Enjoy this gorgeous slice of Arizona's White Mountain region from your personal campsite! Listen as a gentle breeze blows through pine boughs, watch big, white, fluffy clouds careen through the sky, and feel the cool northern Arizona chill on your skin. Experience the magic of watching a herd of elk feeding lakeside, or the exhilaration of a fish on the end of your line. We'll provide the possibility of adventure, all you have to do is show up and make memories! 

Non-hook-up (Tent Only) Sites
31 sites: Maximum of two vehicles and six adults per site, 10 people total. Concrete pads, fire ring and picnic table, restrooms and showers. RVs are not allowed in non-hook-up (tent only) sites.

Electric RV sites
92 sites: 30 Amp service (some 50 Amp available). Can accommodate up to 40-foot rigs. Water available at all sites. Mallard and Redhead Loops also have sewer available. Maximum of two vehicles and six adults each, 12 people total.

April 1 through Oct. 30, there is a two night minimum stay for weekend camping: you must reserve both Friday and Saturday night.

Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area Campground

**Campground Review**

Fool Hollow is right on the outskirts if Show Low. You literally drive through neighborhood streets to get to the entrance. The first ¼ mile of roads within the park, you also drive along a fence that backs up to private properties. Do not let that “fool” you though… when we got to the Osprey loop within the campground you would have had no idea town was so close! The scenery is a mix between forest and high desert. There were plenty of pine trees but still the occasional cactus. All of the roads through Fool hollow are paved. There are plenty of dumpsters and trashcans available.

The spaces in the Osprey loop were fairly close together. We had loud neighbors and heard them all night long. This surprised us because the Quiet Hours are 8 pm to 7 am and we were right across from the host but they never said anything. That being said we saw the host drive by once or twice in the entire 3 days we were there. In fact, when our not so friendly neighbors left on day 2 they left the site trashed. The host did not come to clean it up until day 3 after another camper had stayed in the site and complained about it being dirty. Another notable item for Osprey is that while the spaces appear to be waterfront on their website there is a 20-foot drop off between the sites and the lake. I think this is worth mentioning in case you have small children or actually plan to go to the lake.

I know our pictures show us in a pop up trailer but this summer Fool Hollow updated their policy and pop up trailers are now considered “RVs” and cannot be in the tent only sites. We were grandfathered in to the space because we already had reservations but if you plan to visit with a pop-up be sure to book in an RV space.

Fool Hollow boasts some of the most modern bathrooms I have seen at a campground. There was a coke vending machine and an outside sink. Our building had three women’s and three men’s bathrooms. For each gender, two also contained showers. I did not use them because it was really cold and there is no electrical to run a blow dryer so I didn’t want to be stuck with wet hair. However, I did see campers use them and after talking with them, they said they are always hot. Unfortunately, if hot is not your thing there is no temperature dial on the shower so you are stuck with the water at whatever temperature it comes out at. The bathrooms were well lit all night. So much so that if light pollution bothers you I would not suggest getting a space near the bathroom.

**Product Review**

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time – on this trip I tested the [RoM Women’s Altitude Hydration Jacket](https://romoutdoors.com/product/womens-altitude-jacket/). This jacket in particular is one of the prototypes that RoM had. From what I was told the sizing on them will be a little off from the final product so I do suggest reaching out to customer service if you have questions on sizing. With the prototype I chose a Women’s Extra Large. I’m around 5 ft 8 in tall and wear an 8 or 10 in women’s jeans. This jacket was an excellent fit on me in the torso, arm length, and overall sizing. I had just a little free space around the hips and was able to move freely without it being too big.

The jacket’s unique feature is that it has a built in hydration pack holder that routes through the jacket. I thought this was going to be one of my favorite features but it ended up being the thing I disliked the most about it. The hydration bladder sites on the inside of the down layer so if you have cold water in it you then have a cold hydration bladder only a thin layer of material away from your back. This seemed a bit counterproductive because the jacket is WARM and if you need a jacket that warm you likely do not want something cold pressed against your body. When the hydration bladder was full it also pulled down on the back of the jacket and kept making the front ride up. The drinking tube routes through the left side of the jacket and cannot be routed through the other side. Generally speaking you shouldn’t put warm liquid in those bladders but you could use the pocket for a hot water bottle instead. Again, you will be battling the weight but it may keep you that much warmer.

The jacket was extremely warm. When we arrived, it was in the upper 60’s and the winds were around 25 mph. My clothing was warm enough but the wind was cutting through so I decided to put the jacket on. I ended up in a tank top under the jacket and it would still get warm enough that I’d need to take the jacket off periodically to cool down. It got down into the low 30’s and I was comfortable wearing this jacket with a long sleeve shirt underneath. As far as wind resistance, this was probably the jackets best feature! The sleeves and hood can zip off and I was worried that the wind would still come through the zippers. They have put this awesome rubber cover over the zippers and no wind got through at all!

The inside of the jacket has four small pockets. Three of these pockets have no closure at all (no Velcro, snaps, or flaps). They are also not very large. I’d imagine they’d work great for a chapstick, small wallet, etc. The fourth pocket has a material flap closure but nothing to secure it with. It was large enough to fold up the hood when disconnected but then there was a lot of bulk in the chest of the jacket so I did not use it like that for long. The sleeves have Velcro around the wrists to tighten them as needed. The Velcro seems to be of a good quality and should not get fuzzy after repeated use. One thing I would have liked to see on this jacket was something to tighten down the hood around the face. With all the wind I had the hood blown off quite a few times because there was no drawstring or bungee around the face.

RoM’s website does not specifically state the jacket as being waterproof but makes mention to wearing it in the rain so I figured I’d test it out. I made it about 10-15 minutes in the sleet/snow before I started feeling the moisture seeping through on my shoulders. The shell is Polyester and seems a little water resistant but I would definitely not call this jacket waterproof.

There were a few loose strings around the jacket where it looks they had finished seams and did not tuck the tail in so I cut them off and had no issues. The only seam that seemed to “fail” was the one on the bottom of the right exterior pocket. When I was unzipping it the zipper it went through the stitching at the bottom and came off the track. It is an easy fix and with a few stitches at home it won’t be a problem again.

The jacket doesn’t have written washing directions but does have the symbols for Machine Wash Cold and Lay Flat to Dry. I ran it through my washer on a cold cycle and laid it out to dry. It took about 24 hours to dry out completely. All of the down filling seemed to stay well in place and there was very little “balling” or “bunching” in the sections.

Overall, I am happy with this jacket as a cold weather jacket (especially if there is going to be wind). It was very lightweight and easily kept me warm into the 30’s. If you are looking for a waterproof outer layer I would suggest passing on this jacket because it really did not hold up to extended water exposure. Also, while the hydration pack was a great feature in theory it isn’t set up in a way that made wearing the jacket while the bladder was in very comfortable (because of it pulling the jacket backwards) or warm (because of the cold water being near your body). I may just end up using the hydration bladder pocket for a few light snacks or my wallet when I am out.

Ranger Review: RoM Women’s Altitude Hydration Jacket at Fool Hollow Lake

Probably the most beautiful campground in Arizona. Just outside Show Low, in the eastern part of the state, you are nestled in the pine & juniper of the region. Despite being in the middle of a developed area, once in the park, you feel appropriately isolated. We were at a reserved tent site (Osprey 12). All tent sites overlook the lake & a couple of them even have creeks running through them after rain. Visited family on a full hookup site & while the pads are huge, it seemed like you were more exposed to your neighbors. The tent loops all have access to a vault toilet & the middle loop has showers as well (the other loops are still walking distance from showers). There are several day use areas & boat ramps to the lake. Saw (& heard) many different birds & animals. Can't wait to go back.

Fool Hollow

I go to this campground at least 3 or 4 times of year, just to get out of the heat from Phoenix. I go for  regular weekends, holiday weekends, and have even stayed for a week. I like the tent side better, only because you are closer to the lake. But if I want to hook up, I can always go to the hook up side. The restrooms/showers are always clean. The camp host is always friendly. I love that you can rent a kayak, canoe, or little boat. It is a great place to take your family. If you have small kids they have a nice play ground for them. I love the hiking trail around the lake, and love to bring my bike for a nice ride. Love that it is close to the city, but yet you feel isolated. you would never know you were in a city. I love this place.

Fantastic campground

Went during elk rutting season. The sounds of the bugling bull elk went on most of the night which did not bother us too much. Waking up and being able to drink your coffee with the lake as your back drop was peaceful and healing. 

Awesome campsite view of the lake

We went a little early in the season, late April. The nights were below freezing. The lake is beautiful and calm. There were turkey vultures galore. And there were goose parents with fluffy goslings!

Beautiful 

Went here for a family campout. The sites are a decent size but the real selling point is the view. The lake was almost always in view, restrooms are clean, showers are hot, and potable water is close to every site. The only downside is that there were times throughout the day with no shade but overall it was great. The lake is very calm and peaceful. They only allow small motors on the lake so canoeing and kayaking were amazing.

Awesome tent sites

Was here in late June and stayed in Mallard Loop #10 right across from the bathroom. Fantastic camping area with widely spaced sites, great views of the lake and excellent facilities. Stayed in an RV only area, but there were 20+ tent only sites in another camping area that looked as nice as the one I stayed in. I would definitely return if ever back in the area.

Lovely views!

Needed to get out of the heat in Tucson so I headed north to the White Mountains. As I did my research, coupled with the weather map, I decided on the Showlow area. I kept coming back to Fools Hollow because it was on the water, in the Pines, had large campsites separated from where the RVs are and plenty of walking trails around the lake, fishing and kayak and canoe rentals. Also, and most importantly they were dog friendly. Well all my expectations were met and more.

What a find !

Beautiful area

It was amazing how beautiful the view was. Had the lake right night to us. The wind was blowing perfectly. There was an amazing trail to walk next to the lake. The bathrooms were close to our camp site. Convenient to go at night since it had lights to lead the way. Also had a chance to shower in a clean bathroom. Will definitely be back. 

Amazing camping experience 

We have camped at a lot of the Arizona State Parks and Fools Hollow was one of our favorites yet. Everything is very clean and well kept. We stayed in Mallard 8 which has full hook ups, great shade and views of the lake from your campsite. We were advised to go up the channel for fishing as during summer time they rent boats at the boat dock and that scares the fish up stream. We fished with both powerbait and catfish bait. Had success with catfish. 

Show low is 2 miles away if you forget any essentials. 

Wonderful getaway 

Great place with lots to do for just about any age! Camping, dry or with hookups.Some of the pads are made for two campers though, which means the other camper could be less than a foot away. That's fine if it's family/friends, may not be so nice for someone you don't even know. The lake is nice with kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards for rent. Heard fishing is also great, with catfish, walleye, trout and bass.Lots of piers, as well as the lakeshore that you could fish from. And a boat ramp if you have your own boat. we really enjoyed all there was to do on the water!

Nice but make sure you don't have a shared site!

This is one of our most favorite campgrounds of all. Highly advise making a reservation at least 6 months ahead of time. We always book the Mallard loop. Full hookups including sewer. Lake is within walking distance and can be seen from most spots on west side of loop. Make sure you check your site to make sure it isn’t a shared site. You are really close together if you aren’t together on the trip already. They have rentals for kayak, paddle boards and boats. 

Just beautiful 

Camp here for the first time and we fell in love with the lake. The staff its very friendly and willing to answer all your questions. The campsites are nice and spacious, most are lakefront with a short walk to the water. There is plenty of roads to walk your dogs or yourself if you need to stretch. This lake has a lot to offer. If you like noise or being loud this is probably not the lake for you.


Family friendly and great staff

Really great camping spot during Covid large spots spacious and a quick hike to the lake amazing spot to escape the heat with two roads to get in

Love it- would come back to the exact spot #16 Cinnamon Teal

Redhead Loop Site 14 may have been the most perfect campsite we had on a month long cross country trip from North Carolina to the Grand Canyon and back. We were blown away by how beautiful Fool Hollow Lake was, and the sites were all spread out so much you'd think you're the only people there. It was quiet, family-friendly, and spacious. I really can't say enough good things about this place. We wish we were there for more than just one night.

Absolutely Beautiful Campground Highly Recommended

We really loved this place. Incredibly clean and well kept sites. We stayed at Mallard 02 and it was a great spot. It’s a double spot so might be really tight if another family showed up. All sites have concrete pads and most seem to have full hookups. Beautiful trail around the lake that was great for birdwatching and walking the dogs. The trail was very easy and would be easy for the kiddos. 

Great Campground

All facilities were extremely clean. Bathroom heated. Scenic lake views. Even in dead of winter very popular and kinda crowded. Maybe bc covid and school was out the place was packed with children. 

It’s really a perfect place we’re it not for so many kids

A family favorite but a first for winter time. We were very pleased with the weather even considering it was really cold at night. The lake is extremely low. But still beautiful. 

Amazing for winter also

Van camped one night to test out our new van conversion. Area seems well maintained. Man made lake, levels are low. Easy to access from main road. Spots seem spaced well. Nice pad, picnic bench and fire ring. 

Easy to reach getaway.

We always enjoy this campground. All the loops were closed but the Mallard loop. Going through some renovations on the others. We had freezing temps overnight but the days were perfect. A bit windy but bearable. No fish or even any bites. 

Great for end of winter

My friend and I camped here in a tent overnight. Each space came with its own fireplace, picnic table, shade, and a gorgeous view of the lake. The bathroom was well-lit at night and very clean for a campsite bathroom. There are water spigots everywhere for free use. They even include doggy bag stands for you to clean up after your furry friends! Normally they would provide firewood too (according to their website), but there are no wood or charcoal fires allowed right now. Propane IS allowed, though. Great place. I can’t wait to go back!

Great facilities, quiet, well-lit, clean!

Probably one of the best campgrounds I have visited.  It is spacious, quiet, and clean.  The lake is fabulous for kayaking, or just hiking around.  Each campsite is spaced well away from neighboring sites, among beautiful, tall pines.  There is room to stretch out and relax.  

  

There are numerous hiking trails all around in the park as well as plenty of places to ride a bike.

  

The elevation of 6,200' makes for very pleasant weather most of the year.  I have spent Thanksgiving at this location and loved that it got cold at night and a little warmer during the day.  I have stayed at this campground in the spring, summer and fall - but love the fall the best.

  

Nearby Show Low and Lakeside are quaint little towns that complete the experience.

Heaven on Earth

We love this campground. Place to get out of the AZ heat with full hookups, bathrooms, showers, tent sites. In the pines just a beautiful place. Plan ahead as they are booked most of the time. About 6 months to 1 yr ahead to plan this trip. 

Awesome campground 

The reviews say it all.
Cell for AT&amp;T is weak to non existent in some spots. 
The campground and bathrooms are clean. Some sites are split site so know before you make reservations. Also not all sites have sewer. 

Amazing 

Quiet, beautiful, very well maintained and the rangers are super friendly.  Will definitely stay again. 

Best campground ever!

We booked the last site available so I think with some careful reviewing of site map and asking over the phone about specific needs this is a 5 star spot, but it isn’t particularly pop up friendly. There are primitive tent sites and an assortment of electric + sites. The grounds are gorgeous, lots of space around the lake, so so so very quiet and clean. We have a small pop up. Generally we chose more primitive or small electric only sites. No rigs like ours were in the tent area so not sure if that is an option. Almost ALL the spaces are side by side shared double lots in the cinnamon teal loop. At least 40% - amazing if you’re group camping, but I like my space and privacy.  Quiet hours 8pm- 7am. Showers/toilets in each loop. No outlets in bathroom for hair drying etc. showers were cold after minute 2 and each unit was a full bath so also cold and wet. None of this would matter at a cheap site but a hook up is $65/night.  Surrounding town is cute with amenities. Visit The House for a meal. 

5 star if you pick the right sites

This was our first time taking out our camper and we were so happy we chose this camp site! We had a shared spot but we didn’t mind at all! The hookups were staggered so it didn’t feel too cramped at all. We had the most beautiful view of the lake and plenty of wide open space for my kids to explore! 

Great view 

Clean site overlooking body of water. Gentle breeze. No bugs. Clean clear skies. Raked site gives impression that team is on the ball for maintenance. Show and bathroom facilities are clean and nearby. 