After another enjoyable visit to the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge, we headed east down Interstate 10 around 100 miles to another free 14 day BLM camping location called Saddle Mountain. Last year while camping in the Kofa NWR we met a lady who raved about the beauty and peacefulness of Saddle Mountain.
Since our waste tanks were bulging, freshwater empty and nearly out of LP Gas we needed a pit stop. RV friends of ours were staying at the Cove RV Resort on the banks of the Colorado River in Blythe. I had them enquire and got a price of $10 for use of the dump and water fill. We also dumped our garbage and had them fill up the propane tanks. Turned out to be a great place, easy access from I10 highway and plenty of room to maneuver. If you’re looking for a place to hunker down a spell in the area they have low monthly rates.
Saddle Mountain BLM is found off W Courthouse Road a 10-mile drive from the little town of Tonopah, Arizona. The road is paved until you hit the BLM area. The area has multiple dirt roads to enter and camp near. Some of the entrances are a little bumpy to get into or have a few dips. Best to maybe scout things first out depending on your rigs clearance. There are places to camp for any rig size though; I saw everything from tent campers to large Class A’s to converted school buses.
The main draw to the area for me was the natural beauty of the mountains and rugged Sonoran desert environment ribboned with green washes. It’s far enough from the freeway to be quiet, yet close to groceries and supplies about 1/2 hour away in Buckeye, AZ. Also, the cell signals were strong.
Things to do: hiking, photography, and rockhounding. The region is home to large quantities of chacledony including fire agates. It was fun to head out for a hike across the desert floor looking for the pretty stones. Some are formed into a rose looking rock called the Desert Rose.
Hiking up the mountain ridges got the old heart pumping and paid off with some spectacular views of the surrounding desert below. Saddle Mountian receives a Love Your RV! thumbs up for everything we like in a boondocking location. We’ll be back to explore it more I’m sure.
Video Showing the Saddle Mountain BLM Camping
Photos from Saddle Mountain BLM
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