As others have said, this is situated right in between the Grand Canyon gates and the little town of Tusayan. This makes it super easy to drive into the park for a sunrise hike down into the canyon!

The spots are dispersed really well and we were pleasantly surprised to not have any “neighbors” within sight. It felt like a safe place to leave our tent and several belongings while we ventured inside the park. It was very quiet at night, and the view of the stars on a clear night is incredible here!

If you’re looking for boondocking, this is as good as it comes! It’s hard to believe that fee free places like this still exist!

This breathtakingly beautiful backcountry campsite is surrounded by Texas desert and has incredible views of the Santa Elena Canyon (where the Rio Grande divides Texas and Mexico).

We camped there in April 2018 and loved every moment. It’s a great spot to pitch a tent if you are planning to do some paddling on the river, or if you just want to be out (WAY OUT) in the middle of nowhere. There are three sites available at this location but they are spread out. Bear/mountain lion boxes are also provided - although I can’t imagine a bear would be that far out into the desert.

You can climb a small hill behind the campsite and watch the prettiest sunset over the canyon that you’ve ever seen.

Make sure to take everything you need. There are no hookups, no water, toilets, etc… there is a small visitor station with limited hours (even pre-COVID) just a few miles away. But no gas, so make sure to come on a full tank.

Take a couple of days and enjoy the beautiful scenery and nice hiking trails nearby.

This is ONLY a four star review simply because the access roads are AWFUL! You might could reach this in a high clearance 2WD, but if a rain shower pops up, it could be a while before you find your way out. And it could be days before anyone comes that far out. Come prepared! Other than this, the site is an easy 5 stars!