Free Camping on the Mogollon Rim in Arizona

When we left our last boondocking spot in Camp Verde, we had no idea that we were going to find such great camping on the Mogollon Rim! All we knew was that we had had enough of the 90 degree temps that we were experiencing in Camp Verde! That’s why we decided to head up towards Payson to get to higher elevation and get in some trees! After looking around on several forest roads, we finally found this awesome spot camping on the Mogollon Rim that put huge smiles on our faces! Incredible views overlooking the Rim, comfortable temperatures, (mostly) reliable cell service for working, and we were finally in the woods again!!

Quick Info: Camping on the Mogollon Rim

Cost: Free

Ownership: Forest Service; 14 day limit

Directions: From Camp Verde, follow the AZ-260 E for about 31 miles. Then turn left onto AZ-87 N for 2.6 miles. Turn right onto Rim Road and continue straight for about 1.3 miles. At the fork/triangle, take a right on Milk Ranch Point Road. After about a half mile take one of the dirt roads on the left to the numerous dispersed campspots along the Mogollon Rim.

*Note: After you turn onto Rim Road, almost immediately there are dispersed camping options all along the dirt road. And after the fork/triangle, there are pretty much unlimited camp spots in both directions. The spots along the Mogollon Rim are the ones where you’ll find cell service.

Solar: Ok – we were parked in the woods so there was a lot of shade from the trees.

Miles From Town: About 15 miles from Pine, Arizona.

Water: None; we filled our jugs in Pine.

Road Conditions: Dirt/gravel road – pretty bumpy so we just took it slow.

Cell Service: Yes, near the rim

Our Experience Camping on the Mogollon Rim

Driving up from Camp Verde, we passed lots of forest roads that seemed to have an abundance of dispersed camping on them. But many of them were still very exposed and hot. Luckily we kept on trucking, pulling our trailer slowly up the AZ-260 E. We checked out several forest roads until we found Forest Road 300. That’s when we discovered our ideal spot camping on the Mogollon Rim and immediately we just knew that this was home for the next week or so!

After spending the last few months in the desert among cacti, shrubs and bushes it felt so good to be surrounded by tall pines! And the shade provided excellent relief from the summer temperatures that had finally arrived. We parked the trailer in an area where we predicted we would get the most solar and then it felt like home!

Camping on the Mogollon Rim gave us an incredible vast view right out our front door. Being at such low elevation lately, seeing things from such a vantage point was a refreshing perspective! We could see so far down as the rim dropped off so dramatically and steeply. But we could also see so far out into the distance, making for beautiful sunsets.

Camp Here Later – Pin It Now!

The spot itself was very spacious and shaded with a good mix of trees and exposure. There was a fire pit but fire restrictions were already in place during our stay.

We arrived on a weekday and had the immediate area all to ourselves. Then Friday came… That’s when we found out that camping on the Mogollon Rim was actually a very popular thing to do! On the weekends we always had neighbors, several of them, on both sides of us. As soon as one left, another set up! Makes sense though – the location, temperatures and views were great! But everyone we encountered were chill and respectful.

The day that we arrived we were lucky enough to see a few elks! Other than that, we saw one coyote, a few squirrels and a baby rattlesnake!

In the Area

One of the perks of camping on the Mogollon Rim (besides the overlooking views) were the nearby hiking/walking/running opportunities. We checked out numerous forest roads in the area and some of them were super enjoyable. One in particular led us to an even higher vantage point. We also took the time to walk in both directions along the rim just to see what we could find. Walking through the woods exploring a whole new area is always a great time.

Although we didn’t venture too far, there are several recreation opportunities in the area. There are several trails and lakes nearby as well as a long scenic drive along the rim. Along the way there are other options for camping on the Mogollon Rim – numerous dispersed camp spots as well as several campgrounds. During our stay we did check out Potato Lake.

Potato Lake is a small lake that seemed to have experienced a fire relatively recently. We walked around the lakes edge and checked it out. Then on the way back, across from the parking area we checked out a small cave and rope swing!

Overall, we really enjoyed camping on the Mogollon Rim. It was a pleasant surprise and a good experience. The geography and features in the area were really neat to check out. And before we knew it, it was time to move on! Stay tuned for upcoming articles about The Lost Longboarders camping, skating and hiking adventures.

Thanks for Keeping Up with The Lost Longboarder!

Thank you for reading about our experience camping on the Mogollon Rim! If you’re looking for more great boondocking spots, check out the articles below:

• Camping Near Sycamore Creek
• Laguna Creek Wilderness Free BLM Campground
• Camping Near Mayer
• Camping and Hiking at Fossil Falls

While we are on the road we stay busy creating hand painted longboards! If you’d like to pick up a unique new longboard, head over to our Lost Coast Longboarding Shop to see our latest lineup. We also design and screen print our own t-shirts and long sleeve shirts.

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