Dispersed Camping in Utah

Dispersed Camping in Utah

Utah has huge areas of BLM and national forest land where you can camp for free, from red-rock desert near Moab to high forests in the Fishlake and Dixie. This guide groups the 68 Utah dispersed spots listed on Camping In The USA by who manages the land, and sums up the official rules. Always check the managing office for current road, fire and closure orders before you go.

The rules in one minute

• BLM land: Free dispersed camping is allowed across BLM Utah land except where posted, with no fees, permits or passes. There is a 14-day limit at any campsite (generally 14 days in a 28-day period), after which you must move. Camp only in previously used spots, away from developed sites, trailheads and livestock water. (BLM Utah dispersed camping fact sheet)
• Designated-site areas: Some busy BLM areas allow camping only at numbered sites, for example Hurricane Cliffs near St. George (56 designated sites, 14 days in 28). (BLM Hurricane Cliffs)
• National forests: Dispersed camping means no toilets, water or trash service. Each forest sets its own stay limits and closures, so check the forest's Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) and alerts.
• Fire: Check current restrictions at utahfireinfo.gov, use existing rings or a fire pan, and drown and stir fires before leaving.
• Bring water. Most of these spots have no potable water.

BLM land

• Baker Dam: about 4 miles from Veyo, about 4,860 ft.
• Big Bend: about 6 miles from Moab.
• Birch Creek: about 8 miles from Woodruff, about 6,800 ft.
• Bridge Hollow: about 36 miles from Vernal.
• Buckskin Gulch - House Rock Valley: about 32 miles from Page.
• Caineville Desert BLM Flats.
• Calf Creek: about 10 miles from Escalante, about 5,350 ft.
• Canyonlands – Needles vicinity (BLM): about 1,600 ft.
• Clover Springs.
• Coal Mine Wash: about 10 miles from Hanksville.
• Comb Washr - Dispersed: about 12 miles from Blanding.
• Cowboy Camp: about 13 miles from Moab, about 6,100 ft.
• Factory Butte & Caineville area (BLM): about 1,400 ft.
• Goblin Valley BLM Corridors.
• Gooseberry Mesa Vicinity.
• Goosenecks SP vicinity (BLM): about 1,500 ft.
• Goosenecks State Park Vicinity BLM.
• Nine Mile Canyon Access BLM.
• North Klondike Bluff BLM Corridors.
• Paria Movie Set & Toadstools area (BLM): about 1,500 ft.
• Valley of the Gods (BLM): about 1,400 ft.
• Valley of the Gods East Bench.
• Valley of the Gods Roadside Camping.

Fishlake National Forest

• Big Lake CUA Dispersed Camping: about 8 miles from Monroe.
• Cold Springs CUA Dispersed Camping: about 17 miles from Salina.
• Farnsworth CUA Dispersed Camping: about 17 miles from Salina.
• Harves River CUA Dispersed Camping: about 17 miles from Salina.
• Rex Reservoir CUA Dispersed Camping: about 13 miles from Salina.

Dixie National Forest

• Lava Flat Designated Dispersed Camping Area: about 22 miles from Panguitch.
• Uinta Flat Designated Dispersed Camping Area: about 24 miles from Panguitch.
• Yankee Designated Dispersed Camping Area: about 6 miles from Parowan.

Other national forest spots

• Clear Creek Campground: about 47 miles from Burley.

More spots

• Burr Trail Dispersed Zones.
• Cathedral Valley Road Pullouts.
• Cedar Breaks Plateau Spurs.
• Cottonwood Canyon Rd (Kodachrome to Hwy 12): about 5,970 ft.
• Diamond Fork/5th Water Corridor.
• Gemini Bridges Road Dispersed.
• Hanksville – Burr Trail dispersed: about 1,800 ft.
• Hell’s Gate – Hole-in-the-Rock Rd vicinity: about 1,400 ft.
• Hole-in-the-Rock Road Dispersed.
• Kane Creek Road Corridors.
• Kolob Terrace Road Pullouts (outside NPS).
• Koosharem/Monroe Mountain Roads.
• La Sal Mountains Dispersed Camping.
• Lockhart Basin Corridor.
• Manti Skyline Drive Pullouts.
• Mineral Bottom Road Benches.
• Mirror Lake Highway Spurs.
• Mirror Lake Hwy – Bear River Corridors.
• Muley Point Overlook: about 2,000 ft.
• North Fork Uinta Backroads.
• Notom–Bullfrog Road Dispersed.
• Onion Creek Road Pullouts.
• Pine Valley Mountain Backroads.
• San Rafael Desert Rim Sites.
• San Rafael Swell – Buckhorn Wash Corridors – North Spurs.
• San Rafael Swell – Buckhorn Wash Corridors – South Spurs.
• San Rafael Swell – Temple Mountain vicinity: about 1,800 ft.
• Sand Flats Road Outside Fee Area.
• Skutumpah Road Dispersed.
• Smoky Mountain Road Corridors.
• Snow Canyon Backroads (designated).
• Strawberry Ridge FR 083 Spurs.
• Temple Mountain Pullouts.
• The Pinnacles – Swell vicinity: about 1,600 ft.
• Uinta – Bear River Corridor Spurs.
• Wedge Overlook – Little Grand Canyon rim: about 2,100 ft.

Before you go

Get the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) for any national forest you visit, since it shows which roads are open and where roadside camping is allowed. Check fire restrictions, which change often in summer.

See all Utah campsites.