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home/Knowledge Base/Boondocking Rules/Camping on Arizona State Trust Lands
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Camping on Arizona State Trust Lands

11416 views 35 August 2, 2020 Updated on January 13, 2022

The State of Arizona permits camping on most of its 9.4 million acres of State Trust Lands. Camping is not free, however. On the other hand, boondocking (dispersed camping) is allowed at a very reasonable cost. See “Recreational Permits” below.

camping arizona state trust land
Boondocking on Arizona State Trust Lands, Southern Arizona

Camping on Arizona State Trust Lands

The State of Arizona owns 9.4 million acres of trust land. A lot of this is open for camping. The only trust land not open for camping are those currently leased for other uses (agriculture, mining).

To camp on Arizona State Trust Land, you first have to obtain a “Recreational Permit”. Once you have that permit in hand, you can set up camp anywhere on those 8.0 million acres.

All Arizona State Trust Lands are managed by the Arizona State Land Department. The Department has not built any developed campgrounds on its own. However, the Department has partnered with other state agencies to develop recreational areas on trust land. Those recreational areas, however, are managed by those other agencies, and their own rules would apply.

Arizona State Trust Land Maps

  • Arizona State Trust Land Map (official interactive map)
  • Arizona State Trust Land Map (PDF) 17.9 MB
    • Apache County & Navajo County (PDF) 17.4 MB
    • Cochise County (PDF) 11.4 MB
    • Coconino County (PDF) 32.5 MB
    • Gila County (PDF) 9.9 MB
    • Graham County & Greenlee County (PDF) 9.4 MB
    • La Paz County (PDF) 8.0 MB
    • Maricopa County (PDF) 12.2 MB
    • Mohave County (PDF) 15.6 MB
    • Pima County & Santa Cruz County (PDF) 10.1 MB
    • Pinal County (PDF) 9.1 MB
    • Yavapai County (PDF) 11.6 MB
    • Yuma County (PDF) 18.0 MB

Rules for Camping on Arizona State Trust Lands

  • Camping is limited to no more than 14 days per year.
  • All travel is restricted to existing roads and trails. A one-time use or single set of tracks does not constitute a road or trail.
  • Motor vehicles can not be operated within 1/4 mile of any building (occupied or not) or stock tanks (wet or dry), or where otherwise prohibited by State, County or local ordinance.
  • You must leave gates either open or closed as they are found. No fences can be cut or laid down.
  • You can not harass livestock or wildlife nor damage, destroy or remove any livestock or wildlife improvements or facilities (i.e., windmills, stock tanks, fences, corrals, wildlife watering facilities, etc.)
  • You must completely remove all litter and refuse.
  • Human waste shall be confined to a portable toilet or slit trench which will be covered to ground level upon closing camp. Waste from portable toilets shall be removed from site and disposed of properly.
  • A campsite must be at least 1/4 mile from any livestock or wildlife water catchments, tanks, drinkers, etc. Abandoned campsites are to be left clean.
  • Campfires are to be thoroughly extinguished. You are required to comply with any campfire restrictions that may be in effect.

Only 14-Days Per Year?

Yes, the actual rule from the AZ State Land Department is that “...overnight camping is limited to a total of 14 cumulative days per calendar year.”

However, we also know that the Department is incapable of enforcing this rule. If you were to use up all of your 14 days in one campsite, they will never know that you’ve set up camp on trust land in another part of the State.

There are also several popular camping areas on trust land where campers routinely get away with camping for months at a time.

Recreational Permits

To camp on Arizona State Trust Lands you must obtain a “Recreational Permit”. The Arizona State Land Department offers four types of permits…

  • Individual Permit ($15.00 for 12 months)
  • Family Permit ($20.00 for 12 months, covers 2 parents & all children under 18 years)
  • Small Group Permit ($15.00 for 5 days, 20 people or less)
  • Large Group Permit ($300.00 per event, 20 people or more)

You can get a permit from Arizona’s State Land Department website at this link: https://asld.secure.force.com/recreationalpermit/

Note: Each person in your group must be covered by a permit, regardless of age, either as a family permit, group permit, or individual permit.

OHV Permits

If you plan to use your Off Highway Vehicles while camping, you must obtain a separate OHV permit, per vehicle.

  • If you are an Arizona resident, you can obtain an OHV permit from the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) offices statewide, an authorized third-party MVD service provider or online at www.servicearizona.com.
  • If you are not an Arizona resident, you can obtain an OHV permit online through an Arizona Game and Fish Department portal account. The decal is not be sold at Arizona Game and Fish Department offices.

What is Arizona State Trust Land?

State Trust Lands are lands that the federal government gave to a state when it was admitted into the Union.

Before a territory became a state, its land was almost all owned by the federal government. Once the territory entered statehood, Congress gave land to that state for purposes of generating revenue. Many states sold off much of their trust lands for quick cash. Other states, however, chose to hold on to those lands to create recurring revenue.

Arizona holds more trust land than any other state. Much of that land is leased to agricultural businesses, including farms and ranches. About 80% of its trust lands are leased for grazing. Grazing lands are still available for camping. Meanwhile, lands leased for “Agricultural”, “Commercial”, “Concession”, or “Institutional”, are off-limits to camping. The State of Arizona uses this revenue to pay for public institutions such as schools, hospitals, prisons, etc.

Tags:ArizonaState Trust Land

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11 thoughts on “Camping on Arizona State Trust Lands”
  • Val Jean Bureau says:
    Reply

    If I have purchased an Individual Use 12-Month Recreation Permit am I still limited to only 14 days “camping” per year? How do I acquire information about leasing land, for example, a 10-year lease, and how large a parcel does $1000 for a “Special Use” or “Commercial Use.”

    March 9, 2021 at 10:36 pm
    • Steve Johnson says:
      Reply

      Yes, it’s only 14 days for the entire year. That’s because most of the land you are camping on is already leased to ranchers and farmers; the state wants to limit the amount of people camping on grazing lands. I don’t know the particularly about leasing land, you’d have to call the State Land Office at 602.542.4631

      March 10, 2021 at 12:22 am
  • Denise Goodine says:
    Reply

    Is the camping just 14 days for the whole year?

    October 3, 2021 at 2:03 pm
    • Steve Johnson says:
      Reply

      Correct. You don’t have to use all 14 days at once, you can spread them throughout the year. But, that’s all you get.

      October 3, 2021 at 7:22 pm
  • Steve Michael Thursby says:
    Reply

    We have people staying for months in Cornville, az. Who enforces these long stays and checks for permits, trash, waste and fire dangers. It seems out of control out here!

    January 8, 2022 at 7:32 am
    • Steve Johnson says:
      Reply

      Arizona State Land Department. (602) 542-4631

      January 8, 2022 at 11:36 am
  • Kevin says:
    Reply

    This article is full of falsity. The 14-day limit is not for the whole year.

    You can camp NO LONGER than 14 days in the same place. After 14 days, you need to move to another location.

    Motor vehicles ARE allowed to travel within 1/4 mile of buildings and stock tanks. I’m not sure where that came from…

    Grazing land is NOT open for recreation.

    January 13, 2022 at 10:14 am
    • Steve Johnson says:
      Reply

      Your comment is not accurate Kevin. The 14-day limit applies per year, this is according to the AZ State Land Department, which is the steward of AZ State Trust Land. This is what they’ve published on their website…

      “Overnight camping is restricted to no more than 14 cumulative days per year.” [https://land.az.gov/faqs]

      As for not being able to camp within 1/4 mile of a stock tank or water body, this is AZ State Law. You can find this codified under Title 17-308 “Unlawful Camping” [https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/17/00308.htm]. However, the part about “motor vehicles” not being able to travel within 1/4 mile of the same, is a specific State Land Department rule found here [https://land.az.gov/recreational-permit-terms-and-conditions]

      You’re correct that land leased for agriculture is not open for camping.

      January 13, 2022 at 10:34 am
  • Dennis Mortensen says:
    Reply

    I would like to purchase a map showing state trust land for the Florence, Az area. I am specifically looking at the area south of Florence along Highway 79. Also is the map capable of showing mile markers for highways so as to not trespass on private property?

    January 17, 2022 at 11:03 am
    • Steve Johnson says:
      Reply

      Dennis, you can purchase printed maps of AZ state trust lands from this order form… https://land.az.gov/sites/default/files/media/Map-Sales.pdf

      January 18, 2022 at 1:11 am
  • Mark P Mccune says:
    Reply

    Kevin say: grazing land is not open for recreational use is false from what I read. Grazing leases and agriculture use are two different things

    February 5, 2022 at 4:29 pm
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