In the last installment we looked at boondocking areas adjoining the Grand Canyon National Park compliments of the USFS (United States Forest Service). The USFS is just one of many land agencies in Arizona that administer public land that is open for boondocking.
Following are two other public land agencies to consider when looking for public land open to boondocking in the state.
BLM (Bureau of Land Management)
In Arizona the BLM manages 12.2 million acres of public lands of varying landscapes. They also manage the public treasures known as National Conservation Areas. There are three National Conservation Areas in Arizona and all of them allow some form of camping.
To view the land controlled by the BLM in Arizona , click here.
Wildlife Refuges and Areas
In Arizona you will find 9 Wildlife Refuges and 29 Wildlife Areas spread across the state all managed by Arizona Fish and Game. The areas vary in size from small to huge with some covering hundreds of thousands of acres. Activities vary from wildlife viewing to hiking, fishing and hunting, but the best part is many of them permit boondocking (dispersed camping to wildlife managers) in remote and scenic locations.
To view a map of wildlife refuges and wildlife areas, click here.
Arizona can be a year-round playground for adventurous RVers. Winter months can be spent in the low elevations of the mild desert, while summers can be spent in the cool forests of the higher elevations. You can spend fall and spring slowly migrating between the two as the temperatures rise or fall to your comfort level boondocking along the way.
Four season boondocking without crossing a state line, sounds like an adventure in RVing to me. Easy on the fuel and campground budget!
Dave Helgeson’s many roles in the RV industry started before he even had a driver’s license. His grandparents and father owned an RV dealership before the term “RV” had been coined, and Dave played a pivotal role in nearly every position of an RV dealership. He and his wife Cheri launched their own RV dealership in the Pacific Northwest. The duo also spent 29 years overseeing regional RV shows. Dave has also served as President of a local chapter of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), worked on the board of advisors for the RV Technician Program of a local technical college, and served as a board member of the Manufactured Home and RV Association. Dave’s reputation earned him the title of “The foremost expert on boondocking,” bestowed by RV industry icon, the late Gary Bunzer (The RV Doctor). When he’s not out boondocking, you’ll find Dave in the spotlight at RV shows across the country, giving seminars about all things RVing. He and Cheri currently roam in their fifth travel trailer, with Dave doing all the service, repair and modifications to his own unit.
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