Bureau of Land Management
Learn about camping and boondocking on BLM land
Map of BLM Land in New York
There is no map of BLM land in New York. However, the BLM does maintain an "Eastern States" office that covers all areas east of the Mississippi River. But this office manages all of United States' sub-surface mineral rights (oil, gas, etc). This office also manages auctions of livestock and other properties gathered or seized from western states.
Snaggletooth Primitive RV Camp
Snaggletooth Primitive RV Camp, Needles, CA What makes Snaggletooth a great place to boondock is that it remains largely unnoticed by most RVers, particularly during the Winter season. When places like Quartzsite, Lake Havasu, Yuma, Joshua Tree South are completely filled with snowbirds, Snaggletooth remains largely unnoticed. You can set up camp here, and pretty much get away with staying well beyond the typical 14-day limit. The entire time, you may only see a handful of RVers just camping overnight. Otherwise, it’s peaceful to place to boondock amidst the solitude of the California desert region. And yet, Snaggletooth still offers everything a boondocker would want… ... Read more
Sheep Bridge Road
Sheep Bridge Road, Virgin, UT Probably one of the busiest and difficult places to find available boondocking at, Sheep Bridge Road acts as free camping for RVers looking to spend a weekend at Zion National Park. Each of the 48 marked campsites offers beautiful vistas of red rock cliffs along with easy access to several canyon trails. Even though signs posted at each end of Sheep Bridge Road instruct you to camp only in marked campsites, dozens of RVers and vanners still set up in unmarked sites. BLM officials don’t seem to enforce camping rules here, allowing people to camp anywhere off ... Read more
Shavano Wildlife Management Area
Shavano WMA, Salida, CO Shavano Wildlife Management Area is named after, “Mt. Shavano”, one of the many “fourteeners” that mountain climbers have put on their “to do” lists. The WMA lies at the south-western base of the mountain and serves as a launching point for hikers and climbers. It also offers some idyllic camping for boondockers and RVers. You get there from the town of Poncha Springs, by taking US-50 west and then turning north along County Rd 250, and taking it all the way into the boondocking area. The road turns to hard packed gravel, and become rather washboarded. It ... Read more
Sacred White Shell Mountain
BLM Sacred White Shell Mountain, Camping The name, “Sacred White Shell Mountain” is a misnomer. The official name of the mountain is “Mt. Blanca”, or more affectionately known as, “Blanca Peak”, one of the many “fourteeners” that mountain climbers have on their to do list. The road leading up to the peak offers several places where RVers can camp. The higher up in elevation you go, the better the views of the San Luis Valley, and the better Verizon 4G signal you can get. But, this area can get crowded during the weekends. You will tend to see a lot ... Read more
Nellis Dunes Recreation Area, Las Vegas, NV
Nellis Dunes Recreation Area, Las Vegas, Nevada Locals have used the sand dunes north of Nellis Air Force Base for OHV recreation since the 1970s. But it wasn’t until 2009 that the State of Nevada recognized its commercial potential as an OHV Recreation Area, and officially designated it as, “Nellis Dunes Recreation Area”. Most of it is managed by the BLM, including the camping areas and the vast majority of its trails and dunes. A smaller portion of former BLM lands was conveyed to Clark County for future construction of a motorsports park. Much of the camping and staging area ... Read more
Lowry Bridge Campground, Sun River, MT
Lowry Bridge, Sun River, Montana, Camping Sun River drains from the Sawtooth Range of mountains in Montana and flows east towards Great Falls. It roughly parallels State Highways 21 and 200, meandering past small hamlets with vintage gas stations and burger shacks of a bygone era. About a mile from the town of Simms, the river flows underneath an old bridge along Lowry Road. Started construction in 1916, Lowry Bridge was commissioned by Cascade County officials to provide a thoroughfare connecting communities on both sides of the Sun River. The bridge itself has only a 20,000 lbs limit. If your ... Read more
Joshua Tree BLM South, Chiriaco, CA
Joshua Tree BLM South, Chiriaco, California Chiriaco Summit is the name of a gasoline station stop along I-10, about 5 miles east of Cottonwood Springs Rd, right where it crosses Interstate 10. It happens to be the closest place name associated with Joshua Tree BLM South. This area of BLM land had long been used by Joshua Tree National Park as an overflow camping site. The campgrounds inside Joshua Tree NP get booked up very quickly, and as a result, many campers hoping for a starry-night weekend amidst boulders and joshua trees, get sent to this place. But it turns out, it’s ... Read more
Joe Skeen Campground
Joe Skeen Campground, El Malpais NCA This high desert campground is set back from highway 117. Each of the 10 free campsites (no reservation system/first come, first served basis) has a covered picnic table, fire grill, and tent space. There are two vault toilets. Some of the sites have pull through parking ideal for total lengths up to 50 feet. There is a steep arroyo at the entrance and drivers should inspect it before entering. The road is graveled and passable in most conditions, though visitors should wait for water in the arroyo to dissipate before attempting to cross. There ... Read more
