Labor Day Camping

[jacmarell]

I'm looking to go camping over Labor Day weekend. As I'm a procrastinator all reservable sites are reserved. Thought I'd look into BLM primitive camping. I haven't been in the state too long and have only been camping a few times. Looking for suggestions for BLM camping near Sedona, Flag or Payson. Anyone have any suggestions?

[joebartels]

hi jacmarell

you aren't going to find BLM spots in those immediate areas
those are more in the SW and West where there isn't a National Forest
plenty of great options for Nov-Mar

now for the good news!
You can camp anywhere on a NF unless otherwise noted, it's called dispersed camping.
Here's the basics

Dispersed Campsite

If you are going to an area where others have camped before, pick a site that's been used before. Plants, soil and wildlife are impacted by new campsites, so using existing ones will minimize your impact on the forest. If there is no existing campsite, then follow these Leave No Trace guidelines:

* Camp on bare soil if possible, to avoid damaging or killing plants and grass.
* Do NOT camp within 200 feet of any water source, plants near water are especially fragile.
* Don't camp in the middle of a clearing or meadow, try to make your campsite less visible so that other visitors will see a "wild" setting.
* Don't try to level or dig trenches in the ground at your campsite. Select a campsite with good natural drainage.

Payson is loaded with dispersed camping options especially above the rim. Just grab any descent map and look for RIM ROAD. It's more then you can image. Keep in mind it'll be like the LA Fair on a holiday weekend.(minus the trans-fatty goods)

Flagstaff isn't as loaded, but there's good options from Williams to the Sycamore Canyon area.

Sedona is "unless otherwise noted". You have to get away from town. Which is going to be the flip side (East) of Sycamore Canyon between Sedona and Flagstaff.

Once again, keep in mind nobody in they're right mind is going to give away they're secret little spot. Hope you are at least heading in mid Friday. Unless you've been to the "Fair" before it's good to get in early!

[chumley]

Yeah. What Joe said.

The Rim Road (which is also known as Forest Road 300) is a good start. If you're driving a sedan, you'll want to be up there before noon on Friday as the sedan-accessible locations are more quickly taken.

With a high-clearance vehicle, you can find somewhere even late Friday evening or Saturday if you don't mind driving a few extra miles on less-traveled side-roads. Coconino NF has catalogued over 2000 previously established dispersed camp spots, so there's plenty out there. You just gotta find one you like ... that's not already taken.

If you prefer a campground (picnic tables and pit toilets) versus dispersed camping, check the NF websites as there are a handful of non-reservable campgrounds. But you absolutely must be there by Friday morning at the latest if you hope to find an open spot.

[jacmarell]

Thanks for the info guys! Really appreciate it. Very usefull. Sounds like a holiday weekend in AZ is a nightmare. =( Oh well, we're still gonna give it a shot!

[Dschur]

The traffic coming in to Payson on the last two weekends has been really bad. It has been backed up from Payson all the way to the start of the hill coming up to Payson. About 2 to 3 miles. This has been about 5-6 pm on Friday. It gets even worse during the three day weekend. And coming back thru Payson all the way from star valley all the way thru Payson to the casino....

[PrestonSands]

Ah, holiday traffic in Payson. The one thing I don't miss from when I lived there :yuck: There was a time or two I cut through Cypress Thicket to avoid the backup. It wasn't any faster, but it was fun!

[chumley]

Dschur-

I don't live in Payson so you'd know better, but wasn't last weekend's traffic due to the Rodeo being in town? On a normal summer weekend, there's usually not more than one or two cycles at the first light. (Of course, I was stuck in it last weekend ... left the valley at 5:30, sat in traffic on top of the hill from 6:45 until 7:30... 3 miles.)

Holiday weekends (MemDay, 4th, Labor) feature the arts festival in Pine, which brings more folks up north too.

My experience is to be through Payson before 4pm or wait until after 8pm for an easier trip. It's like rush hour anywhere. Avoid it if you can.

And I'll take the Beeline over I-17 just about any time... but that's another discussion altogether.

[joebartels]

That rodeo was intense, the whole town was like a mall parking lot the day after thanksgiving.
I was wondering what was going on, figured somebody was giving away gold.

[Dschur]

Yeah last weekend was due to the rodeo but this weekend wasn't and it still was that way. Since we work in the valley and drive home every night we get to see the traffic anyway. It is always bumper to bumper thru Payson on the way back on Sunday morning thru the afternoon about 4 or so from Star Valley. This last weekend wasn't any rodeo but still was backed up. I have every other Friday off and always plan my trip into Payson to do errands so that I don't have to turn left across the traffic coming into town all day Friday it is bad thru town but gets worse about 2pm or so.