the snow got too high around them. Given we were running three-season tents, that night was bitter cold (the water bottle in my tent next to me was frozen the next morning) but we all tossed and turned and made it through it. Not gonna lie, the blizzard was a bit unnerving when we were in it, but it made the next four days of sun so much more appreciated. If you're in the sun, it's actually pretty warm, and a lot of the snow was gone a few days after it fell.

Lots of great hiking here, as the CDT (Continental Divide Trail) goes through this area. I recommend the hike to the top of Rainbow Mountain for some truly stunning views. Not too hard either, once you've cleared the initial pass to get in, and you're not carrying your full pack. 

BRING BEAR SPRAY. HANG YOUR FOOD. This is grizzly country and we saw a LOT of signs of them. Fresh droppings. Fresh prints in the snow after the blizzard. We never ran into one directly, but they were definitely around. Be in the habit of making noise so as not to surprise them. I can't possibly imagine how many times I yelled "Hey bear!" over the course of the trip. We noticed that one side of the lake had far more signs of bears than where we were. We avoided it, and I wouldn't recommend camping there. See my photos to get an idea of where.

The hike out was not a cakewalk either, but with lighter packs and having the hard ascent and descent happen at the beginning rather than the end, it wasn't half as bad as going in.

This is a great spot for back-country aficionados. It was my first real pack-in back-country camping trip (other than when I did Outward Bound when I was a teenager), and one I won't ever forget. 100% recommended, but be prepared. If you got hurt out here, or caught in bad weather, or god forbid had a nasty run in with a bear, getting out could be difficult. Definitely let someone know where you're going, and when you expect to be back. That said, don't talk yourself out of it if you want to give it a go. This place is special. Really special.

I stumbled on this site accidentally back in early August when en-route to some of the official campgrounds on the Elk River that were just a bit further down the road. Wasn't too impressed with those, so on the way back toward Port Orford I decided to pull off at this spot to see what might be found as you can find dispersed camping spots up and down the river. So glad I did.

The area is a large stony beach, hence the name I made up when I created this listing. It's good for cars and smaller campers / RVs. I'm not sure big RVs would be good for this setting. The dirt path from the main road down to the beach is very short but a bit steep and with some big dips when I was there so very low-clearance vehicles might have an issue getting in and out. For tents, the beach would likely be uncomfortable given its rockiness, but that's OK because there are a few places just off the beach that have dirt and tree-cover and are perfect for tent camping. I found a great spot with good shade, a well-made stone firepit, and an easy place to hang my hammock. Loved it so much I decided to hunker down for four days and just settle in.

The river is crystal clear and was refreshing in August. It gets deep on the left side of the beach area so you can properly swim if you want to (see my silly "let's test out my new GoPro" video to see what I mean). That area is popular with locals for day-use so you'll often see more people during the day then at night. Only had a few other campers staying the nights, and we had enough space between us. Privacy wasn't an issue. No toilets though, so you'll need to get creative with that.

For camp fires, make sure to check the local regulations. When I was there they had a burn ban and the forestry guys came through somewhat regularly to check. They will ticket you if you break the rules. $250 fine I believe.

The drive to Port Orford, the closest town, is about 30 minutes each way. Not too bad, but if you want to settle in and not move for a while, you'll want to stock up. No cell phone reception either, at least for me on Verizon, but I got to the point where I really appreciated that. This is a damn fine spot to really unplug. That said, there are some great hikes around Port Orford (check out Humbug Mountain if you want a proper workout) so there are more reasons than just supply runs to go out and return.

All in all a phenomenal free dispersed camp site that I would 100% recommend and return to.

I stayed here back in May. Decent stretch of campsites nestled between the road and the river. Toilets and firepits available. Some sites are closer to the road and you can hear the cars, others are right up against the river. It was pretty popular when I was there so I had a spot at the end that was both near the road and the river. Irrespective of road or river, be ready to hear the trains rolling through in the night. The track is just on the other side of the river and they are loud. I like the sound of trains, but if you're noise-sensitive, this might not be the campground for you.

Lots of smaller downed trees when I was there. Still fresh, so not ideal firewood, but we still gave it a go.

Nothing all that special, but definitely works and costs zero. Can't argue with that.

Stayed here a few times over this summer, and have enjoyed it every time.

Long dusty road to get here, then a bunch of free sites open up on both sides. The river-side sites tend to be a bit smaller from what I could see, but there are a lot of sites and both times I was there it wasn't crazy busy so options seem to be plenty.

Bathrooms available. Decent cell reception on Verizon. Lots of firewood seems to be lying around to gather as well, a nice bonus. The surrounding area has a lot of trails and other outdoor things to get into. Not all that close to town for supply runs, but not so far away as to require a substantial amount of time to get what you need and get back to the campsite.

For the low low price of nothing, this place is a damn good deal.

Stayed here back in May. We paid $10, not too bad although a lot of BLM camping is free. Apparently the $10 is charged May 1st - October 31st, according to the website.

It is nestled against the Colorado River in this cool little valley not too far from the town of Kremmling. The campground itself wasn't that great, but the area was pretty relaxing. You can see in the photos that the weather changed rather quickly, which I think can be cool although your mileage may vary. There's something about being in a dry tent during a rainstorm that makes me very happy.

For a last-minute find after a long day of driving, this place fit the bill.

Oof. Landed here back in May after a long day of driving and not having another other quick options.

Location is rough. As you can see in one of my photos, it is right next to a seedy Motel 6 and the neon light from the sign doesn't quit all night. It's loud too, as it is off a main road. Sites are smashed together and privacy isn't an option. Camp host seemed decent enough, didn't spend much time talking though, just made a reservation over the phone. All the standard KOA fixings are accounted for. Still, this is not a nice place to camp, especially if you're in a tent, and we paid a lot more than we should have for what we got.

Skip it.