BLM Mojave Road — Afton Canyon Riparian Corridor Dispersed Camp

Afton Canyon is one of the few places the Mojave River runs above ground year-round, and that water makes this corridor feel like a different planet compared to the surrounding desert. Dispersed sites scatter across the sandy flats on both sides of the river — some shaded by cottonwoods and tamarisk, others wide open on the bluff edges above the canyon walls. The BLM manages this area loosely; no fees, no reservations, fourteen-day limit. It draws a mix of Mojave Road runners, birders, and photographers. Spring and fall are the sweet spots — summer temps regularly hit 110°F and the canyon holds heat like an oven.

Access is off Afton Road from I-15 (Exit 221), about 3.5 miles in on a dirt road that’s manageable for most high-clearance rigs but gets sandy in spots. The Mojave River crossings inside the canyon can be wet — check conditions before dropping in. No potable water on-site. Vault toilets near the developed day-use area but dispersed sites have nothing. Pack out everything.

Mojave River runs here — camp in the canyon.