Dispersed

Bartlett Flat Shoreline Area

AZ

$8.00 /night

Dispersed camping — conditions change

Fire restrictions, road washouts, and seasonal closures are common on public lands. Confirm current rules with the managing agency (BLM/USFS field office) before traveling. Practice Leave No Trace.

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$8.00

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Dispersed Area $8 per night USFS · Forest Service Shoreline Camping Area

What is dispersed camping?

Dispersed camping is primitive camping on public land outside of developed campgrounds. There are no facilities — no toilets (usually), no water, no trash service, no marked sites. You may camp anywhere within the area, usually for free, subject to the agency's rules below. Pack everything out, follow Leave No Trace, and check current conditions with the land manager before you go.

Shoreline primitive camping on Bartlett Lake. 14-day limit, Tonto Pass required, vault toilets.

Fire restrictions change daily. We don't publish a static fire-allowed claim — check the current order before any campfire, stove, or smoking.

Current fire orders ↗

Previously disturbed sites only
Camp ONLY in established / previously used spots. Pioneering new sites is prohibited under the management plan and subject to citation.
Pack out human waste
WAG bag (or equivalent pack-out kit) is required. Burying is not allowed in this area.

Managing agency: USFS · Cave Creek Ranger District (Tonto NF)
Designation: Forest Service Shoreline Camping Area
Max stay: 14 days per location
Road access: Paved access
Distance from water (LNT): 200+ ft
Vehicle notes: Per agency page: 23 miles east of Carefree via Cave Creek Road and Bartlett Dam Road; paved-then-unpaved access.

Facilities

✓ Vault toilet present
→Potable water: Potable water is not available at this site.

Resources & official references

Fire restrictions (live)

Tonto NF — alerts and current fire orders ↗
Live alerts feed for the forest. Check before any campfire or stove use.

Official agency page

USFS — Bartlett Flat Shoreline Area ↗
Official rec-area page from the managing agency.

Field office / ranger district

USFS Tonto National Forest ↗
Forest landing page — alerts, contact, current orders.

Leave No Trace

Leave No Trace — 7 Principles ↗
Pack everything out, camp on durable surfaces, respect wildlife, etc.

About

Per the Tonto NF page: a "beach-like retreat" along the water's edge of Bartlett Lake offering "more room for camping, beaching and launching your boat" — "large families and RVers prefer this area due to the flexibility to spread out along the shoreline." 14-day stay limit; vault toilets; potable water not available; Tonto Pass required for vehicle access; quiet hours 10 pm – 6 am.