Off-Road Ranger I
1) Chiricahua Mountains (north end is where Chiricahua National Monument is which also has many awesome hiking trails and small fee campsites throughout)
Two awesome camp spots in the Chiricahuas, depending on whether you want to see the north or the south.
Entering on the north end via Pinery Canyon Road (head south just before entering the Monument):
This is an awesome dispersed campsite we found just down Pine Canyon from Pinery Canyon Rd. Right along a running stream and seated at about 6k ft elevation so it's suitable for hot weather. Lots of trees, awesome canyon walls. Pinery Canyon Rd is a very easy dirt highway, Pine Canyon gets a bit more difficult as you approach the campsite but i'd still rate it at no more than like a 4/10, you'll want a bit of clearance and 4WD
https://www.gaiagps.com/datasummary/waypoint/6de5ec160cbdec39706a4c4da7df8d61/
Entering on the south part via Tex Canyon:
Rucker Forest Camp - This is one of our all-time favorite camp spots, but note that it is an actual USFS campground, so there's a $10 night fee - on the up-side, there's bathrooms. It is also located at about 6k ft elevation, easy dirt roads the whole way down Tex Canyon and up Rucker Canyon. Although this is an actual campground, we've never seen more than one other person there each time we've gone.
https://www.gaiagps.com/datasummary/waypoint/bf04749d2702cc9d993f0a058350cb11/
2) AZ Borderlands - see my quoted description in my post above for information on what's here, there's just a ton to see - even more than i've listed. Be sure to check out the linked Gaia routes and waypoints in that post, too, but I can give more details if you do end up venturing that far south. One thing to note is that it is non unheard of to encounter smuggler activity in these parts. It's still rare, but it's something to be aware of. Generally speaking smugglers will avoid detection at all costs, but you will likely run across signs of activity like abandoned belongings and water jugs and such. I spend a ton of time along the border with my wife and our three young kids and I've never felt in danger. No, i don't carry a gun, i just keep my wits about and use common sense. Yes, we have had some relatively boring smuggler experiences. One thing you will definitely run across is Border Patrol, lots of Border Patrol. Every once and a while they'll stop and shoot the shit with you or joke around with the kids, but generally they just wave as they drive by and leave you unbothered.
Ok, so anyway, depending on where you start or end, here's a few nice camp spots:
1) Ruby, AZ - for $8 a night (plus the normal $12/day) entry you can camp on-site in the Ruby ghost town. Note that Ruby is only open Thursday - Sunday and plan accordingly. https://www.gaiagps.com/datasummary/waypoint/c3251497-d2fc-4334-9bfb-25c074ebed58 There's also just a ton of dispersed campsites all up and down Ruby Rd and all of the offshoot trails.
2) Peña Blanca Lake - There is also at least one campsite right near Peña Blanca Lake, but i've never camped there, so I don't know what to expect. I believe there is a drop box for a fee and bathrooms: https://www.gaiagps.com/datasummary/waypoint/1bf2b6fb-9c8c-41d5-8617-dc1e6aafff0c/?layer=usfs-mvum,caltopousfs2016,GaiaTopoRasterFeet
3) Just off of Duquesne Rd. This is a large dispersed campsite just along a creek. The creek rages during monsoons, but will likely be dry or almost dry by the time Sept/Oct rolls around: https://www.gaiagps.com/datasummary/waypoint/7993d87507dc47a2250ff274bdf1506f/?layer=usfs-mvum,caltopousfs2016,GaiaTopoRasterFeet
4) Further east is another great dispersed campsite we usually end up stopping at for lunch picnics. Be warned that some times we have found very large ant mounds near this area, so make sure you don't set up camp near one. The damn things are big enough to haul away your vehicle if they want. https://www.gaiagps.com/datasummary/waypoint/049ed436-95e7-456c-94f1-97c6711943d2/?layer=usfs-mvum,caltopousfs2016,GaiaTopoRasterFeet
I feel like i've been long winded enough, so i'll stop there, but if you do end up wanting to head even further east along the borderlands and into NM i have more campsites that we've found as well. Basically all along the borderlands is just endless dispersed camping though, so you can find a place to camp almost anywhere.
