Tucson car-camping advice saught

[niobium eggplant]

Namaste Y'all!
i will be heading down from FLG today to catch a show in Tucson tonight...any suggestions for a nice site after a good show in the late hours?
thanks
take care
and
happy trails
richard

[plummer150]

What are you even thinking? Never car camp. Car camping is the worst. However, if you must do so, go for Sagauro National Park East.

[Nighthiker]

I know the post is late for your use but nothing wrong with car camping. I vehicle camp, mtn. bike camp, tent trailer camp, backpack and nighthike that usually involves a nap. I had a week long class in Tucson a couple of years ago and I stayed several nights at Catalina State Park.

[niobium eggplant]

Thanks for the responses y'all!
I frequently car camp while on the road.
My night job is as a concert promoter, and though i've been at it for thirteen years, i still like to save $ on the road by accessing sites not too far from roads and urban areas.
I have trekked/backpacked/camped all over this world and like nothing more than to find solitude in the backcountry, whether it be in Nepal, France, Bangladesh, or the Grand Canyon.
Yet there are times when car-camping is the only option.
And to be honest, i've had just as good a time in the back of my 'ole Volvo wagon as along the AT.
[By the way, i wound up camping at Catalina and had a wonderful morning.
I was in Tucson to do the live recoring engineering for the Junior Brown show at City Limits]
take care
and
happy trails
richard from flagstaff

[Jim]

What is the word on camping SW of town, south of Saguaro and west of I-19. Is there free BLM land, and is it safe? I might head down to Tucson area, to hike some desert trails and peaks, and free camping is better than pay. Seeing 80 forecast for next weekend is making me jealous.

[Jeffshadows]

What is the word on camping SW of town, south of Saguaro and west of I-19. Is there free BLM land, and is it safe? I might head down to Tucson area, to hike some desert trails and peaks, and free camping is better than pay. Seeing 80 forecast for next weekend is making me jealous.

Much of that area, especially Ironwood, is right in the middle of the so-called migrant and dope superhighway; that notwithstanding, you'd probably be fine. My rather ample experience is that they will go far out of their way to avoid you.

No overnighting anywhere in the Tucson Mountain Park controlled by city\county, same goes for Saguaro East. There's Gilbert Ray, but it's fee. Other areas would be "Use at your own descretion," but I would avoid the Tohono O'odham land as you never know what belongs to whom. There are scattered parcels of BLM land forming a "stripe" down from the Tucson Mountains west of I-19. The closer you are to minor hills, the more likely you would be on BLM land.

The other, maybe better, option is to pay $20 and get a Coronado Yearly then you could use any of the backcountry sites in the Ritas or on or near Lemmon. In fact, had you not said you wanted to avoid a fee, my first suggestion would have been head toward Madera and turn at the dirt road (Elephant Head Rd.) that bears right at the self-pay fee station. Head in a little ways and there are numerous backcountry car-capming sites. You would be within striking distance of the Tucsons and the desert hikes near Nogales and walking distance of everything in the Ritas...

[Jeffshadows]

Here's a BLM map of dispersed sites, I guess it really isn't as much of a "stripe" as I had remembered it to be, but you get the idea: http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/ ... amping.pdf

[Jim]

Thanks, wouldn't my National Parks Pass allow me to camp in those same places? I was hoping to be down low, though, and warm at night.

[Jeffshadows]

Thanks, wouldn't my National Parks Pass allow me to camp in those same places? I was hoping to be down low, though, and warm at night.

Is it that $100-a-year job? The "Multi-Agency" or whatever it's called? That one will, yes. The elevation on Elephant Head Rd is about 2800-3200', if memory serves. You'd definitely be down in the scrub.

[cindyl]

there's also free camping right off the road to Ragged Top, but that's north of where you want to be, but it's also a great hike this time of year: http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=2416.

[azbackpackr]

Jim would love Ragged Top!

[chumley]

I'm sorry, but every time I see the subject line "Tucson car-camping advice saught" I immediately think something like "don't try it" or "bring your gun". Of course that's because I'm envisioning setting up camp somewhere near the airport and not on Mt. Lemmon or other recreational area near Tucson. To be fair, I'd think the same thing if somebody asked for Phoenix car-camping advice.

[azbackpackr]

I am always visiting people, so I either stay with them or camp at Catalina State Park. But it isn't that cheap. I have camped there numerous times, though, since I moved away from Tucson.

[Jim]

Thanks for the help. I may end up going to and hiking Ragged top for the camping. I'm also looking to do a night heading home near Roosevelt Lake, or in the general vicinity. Not sure about land ownership up around there.

[Thoreau]

I can't stop anyone of course, but PLEASE be very cautious of any camping south of I8 and west of I10. There's no "so-called" about the smuggling corridor activity in those areas. Just looking at it briefly, Ragged Top is right smack dead center in an EXTREMELY active path that comes up from Three Points. Don't even get me started on what's been going on in the Silverbell area lately either.

If nothing else, make certain you are armed (and understand how to use your defensive weapon) and DEFINITELY make sure you leave a plan with a trusted friend of family member back home. There is a lot going on in our back yard that you don't see on the news...

[RedRoxx44]

Lots of activity down here but I agree with Jeff; they'll try to avoid you. I find it amusing, I've hiked and car camped solo all along the El Camino and never been bothered. My last hike with Brian on the Chiricahua crest trail we met about 20 illegals crossing--- no problems. The drug runners are the ones to worry about. Most of those guys are using vehicles versus on foot but you will see a few. Lots of car camping choices in the foothills of the Santa Ritas, the Mustangs, Canelo Hills, Whetstones. Have fun.

[Tough_Boots]

The drug runners are the ones to worry about.

I would also imagine the gunrunners heading south across the border.

[Jeffshadows]

The drug runners are the ones to worry about.

I would also imagine the gunrunners heading south across the border.

Don't buy the hype. One or two major incidents make the news and suddenly the border area is "awash" with violence and migrants looking to jack the very shoes from your quivering feet. It's no more or less safe than inner-city Phoenix...

[Thoreau]

I'm not sure if that was joking or not, but I can personally attest to the fact that what is seen on TV isn't even a fraction of what's happening out there. It is absolutely, positively, and without a doubt NOT hype. Dare I say that even the likes of Glenn Beck barely scratch the surface.

It's true that in the case of MIGRANTS, chances are they will act just like wildlife. You avoid them, they avoid you. They're hardly the only ones out there though, especially right now as the weather is starting to change.

I will agree that the GUN runners heading south are a minimal threat. Thanks to the ATF actually HELPING them (google project gunrunner for full info.)

[azbackpackr]

Interesting about the gun runners. Mexico has strict firearms laws.