Dispersed

Childs Dispersed Camping Area

Camp Verde, AZ

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.

Directions

Pricing

Check official pricing

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Dispersed Area Free · No reservation USFS · Forest Service Dispersed 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.

Riparian dispersed area on the Verde River below the old Childs power plant. 14-day limit, free, vault toilet, rough access road.

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.
USFS Motor Vehicle Use Map required
You must use the Forest Service Motor Vehicle Use Map for this district to identify which roads allow camping. Off-MVUM driving and camping is illegal.

Managing agency: USFS · Red Rock Ranger District (Coconino NF)
Designation: Forest Service Dispersed Camping Area
Max stay: 14 days per location
Distance from water (LNT): 200+ ft
Vehicle notes: Per agency page: "High clearance vehicles highly recommended. Four-wheel-drive may be helpful." Access via FR 502 includes "6 miles of VERY BAD Road."

Facilities

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

Resources & official references

Fire restrictions (live)

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

Official agency page

USFS — Childs Dispersed Camping Area ↗
Official rec-area page from the managing agency.

Field office / ranger district

USFS Coconino 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.

rules

Coconino NF — 14-day camping limit (Forest Order 03-04-00-24-04) ↗
Forest-wide stay-limit / dispersed-camping rule.

Official sources & verification

Managed by Dispersed/Primitive

Verify before you go

Source of truth

Agency source page
The page our published rules and notes are derived from.

Verify by phone or mail

Address:Camp Verde, AZ

About

Per the Coconino NF page: a dispersed camping area "below the remnants of the old power plant buildings on the edge of the Verde River" featuring trails for hiking and horseback riding, unique rock formations, and a lush riparian area. Forest-wide stay rule: 14 days within any 30 consecutive days. Vault restroom on-site; no potable water; campfires prohibited during Stage 1 and Stage 2 fire restrictions.