Dispersed Camping Locations (Phoenix, Flagstaff, Prescott: trailer, car, office) - Arizona (AZ) - City-Data Forum

KarmaPhx · 07-03-2009, 12:26 AM

I somehow managed to get a weekend off this month, and we want to go camping. We are looking for dispersed camping locations, if they are allowed this time of year with a fire.

I found some through the forest websites but the maps are not very clear as to where the spots are, or what ones are best.

I am thinking Prescott, but maybe Payson or Flagstaff? I don't want to drive more than 2-3 hours.

KarmaPhx · 07-03-2009, 01:02 AM

I was thinking this location near Ponderosa Park?

from: 3935 E Greenway Rd Phoenix, AZ to: Indian Creek Rd - Google Maps

I found it on this map: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/prescott/rec...ed-camping.jpg

Anyone know if "Groom Creek" is running?

crazyme4878 · 07-03-2009, 03:53 PM

I believe you can disperse camp anywhere along Hwy. 288 (east of Payson) or any of the open forest roads off of it. I have been through there on two different times in the last couple months and have seen numerous people doing so.

However, your best option is to call the Payson Forest Service office; they will be able to tell you exactly where you can and can't.

OurNextAdventure · 07-03-2009, 04:22 PM

If you are going camping, go somewhere up north. What kind of camping are you looking into? Tent or travel trailer? Do you have a boat? I enjoy camping at Lake Pleasant. Especially on the 4th of July. Shore the boat on one of the islands, and set up tent. I just sleep in the boat.

KarmaPhx · 07-04-2009, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azbatman86

If you are going camping, go somewhere up north. What kind of camping are you looking into? Tent or travel trailer? Do you have a boat? I enjoy camping at Lake Pleasant. Especially on the 4th of July. Shore the boat on one of the islands, and set up tent. I just sleep in the boat.

I really dislike desert camping, I like being in the woods. We are just tent camping, nothing fancy. We need to go somewhere accessible by car.

For the dispersed camping sites, do they usually have parking off the road? I think we are going to give Prescott a shot.

azdr0710 · 07-04-2009, 11:25 AM

you may already be on your way now, but I think primitive carcamping is allowed in most public National Forests anywhere unless there are specific signs forbidding it, usually because of overuse in a popular area.....

just drive down a dirt road in a National Forest a ways and start looking for areas where others have obviously pulled their car into and camped....a telltale fire ring is a good sign....pretty and popular areas will have more evidence of this.....signs will be posted if you can't carcamp in a certain spot....

of course, carry out all your trash, leave it clean and neat, pick up others' trash if you feel like it, and be careful if you build a fire.....

there are limits on carcamping in some places because of overuse....one example is the Rim Road (FR300) near AZ 260 up on top of the rim E of Payson...years ago, it was a free-for-all and popular because of the fantastic view....overuse led to carcamping regulations, marked spaces, fees (I think), signs, rules............

KarmaPhx · 07-05-2009, 01:59 AM

We aren't going til next weekend actually, I looked on the forest website and it's a little confusing, I don't get how the campsites are named, because there are like 30 names that do not match up with the roads around them, so I have no idea how many campsites are at each location.