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Dispersed Camping

Cieneguita Dispersed Camping Area - Las Cienegas National Conservation Area

14 Reviews

About

Bureau of Land Management

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Location

Cieneguita Dispersed Camping Area - Las Cienegas National Conservation Area is located in Arizona

Directions

To access the NCA, travel along State Road 83, turn east near mile marker 40 into the NCA entrance. Take the road called BLM road marker LC 900 to access BLM road marker LC 900C and the campsites.

Coordinates

31.7661491 N
110.6282204 W

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Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Stay Connected

WiFi
Good
Verizon
Good
AT&T
Fair
T-Mobile
Unknown

Site Types

Dispersed

Features

For Campers

Firewood Available
Phone Service
WiFi
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Pull-Through Sites
Big Rig Friendly

Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.

PERMIT might be REQUIRED

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Contact

General Info

Michael R.

Scout

Reviewed Mar. 14, 2024

La Cienaguita

I first came upon this area three years ago and have come back every year since. It is isolated, camp sites are well spaced and the scenery is great. There is no highway noise and the night time stars are brilliant. It is free range for cattle so you may wake up several mornings to see them in 'your backyard'. There are Coues deer (a small whitetail), pronghorns (get up early to see them), a prairie dog town, coyotes can be heard many nights, and all kinds of birds.

Empire Ranch has a great but small museum, with trails around it for walking, nice restrooms, free water for filling your RV, and a rich history. If La Cieneguita campground is full (only eight sites) There are other areas with La Cienagas National Conservation Area for camping including a large former small airport on the other side of Empire Ranch.

SiteSite 5 this year

Month of VisitApril

Christopher F.

Traveler

Reviewed Dec. 28, 2023

Great dispersed camping with plenty of wildlife to see.

Prairie dogs and pronghorn antelope are daily visitors. Too many birds to count.

Sitenot sure

Month of VisitJanuary

Scott H.

Scout

Reviewed Dec. 14, 2022

Beautiful surroundings. Peaceful and quiet.

Cold in december....but still a awesome place

Sitenot sure

Month of VisitJanuary

Andrew B.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 30, 2022

Away from civilization with beautiful views

I was traveling from Tucson to Sonoita and had myself a nice overnight. I saw one other camper here, but never heard them. Pulled down the road then through the gate and went about a mile. Beautiful secluded space, bugs weren't too bad. LOTS of nature sounds, heard a pack of dogs, plenty of cows and (?) And the birds are everywhere! It's super awesome! I'm camping in my car, so I didn't find a normal site, just pulled off the road and set up my chair to kick back and enjoy a local craft beer before bed.

Sitepast 8

Month of VisitSeptember

(8) View All

Kathy D.

Scout

Reviewed Feb. 5, 2022

Well kept secret

The views are breathtaking. It is off grid but so peaceful. Definitely worth planning a trip.

Siteunmarked

Month of VisitMarch

Matt P.

Scout

Reviewed Jan. 11, 2022

Great spot!

Stayed two nights and was a great area. Ended up getting a spot near the main road but overall was very quite. Insane views and just a unique area. Empire Ranch had potable water to fill up and there are a ton of vineyards within 20 minutes. Was super windy one day but definitely coming back.

Site1

Month of VisitFebruary

jennifer M.

Guide

Reviewed Dec. 28, 2021

Peaceful and beautiful

If you are looking for a place that is easy to get in and out of as well as peaceful and remote, this is it! There’s a few other campers here, but lost of space between sites so we can never hear them. Great space to walk the dogs around here. It’s gets a little windy at times and the cows can make a racket every so often, but we really like it here. Beautiful views of the mountains and decent cell service. There’s a place to fill water a couple miles away at Empire ranch though no place close to dump. Sites are big and each one has a turn around.

Site6

Month of VisitJanuary

Becbecandbunny O.

Ranger

Reviewed Nov. 25, 2021

Tranquility

We spent two nights at this amazing campsite. This campground offers 7 official and several unofficial sites that are scattered to assure privacy. Campground is primitive with no toilets or water so come prepared. Gorgeous 360 views of nearby mountains. Easy road access for low clearance vehicle although this could change in the rainy season. We camped in our tent but sites are roomy enough for vans and RVs. Make sure you check out the Empire Ranch Foundation, which is about 2 miles from campsite. They offer free self guided tour of the cattle ranch that was located there.

Cell coverage for TMobile was spotty.

Month of VisitDecember

VanpeDiem D.

Ranger

Reviewed Nov. 2, 2021

Peaceful

Stayed 5 nights, very peaceful, approx. 7 sites at Cieneguita CG, others at Oak Tree Canyon (not a real canyon) and the old Airstrip area. Clean vault toilets at the ranch house parking and potable water, approx. 2.3 miles from campsite. Other small pullout spots along some of the side ranch roads. Verizon 2-3 bars LTE.

Site4

Month of VisitNovember

(6) View All

Matthew

Traveler

Reviewed Jul. 12, 2021

Totally solid campsite, free so the price is right!

I pulled in pretty late at night, so wasn't sure what to expect. Nice big campsites, not a lot of privacy though. Almost all of them have mesquite trees with lots of dead branches that you are allowed to collect for firewood, which is super helpful!

This is an old cattle ranch, so it's pretty wide open with some nice views and rolling hills. No water or power at the sights, but there are restrooms near the entrance to the park.

Not a lot to do here, but great for an overnight when you're on a road trip! Definitely recommend.

Month of VisitMarch

Jamie P.

Ranger

Reviewed Apr. 25, 2021

A real Arizona gem of a dispersed camp spot

This area is also called Empire Ranch. The ranch is 44,000 acres boastes lots of wildlife elk, antelope, coyotes, kangaroo rats, and roadrunners. The ranch house can be toured along with several bunkhouse and barns. Several western movies have been shot on the ranch and lots of the scenery looks familiar from these said movies. John Wayne Frank, Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sam Elliott are some of the actors in these movies. Water can be acquired at the camp host and gift shop area at the ranch house. The ranch has an airport which all the large Class A Class Cs and goose neck campers usually camp because the campsites are on the air strip area and requires very little backing. A true gem of a dispersed camping area.

Month of VisitMarch

Rachelle J.

Traveler

Reviewed Jan. 2, 2021

Secluded

Dispersed camping. No amenities. The spots at the cieneguita camp are full Everytime we have camped at the preserve but there is plenty of open area to pick a spot. We camped just past the cieneguita sites tucked back in the mesquite thicket. The dirt at the spot we camped at was so fine it was like talcum powder so everything was covered in dirt in no time BUT it’s camping. You can hear periodic gunfire as this is BLM but people appear to be shooting in areas that are away from campers and towards hillsides. Super quiet otherwise and great skies without light pollution for looking at stars. Pretty cool spot.

Josie G.

Guide

Reviewed Jun. 14, 2020

Free but there are limits

It is peaceful. Occasionally you will end up with cows surrounding you. Happened to me. This campground is allowed up to 14 days, BUT that is every 6 months. Not the normal 30 days. I’ve stayed there many times in the past 4 years, they keep track.

Karylee H.

Guide

Reviewed Mar. 18, 2020

Las Amigas BLM campground outside of Sonoita.

Really nice area flat. BLM Numbered campsites, but you can also go to the end of that campground and there's a fence you can go through and there's camping out that way also. Watch out for potholes. Two weeks camping permitted. No services good Verizon