What could be better than Camping and water recreation? I can’t think of too many things. In this article, I included a mix of paid and dispersed campsites along with the types of water recreation at each one. Fishing, boating, swimming, kayaking & even windsailing. Some allow tents only and others you can have RV’s. I also focused more on the individual sites vs. group sites. The cost is always more for the group campsites.
It is more fun to have diversity in your outings so there are campsites listed from each region in Arizona.
Apache Sitgreaves National Forest
Luna Lake Campground
This easy to get to campground (1 mile down a gravel road) has individual and group camp sites. Sitting at 8,000 ft, You’ll feel instantly relaxed among the stands of Ponderosa pines, the lush meadow, tranquil lake and mountain views.
With a non motorized boat, you can enjoy a leisurely boat ride or fish for Rainbow Trout on the 75 acre Luna Lake. If you need to rent a boat or buy bait, fishing tackle snacks and drinks, the Luna Lake Marina store is nearby.
In addition to the water activities, horseback riding and mountain biking are also popular for this area.
- Average temp: Highest temperature: July -78 degrees, Lowest temperature: January-14 degrees
- Elevation: 7,960 ft
- Season: Closed October 17-May 1
- Cost: $20 Standard Non Electric Site
- Sites: 50 single unit sites, RV’s up to 32 feet
- Amenities: Tables, fire rings, grills, picnic facilities, drinking water, vault /pit toilet, boat ramp
- Stay Limit: 14 Days
- Location: Apache Sitgreaves National Forest- Five miles east on US Highway 180 and turn north (left) on Forest Road 570
- Management: Alpine Ranger District
(928) 339-5000, or visit Recreation.gov to make reservations.
Woods Canyon Lake Recreation Area
Woods Canyon Lake is one of seven lakes in the Rim Lakes Recreation area. This is a great place to go camping with your family. Popular activities include boat rides, kayaking, fishing, photography, hiking, and watching the wildlife.
I’ve taken my kids fishing at this lake and they absolutely love it. There is plenty of room to spread out on the shore line if you don’t go out on a boat. Due to being a few hours away from Phoenix, this area is a hot spot and gets very busy during the summer.
There are 4 loops within the Aspen Campground- which are within walking distance to the lake. The campsite terrain varies from grassy meadows to forest settings.
Also, the Woods Canyon Lake Store and Marina rents boats, sells licenses and fishing supplies.
- Average temp: Highest temperature: July – 92 degrees, Lowest temperature: January- 25 degrees
- Elevation: 7,000 ft
- Season: Opens April 29 Annually – Closes October 31 Annually
- Cost: Non electrical sites- $34 a night, additional vehicle is $12.50 (27 of the sites are on a first come first serve basis)
- Sites: 136 Campsites,27 first come, first serve,
- Amenities: Campground host, firewood, fire rings, water, picnic tables, vault toilets (Showers available 10 miles away at Canyon Point Campground)
- Stay Limit: 14 days
- Location: 4 Miles north of State Highway 260 at mile marker 282, 25 miles west of Heber, AZ
- Management: Apache Sitgreaves National Forests
30 S. Chiricahua Dr.
Springerville, AZ 85938
928-333-6280 - Book online Recreation.gov
Coconino National Forest
Manzanita Campground
This creekside campground along Oak Creek Canyon is a wonderful place to stay if you’re spending time in Sedona and the surrounding areas. Definitely less expensive than a hotel! Right from your campsite, you can go fishing, wading or hang in a hammock next to the creek and relax. Just right down the road is Slide Rock-a very popular place to go swimming. These sites fill up quickly on weekends and during the summer; many of the campsites are closer together. The best two are sites 19 & 4 (more spread out). Site 19 can be reserved and site 4 is on a first come first serve basis. Due to the beautiful scenery and being right next to the creek, these campsites are already being reserved for the spring of 2024!
Average temp: Highest temperature: July – 100 degrees, Lowest temperature: January- 34 degrees
- Elevation: 4,800 ft
- Season: Year round
- Cost: $26 per night
- Sites: Tents only-7 of the 18 campsites can be reserved.
- Amenities: Picnic tables, toilets, drinking water, fire rings
- Stay Limit: 7 days
- Location: Six miles north of Sedona-Oak Creek Canyon
- Management: Make reservations- call Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TTY 877-833-6777) or book on-line at Recreation.gov
>>>>Map of the Oak Creek Recreation Area<<<<
Dairy Springs Campground
This campground is one of the closest to Mormon Lake – known as the only natural lake in AZ. Visitors to this lake enjoy fishing, boating, and even windsurfing. There are times however in a drought season when this lake does not have water.
- Average temp: Highest temperature: July – 82 degrees, Lowest temperature: January- 16 degrees
- Elevation: 7,000 ft
- Season: Early May- Oct. 11
- Cost: $26 per night – up to 8 people with one vehicle
- Sites: 15 Reservable Sites- Tents and small motor homes up to 35 ft/ No hookups/ 15 First Come First Serve Sites
- Amenities: Drinking water, picnic tables, grills, vault toilets,
- Stay Limit: 14 days
- Location: 24 miles south east of Flagstaff
- Management: Group and single family site reservations accepted online at Recreation.gov or call 877-444-6777 (toll free number),
Coronado National Forest
Arivaca Lake
A long drive along Ruby Road will get you to this primitive and dispersed campsite. On this 90 acre lake built by AZ Game & Fish, you can take out a single electric trolling motor boat and fish for bass, catfish and blue gill. Note that the campsites are located more along the road and are not right by the water. This camping area does have some negative reviews on trip advisor – one of the reviews state the water was murky and there were potholes on the road going into it.
On the upside- more than likely you would have the place to yourself. I personally have been in this area and I think it’s beautiful! This resource from azcampguide has more details on how to get there, etc.
- Average temp: Highest temperature: July – 97 degrees, Lowest temperature: January- 29 degrees
- Season: Year Round
- Elevation: 3,805 ft
- Cost: Free
- Sites: Dispersed camping- Tents and RV’s
- Amenities: Toilet and boat ramp
- Stay Limit: 14 days
- Location: Southeast of the community of Arivaca, off Ruby Road
- Management: Nogales Ranger District, (520) 281-2296
Riggs Flat Campground
This campground is situated in an alpine forest and meadow setting. Experience the convenience of the Riggs Flat Lake which is stocked with rainbow, brown and brook trout.
You can take a small boat-no more than a single electric trolling motor on the lake or fish from the shore. AZ Game and Fish financed this dam specifically to provide trout fishing for outdoor enthusiasts.
- Average temp: Highest temperature: June – 99 degrees, Lowest temperature: January- 29 degrees
- Season: April 15 – November 14
- Cost: $20 per night (First come, first serve)
- Sites: 26 single campsites-Tents and RV’s (less than 22 ft)
- Amenities: Picnic tables, toilets, drinking water, boat ramp, vault toilets
- Stay Limit: 14 days
- Location: Near Safford, AZ
- Management: Safford Ranger District, (928) 428-4150
Kaibab National Forest
Dogtown Lake Campground
Close to Williams, this campground is situated in a pine forest along the shore of the scenic Dogtown Lake. You have many options here for water recreation-, fish for trout, crappies and channel cats, or go canoeing, kayaking, or boating (electric motorboats -single motor with one horsepower or less are allowed). You will also have a view of Bill Williams Mountain as you sit back and enjoy your camp coffee in the morning.
- Average temp: Highest temperature: July – 83 degrees, Lowest temperature: January- 22 degrees
- Elevation:7,050 ft
- Season: May to late September (also varies on weather conditions)
- Cost: $28 per night
- Sites: 50 individual campsites, 4 double sites, and 1 group site- Tent and RV
- Amenities: Drinking water, picnic tables, tent pads, restrooms, grills/fire pits, garbage bins, pit toilets
- Stay Limit: 14 days
- Location: Near Williams, AZ
- Management: For fees and reservations go to www.recreation.gov website or via telephone at 1-877-444-6777. For campground inquiries please call Southwest Recreation at 928-699-1239.
White Horse Lake Campground
Also close to Williams, this forested campground is located around the White Horse Lake. This spot is popular for fishing as well as boating (single electric motor boat of one horsepower or less), canoeing and kayaking.
- Average temp: Highest temperature: July – 83 degrees, Lowest temperature: January- 22 degrees
- Elevation: 6,600 ft
- Season: May to late September (also varies on weather conditions)
- Cost: $28 per night (Tent only- non electric)
- Sites: 94 single unit sites-tents, trailers, and motor homes up to 38 ft, 22 wheelchair accessible (No Hookups)/ 44 of these sites can be reserved. The others are on a first come, first serve basis.
- Amenities: Tables, fire rings, grills, tent pads, drinking water, composting toilets, garbage bins, boat ramp
- Stay Limit: 14 days
- Location: 19 miles southeast of Williams
- Management: For fees and reservations go to www.recreation.gov or call 877-444-6777. For campground inquiries please call Southwest Recreation at 928-699-1239.
Tonto National Forest
Haigler Canyon Campground
Haigler Canyon Campground sits along Haigler Creek- a natural spring stocked with rainbow trout. This canyon area also provides swimming holes and plenty of shade to cool off in the hot summer months.
Bears are often seen here and bear proofing your food is highly encouraged.
- Average temp: Highest temperature: July – 92 degrees, Lowest temperature: January- 54 degrees
- Elevation: 5,003
- Season: May-October
- Cost: $16 per night
- Sites: 2 Campgrounds- 14 sites, trailers under 20 ft. (first come first serve- no reservations)
- Amenities: Picnic tables, grills, vault toilets
- Stay Limit: 14 days
- Location: Nearest to Young, AZ and Christopher Creek, AZ
- Management: Payson Ranger District (928) 474-7900
Resource link- Map of the cities in Tonton NF and Tonto National Forest
Ocotillo Dispersed Campground
This campsite is located near two water sources- Horseshoe Reservoir and the Verde River. Small boats with 25 horse power or less are allowed on the reservoir and non motorized allowed on the Verde. The reservoir is your best bet for catching large and smallmouth bass, crappie, sunfish, and flathead catfish.
- Average temp: Highest temperature: July – 103 degrees, Lowest temperature: January- 64 degrees
- Elevation: 2,402
- Season: Year round (as water levels permit)
- Cost: Free
- Sites: Dispersed- no designated camp units, tables, grills, etc. (Roughing it baby). 😊
- Amenities: Boat ramp (Only one on the reservoir)
- Stay Limit: 14 days
- Location: Near Carefree and Cave Creek
- Management: Cave Creek Ranger District (480)-595-3300, Forest Service- Ocotillo
Summary
Each of the five National Forests have unique and beautiful campgrounds that provide some type of water recreation. We are fortunate in AZ to have so much diversity and places to go unwind.
Have you been to any of the places noted here? Have others that you enjoy? Please leave a comment below!
Happy Camping!!
