Free Camping at Logandale Trails

About an hour north of Las Vegas lies the extremely scenic and playful Valley of Fire State Park that we could not wait to explore! But first, we set out to find somewhere to camp (for free) nearby. We noticed a few options on the drive between Las Vegas and Valley of Fire but none of them stood out. That is, until we found a place called Logandale Trails. Camping at Logandale Trails was such a treat in an amazing area that we actually postponed venturing into the state park for a couple days just so we could explore the area around camp. For an epic camping experience full of beauty, rock scrambling, OHV trails and great winter weather then check out Logandale Trails.

Logandale Trails is primarily an OHV destination. There are numerous trails that traverse the beautiful red rock landscape, some with deep soft sand and some more suitable for rock crawling. On foot, the main trails are a little overwhelming with the traffic but there are definitely canyons and narrow, rocky paths to explore without worrying about motorized traffic. The red rock formations create a stunning canyon with unlimited routes for rock scrambling – one of our favorite hobbies of all times.

Camping at Logandale Trails is an excellent option for camping near Valley of Fire. In actuality, this area is like an extension of the state park where camping and OHV use are permitted. You’ll find camping opportunities at the OHV staging area as well as dispersed all throughout the gorgeous red rock canyon. Huge trailers, toy haulers and RVs make it down into the canyon but low clearance passenger vehicles typically stopped and parked before making it all the way down to the trails.

Quick Info: Camping at Logandale Trails

Cost: Free

Ownership: BLM

Stay Limit: 14 days

Directions: From Las Vegas, take I-15 N for about 50 miles to exit 93. Turn right onto NV-169 S/N Moapa Valley Blvd. Follow this for 5.8 miles and then turn right onto W Liston Ave. Turn right at the stop sign and stay to the right, following the dirt road over the train tracks. Continue following this road for about another 2 miles and you will reach the OHV Staging Area. Continue from here to find dispersed camping down among the canyon.

Road Conditions: The dirt road that leads to the OHV staging area was in great condition, if a bit bumpy. From the staging area, there’s a section of what was once a paved road leading down towards the valley. There are massive pot holes that you’ll want to approach slowly and be careful to avoid. After the paved section is a rough, rocky and rutted section that (with a decent amount of vehicle clearance) can be taken strategically before the conditions improve.

*Know before you go: As far as different options for camping at Logandale Trails, people do camp at the staging area where any vehicle can make it to. Conveniently, there are a couple of dispersed camp spots that you may be able to snag that are right before this rough section. Then there are several more great spots right after this particular rough section. And even more options further throughout the canyon depending on how far you want to go.

More Info!

Miles from Town: About 3.5 miles from Logandale

Solar: Varies greatly on the spot you choose. We had good solar but lost the sun relatively early due to the (beautiful) towering canyon walls.

Water: None; bring it with you or pick some up in Logandale

Cell Service: There is cell service at the OHV staging area but we lost it as we descended into the valley.

Other Amenities: There are two vault toilets at the staging area as well as a couple of benches and a picnic table. As we explored the valley during our stay, we also noticed that a couple of camp spots had picnic tables and metal fire rings.

Our Experience Camping at Logandale Trails

When we were looking for a place to camp near Valley of Fire State Park we noticed that there were several options. But camping at Logandale Trails looked like the most fun and the most scenic. Of course we arrived at night, having no idea what really to expect. We noticed a couple people camping in RV’s at the staging area but that was a little too crowded for us. So we continued slowly down the pot hole filled section of pavement before making it to the rough rutted section.

We saw large RV’s had made it past but we were still unsure, especially in the dark. So we got out and walked it to make sure it was something we could do. We swerved around the large rocks before hugging the left side and breathed a sigh of relief as we made it past. Still unsure of this new area, not knowing how far the road went, how many spots there were, or whether the road conditions worsened we decided to take the first open spot. There were several other campers within view but it was very quiet and peaceful.

What a beautiful area to wake up to!

When we woke up the next morning we couldn’t believe how beautiful it was!! We had full intentions of heading into Valley of Fire that morning but couldn’t resist staying home and exploring our new backyard! The towering red rocks were just stunning and of course ridiculously inviting. So we packed up a day bag and started adventuring.

We entered the narrow, vacant, rocky and vibrant canyons, experiencing the twists and turns before we climbed higher and higher. These rock formations were the perfect conditions for free climbing/scrambling. We climbed to the tops of several towering formations and watched the off roaders playing and rock crawling below and across the way. The views from the top were magnificent. Climbing back down was an adventure in itself!

We loved having the ability to play among such beauty without having to leave home! And we didn’t take for granted having such a gorgeous backyard while camping at Logandale Trails!

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Of course Logandale Trails is an OHV haven and there were lots of people taking advantage of such a cool place to take their toys. Weekends saw a lot more traffic and a lot more campers. Weekdays were mostly day use people but as long as there was daylight there was almost always a few groups of people with motors. If you’re looking for peace and solitude then you might be bothered here but we found everyone we encountered to be chill and respectful – doing their own thing. We felt safe here and it was relatively clean.

If you’re looking for an awesome place to camp near Valley of Fire, we definitely suggest camping at Logandale Trails. And if you have off roading toys, which we don’t yet, this looks like a blast! Overall a great experience. Eventually we did make it into Valley of Fire State Park and… it was even better than we imagined! It literally blew our minds. So much of it was beckoning to be explored that it was hard to keep moving between attractions! We cannot wait to get back there and experience more of this unique, beautiful and incredibly fun landscape!

Thanks for reading!

If you’d like to read more articles like this one, check out the links below:

• Boondocking at Trona Pinnacles
• Camping and Exploring at Diablo Canyon
• Hiking and Camping at Fossil Falls

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