Arizona's Easy Off-Road Route Yields Breathtaking Views Of Sedona's Red Rock Country With Wild Camping

Camping — real, hard-bitten camping — once meant sizing up the land, steering your rig toward a quiet patch of earth, and laying your head where the firelight could hold off coyotes, bears, and whatever else prowled the dark edges of the wild. That experience has somehow been modernized into reserving pre-groomed sites with picnic tables, fire rings, pre-chopped firewood for sale, and even toilets and showers. Fortunately, a middle ground exists along Forest Road 525, around 10 miles northwest of downtown Sedona (also known as Loy Butte Road), an easy off-road route that mixes the best bits of wild camping with dazzling views of red rock formations and high desert, offering a different way to explore a breathtaking destination considered the world's "most mindful" escape.

This route boasts some of the most popular areas around Sedona for dispersed camping, which ditches pre-ordained campgrounds for a freer, wilder experience. On Forest Road 525, that means you won't have amenities as you would in a more established campground, like running water or lighted bathrooms with flushing toilets and showers. But in exchange, you'll gain the freedom of setting up shop in the middle of gorgeous red rock country at your whim (sorta), choosing your neighbors or going for maximum solitude.

The Forest Road 525 dispersed camping area is about a two-hour drive north of Phoenix. For those who only want to rough it a little, RVs and campers are ideal here. Those going for the full-on tent camping experience may be able to get away with using a sedan, but a high-clearance 4WD vehicle is optimal for navigating the mix of dips, washboards, and divots along the road. With the right car, though, the wide gravel road is a piece of cake overall. Regardless of how you get there, you'll need to be prepared, so don't forget the five essential items you'll need for an easy camping retreat. As there's no running water or restaurant anywhere around here, you'll need to stock enough water and food to last the duration of your trip.

The first few miles of 525 lead past a mix of yuccas, junipers, and prickly pear cactuses, and eventually, the road leads to panoramic views of Sedona's iconic red rocks. The only hard part is choosing where to sleep. The 525 used to be a free-for-all for campers, who were able to pull over at any location and set up shop. Though it's still technically a dispersed camping area, now, only seven designated and named areas can be used for camping. The area referred to as Greasy Spoon promises a fantastic mix of views and privacy, with a superb sunset spot a short hike away. Next up the road, the Nolan area offers even more privacy, as it's a little more removed from the 525. But this is at the expense of some rough terrain, so be prepared for this and drive carefully. And before you leave the Sedona area, be sure to check out this hiking paradise with a healing natural swim spot.