Williams Road to Gypsum Dunes, Dell City | Wild Camping

January 19th, 2024 by cara.hitomi

What a gem!! One of the best spots we’ve camped at, and we’ve been all over! Just outside the borders of the Guads, this spot has epic views while still being pet friendly. Quiet, with only some big semis driving on the main road in the morning. We were the only ones here, and will definitely be back!!

October 10th, 2022 by dharma1169

Super sweet desolate spot. Amazing views of Guadalupe and El Capitan. Didn't see anyone else for 4 days out there. Dispersed enough to boondock 100 percent off grid, but also a National Park pit toilet, about 3 miles further up the dirt(gypsum) road, for those less prepared or adventurous. one of my new favorite spots!

March 5th, 2022 by Cubby Van Life

Hello, Winter Texans! I think these are the co-ordinates: (31.9211100, -105.0794400). 4 miles east on Williams Road, a hard-packed, gravel road, (maybe 3 miles?) then you will come to a perpendicular fence line and you can go left or right. If you go left about 20 ft, there is a low, round, dry lake bed. Fairly hard but sandy. We then walked a mile to the right on a hard road to a. huge, beautiful river bed, soft like sand flats. We did not attempt this location with the 2wd cubbyvan. We stayed about 1000 ft off Williams Rd. in a pullout on the left. Absolutely zero Verizon courage. Very secluded as far as having anyone around us.
Woke up to 23 degrees, sun came out and it instantly went to 36 degrees then to 51 degrees within a half hour!

Gorgeous views, sunsets and rose mountain colors. No sounds, nothing. Not just quiet, but silence. The most quiet place I have ever been. Amazing place to live for a night under a blanket of stars.

February 24th, 2022 by C.

Helpful directions: The first turn off onto the dirt road from the main road is marked by an small NPS sign for Gypsum Dunes. Stay on the dirt road heading towards the provided GPS coordinates. You’ll pass 3 cattle guards and almost immediately after the third you can choose to go right (what we chose) or left and descend down much bumpier roads to either the southern (right turn) or northern (left turn) dry lakebeds. The left turn is a much shorter journey. The right is a bit more perilous, but worth it In Our opinion (Did fine in and out w/ 2020 Ford Transit, HR LWB All season tires no lift…no issues)

After taking the right, you’ll drive down said bumpy dirt road on well packed sand between two short cattle fences. Within a quarter mile you’ll pass a left side turn off full of junk. Passing the turn off you will descend into the lakebed with a beautiful view of Guadalupe peak to the north.

Stayed all alone for 2 nights, 3 days and had an incredible time. Cell service for both TMobile and AT&T was excellent with a booster, decent otherwise. Check weather beforehand. No issues to report. Screenshot of our parking spot attached.

April 6th, 2021 by mcginnis44

Very beautiful area. Nice spot to camp. It appears to be a dry lakebed. No service on Verizon. The dropped spot in the map is near but not exactly on the spot. The spot is north of the road and slightly east of the marked location. It was peaceful and beautiful and the sunset was gorgeous.

March 17th, 2021 by kitfield.vernon

WOW! What a great place. We plugged in OP’s coordinates. To get onto the dried lake go on the main road past the coordinates a little bit. At a 4-way intersection with a dirt road, take the road on the right. This was unlisted on our GPS. Very narrow and hilly, it has a fence running a few yards away from it on the right side. This road has a few clearings on the left if you have a low clearance vehicle and don’t want to risk going along the bumpier part to get onto the lake itself. We went all the way onto the lake in our 2WD ‘95 Chevy cargo can and made it fine. The sand is a lot harder and sturdier than it looks.

While a bit windy (we weren’t able to start a fire at what looked like a previous camper’s loose fire pit/ring) the sun was warm and did not set until very late. We didn’t see a single other person or any wildlife. No issues with bugs save for one very large beetle that surprised us. The lake is very flat so ideal for camping in your vehicle or tents. The night sky was gorgeous and very clear.

We’d recommend paying close attention to the weather prior to and after getting to the location as you do have to drive through several flood zones. As stated previously, there are a few RVs and mobile homes on the drive in but we didn’t see anyone and there was no signage indicating we were not allowed to be there. Spotty Verizon service at our spot, but no service on the drive in.

January 9th, 2021 by soudertonskater21

I was able to get onto the dried up lake bed. Very cool spot

November 20th, 2020 by 6666666666666666666666666six

super cool place, pretty secluded, did not see anyone! I have a 2wd cargo van and made it to the OP's destination easily. you'll pass 2 or 3 gates, after the last one, you make a right into the dunes,you'll be ok as long as u stay on trail, hard packed sand, I prob drove less than a quarter mile after the GPS coordinates, and parked on a mostly flat spot on the left, easy to see at night. plenty of room for multiple vehicles and to turnaround, see pic. I'd like to continue on the trail to the salt flats and may turn back of it gets soft or sketchy. don't worry high clearence really isn't necessary to get to the destination, but my van is lifted 4 inches with m/t tires

March 17th, 2020 by bradloring.com

I couldn’t get to the OP’s spot, I’m in a low sprinter. But on the left side of the road the lake bed was dry-ish and packed tight enough for me to give it a shot. I’ll update this if I get stuck leaving.

February 11th, 2020 by nate.goes.nomadic

Nice, quiet place. Stayed in RTT. The place we stayed was a little bit off of the pin point, down the bumpy/hilly sandy/dirt road the map will bring you to, and to a nice clearing on the left. Not quite flat, as someone else mentioned, it was pretty bumpy. Beautiful mountains in the distance and got to see a bit of the sun rise through the clouds. Snow on the ground, no wind really. Deer tracks right near where we parked. A few broken down buildings and RV's on the way in, nobody else in sight. Clean area, no trash or anything, just some animal poops :)

Would stay again and recommend

December 24th, 2019 by enochleisure

It's a good flat location stayed in rtt. Super quiet sleep like a baby.

April 3rd, 2018 by Wilde Weite Welt

Wild Camping in the desert along Wilson Road leading to the Gypsum Dunes of Guadelupe Mountains National Park. Absolutely quiet with a nice view of the mountains.