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Camping

Established Camping

Bartlett Flat

Review Campground Win Gear

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Bartlett Flat, near Rio Verde, Arizona, is a fantastic spot for those looking to enjoy a mix of water activities and peaceful camping. With its sandy, flat ground and plenty of space to set up camp, it’s perfect for both tent and RV camping, though you’ll need to bring your own water and firewood.

Visitors rave about the beautiful scenery and the quiet atmosphere, making it a great place to unwind. The area is known for its easy access to the water, where you can launch kayaks, canoes, or jet skis right from the shore. As one camper noted, “Great scenic spot” with “lots of fire rings” available for evening gatherings.

While there are basic facilities like toilets and trash disposal at the entrance, you might want to pack out what you bring in, as some areas can get a bit messy. Campers appreciate the semi-private spots, especially if you venture further along the shoreline. Whether you're fishing, swimming, or just soaking up the sun, Bartlett Flat offers a laid-back vibe that’s hard to beat.

Description

Bartlett Flat Bartlett Reservoir and the Arizona Upland phase of the Sonoran Desert. This site offers beautiful vistas of the surrounding mountains. Bartlett Flat has primitive boat launch opportunities for small boats. River Access Point (RAP) for Verde River. There are no designated campsites at this shoreline area but camping along the shore is allowed. High water levels will limit the amount of available shoreline in this area.

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Location

Bartlett Flat is located in Arizona

Detail location of campground

Directions

This site is 23 miles east of Carefree. Take Cave Creek Road 7 miles. Turn right on Bartlett Dam Road and continue for 12 ½ miles. Then turn left on FR 459. Continue on FR 459 (a paved, low-speed road) for 3 miles and an additional ½-mile on an unpaved road to the site. Click Here For Map.

Coordinates

33.89090631 N
111.63613418 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Good
  • Verizon
    Available
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Unknown

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group
  • Equestrian

Features

For Campers

  • ADA Access
  • Trash
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Pull-Through Sites
  • Big Rig Friendly

Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

15 Reviews

Reviewed Nov. 16, 2023

Beautiful scenery and quiet camping.

My first time here was over Veteran’s Day weekend and we woke up to F15s flying low overhead for Veteran’s Day. Campsites are disbursed and pleasantly of area to set up your site. Ground is flat and somewhat sandy like a beach. Other campsites seemed quite respectful and aware we are all sharing the same experience. sides were relatively clean, however, people do venture off into the Forrest area to use the restroom. That is my only concern is people do not pack out their toilet paper or their human feces. Please keep this area beautiful the way it naturally is and pack out your waste which is toxic to wildlife.

SiteBartlett Flats
Month of VisitNovember
  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by lindsey S., November 16, 2023
  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by lindsey S., November 16, 2023
  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by lindsey S., November 16, 2023
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Apr. 6, 2023

Underwater

With all this rain and snow melt Bartlett flats is under water

SiteBartlett Flats
Month of VisitApril
  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by Hecctic , April 6, 2023
Reviewed Oct. 27, 2022

All-Inclusive Camping Area

Really nice area for any type of camping any time of the year. There are toilets at the entrance to the flats, with trash dumps but it would be a hike the farther away you camp from it so bring your own or rough it and recover it! Ground is mostly level on desert sand and you can launch a dinghy, jet ski, canoe, or kayak from the shoreline; wouldn’t trust anything larger than that but there’s a ramp in driving distance south of the campsite. Went there Indigenous Peoples day and found plenty of semi-private spaces to settle into. Recommend this for groups, solo, fishing, swimming, and families.

SiteNW end of the Flat
Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by Mark S., October 27, 2022
  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by Mark S., October 27, 2022
Reviewed Jan. 18, 2022

Great spot for shoreline camping

Did a quick overnight trip. Easy to access in any vehicle. If you want to be more secluded keep following the shore line NW, however the more you travel the more ground clearance you’ll need so bring a vehicle with a little off road abilities of you want to be away from the trailers and RVS. Tons of pre made stone fire pits all over to adopt as your own. Bathrooms and trash drop off at the entrance. Overall great scenic spot. Hate seeing trash anywhere, unfortunately there was some left from previous campers (slobs). Tonto pass needed.

Month of VisitJanuary
  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by conor C., January 18, 2022
  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by conor C., January 18, 2022
  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by conor C., January 18, 2022
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Dec. 20, 2021

Off season

Not busy this time of year. The weather is a little bit cool for swimming, but it’s a nice place to hang out by the campfire. Great place to get a little bit off road but not really get too off road….

Siteflats
Month of VisitDecember
  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by Dave E., December 20, 2021
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Reviewed Oct. 5, 2021

Great area for fishing

Nice quiet cove area out in the flatts, great for swiming and fishing. Camped here a few times the bugs aren't to bad and bring a toilet or hike in the bushes, it's usually quiet on this end and the rv and 5th wheels don't make it out this far so nice to have bbq and let the kids swim

Month of VisitJuly
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  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by B O., October 5, 2021
  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by B O., October 5, 2021
  • (8) View All
Reviewed Oct. 3, 2021

Great swim camp spot

Little further back from where the rv congregat, so it's quiet and peaceful, boat traffic isn't to bad and the shore line is great for kids to swim

Month of VisitJuly
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  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by B O., October 3, 2021
  • (13) View All
Reviewed Sep. 18, 2021

Beautiful Area

Very peaceful and relatively clean. My children had a blast. Close enough for just a quick weekend away.

Sitedown the road from boat launch
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by anna P., September 18, 2021
  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by anna P., September 18, 2021
  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by anna P., September 18, 2021
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Sep. 12, 2021

Lake time

Nice area kids loved the water and my buddy caught some fish, pretty quiet until pride rave kick off and then drunk pontoon guy kept the entertained with his remarks over his PA system. Overall good times bring a Potty and privacy tent the bushes are littered with sh!t tickets.

Siteflatts
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by B O., September 12, 2021
  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by B O., September 12, 2021
  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by B O., September 12, 2021
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Mar. 1, 2021

Awesome Dispersed Camping

Probably one of our favorite dispersed spots to date. Roads are nice and had no problem pulling our 22’ trailer in. Spots are right on the water, but can get a little busy so would recommend coming early. Can still find places further down if you can’t. Great Lake for fishing, but not a ton of hiking around.

  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by Alex H., March 1, 2021
  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by Alex H., March 1, 2021
  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by Alex H., March 1, 2021
Reviewed Feb. 1, 2021

Crowded and loud on weekends, peaceful when not

Super accessible from the Phoenix area, very easy to find. You can choose your own camping spot, and there are many existing stone fire rings and pits that are spaced out decently across the area. The earlier you arrive, the more spots you'll have to choose from; most are filled by sundown. A sedan can easily get across the Flat with some careful maneuvering. Vault toilets are all the way at the entrance of the Flat so plan accordingly. (Or... bring a trowel.)

Lots of families, which means kids, music, and laughter. Never a bad thing, but even if they're not particularly loud, there's no trees or shrubs on the shoreline to dampen the sound and it carries pretty far—especially when kids figure out the lake is basically a giant echo chamber!

The wind can really whip across the lake when it picks up, and it makes it hard to pitch a tent or run a stove. I recommend setting up camp up by the trees if you don't plan on boating/fishing/RV camping to give yourself a bit of shelter from the wind.

No hiking or trails to be had here, but definitely a relaxing, pretty spot.

Month of VisitJanuary
  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by Whither W., February 1, 2021
  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by Whither W., February 1, 2021
  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by Whither W., February 1, 2021
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Oct. 2, 2019

Our Favorite Spot

We love camping here, its so close to home and it's dispersed! We usually camp right on the water. It can get really packed but we have never had bad neighbors. Seems to be kept pretty clean and there are restrooms.

Reviewed Nov. 11, 2017

Bartlet Flats was awesome

This was the first time we had been there and it was a great csmpsite. We were able to camp right by the water, and there was plenty of room. It was great having a camping place so close to our house, and we will definitely be back.

Month of VisitNovember
Reviewed Aug. 23, 2017

Okay if you don't want to go too far out of town

This lake is easy to get to from town (phoenix). It can crowd up quickly. The only thing that irked me about our stay here is that as we were setting up our tent, and working on getting our spot staked for fishing a group of men came in and took the spot after we all discussed where each group intended to go. There was also a group of nighttime kayakers that talked so loudly on the lake that you could hear them from one end of the lake to the other while everyone was trying to peacefully enjoy some night fishing.

SiteThe Flats
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by Michelle D., August 23, 2017
  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by Michelle D., August 23, 2017
  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by Michelle D., August 23, 2017
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Jul. 31, 2016

SC Cove @ Barlett Lake

If your big into swimming/floating / boating & kayaks and jet skis this the the place to camp.. Back right up to the lake , pitch a tent and your set up for fun..

  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by Liza C., July 31, 2016
  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by Liza C., July 31, 2016
  • Review photo of Bartlett Flat by Liza C., July 31, 2016
  • (10) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Are fires allowed at Bartlett Flat?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Bartlett Flat, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Does Bartlett Flat have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Bartlett Flat does not have wifi.