another hells gate 37 question... nearby camping?

[Thoreau]

So some friends and i are going to backpack hells gate. We al plan to arrive on a friday evening after work, car camp, then get on trail the next morning. Just wondering if anyone is aware of someplace decent nearby to car camp. We are all in 4wd modded trucks so road conditions are not an issue.

As close to the trailhead as feasible is desired though and it doesn't have to be anything special since we're only gonna see it in the dark and for one night.

Only asking as its been ages since my last visit to the area and im very much clueless in that area =)

[chumley]

It's national forest so dispersed camping is permitted along any road unless otherwise marked. You can probably camp right at the trailhead. But it is close to Hwy 260 so traffic noise might be a bit disturbing.

[toddak]

Keep heading east on FR405A past the trailhead, there are several places to pull off and camp.

[azbackpackr]

What Toddak said. Camping at trailhead is prohibited.

[Nighthiker]

Set up base camp at Upper Tonto Creek, not that expensive and recommend #5

[Thoreau]

Ended up going with the keep on driving along 405 and pick a spot method since the other vehicle we were heading up with managed to meet up with us to caravan up. There are definitely more than a few options, and we couldn't have gone more than a couple miles out until we found something halfway decent.

Now that hellish hike, on the other hand... THAT was a lot harder =)