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$29 - $150 / night

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$29 - $150 / night

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Established Camping

Sharp Creek

7 Reviews

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There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!

Sharp Creek, near Payson, Arizona, is a charming campground tucked away in the Tonto National Forest, perfect for those seeking a peaceful escape. With spacious sites and a friendly atmosphere, it’s a great place to unwind and enjoy nature.

The campground is known for its cleanliness and well-maintained facilities, including vault toilets and drinking water. Campers have praised the camp hosts for their helpfulness and dedication to keeping the grounds in top shape. One visitor noted, “The camp hosts are friendly, informative, and take great care of the grounds.”

For outdoor lovers, Sharp Creek offers easy access to beautiful hiking trails and nearby lakes, ideal for fishing and exploring. While the creek may run dry during the summer, it transforms into a picturesque waterfall during the rainy season, adding to the campground's charm. Families appreciate the spaciousness, allowing kids to roam and explore safely.

Though there are no electric hookups or showers, the campground provides a cozy, rustic experience. Campers can enjoy campfires and the surrounding natural beauty, making it a fantastic spot for a weekend getaway or a longer stay. Whether you’re pitching a tent or parking your RV, Sharp Creek is a welcoming retreat for anyone looking to connect with the great outdoors.

Description

US Forest Service

Tonto National Forest

Overview

Sharp Creek is a small campground located in an area of central Arizona known for its pleasant temperatures, spectacular scenery and outdoor recreation. There are tent-only, family and group sites to accommodate a wide range of visitors.

Recreation

The campground is in a central location for hiking, fishing, boating and picnicking. Anglers can try for trout in nearby Christopher Creek. Hikers can access the historic Highline National Recreational Trail, which runs for 51 miles along the base of the Mogollon Rim, from the 260 Trail three miles east of the campground. Two lakes nearby offer additional fishing and boating options.

Natural Features

Sharp Creek sits at a cool 6,000 feet elevation, perfect for escaping the desert heat of southern Arizona and getting away to shaded forests and refreshing creeks and lakes. It is surrounded by a thick ponderosa pine forest below the Mogollon Rim. The clear waters of Christopher Creek are less than a mile away. The Mogollon Rim, pronounced by locals as "muggy-own," is a 200-mile long cliff in northern Arizona that ranges between 5,000 and 7,000 feet in elevation. The unique landscape was created by extreme erosion and faulting that has sculpted spectacular canyons and buttes. The rim serves as the geographical dividing line between the cool high country above and the hot, dry desert below.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (928) 474-7900.

Nearby Attractions

The small town of Christopher Creek is less than a mile away and has a few restaurant and shopping options for basic conveniences. Woods Canyon and Willow Springs Lakes sit above the Mogollon Rim, only a 10-minute drive away, and offer boating and fishing.

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Location

Sharp Creek is located in Arizona

Detail location of campground

Directions

This facility is located 23 miles northeast of Payson, Arizona, approximately 1.5 miles east of Christopher Creek. From Payson, take Highway 260 east for 23 miles. The campground is on the south side of Highway 260.

Coordinates

34.2997222 N
110.9980556 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Stay Connected

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

Site Types

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

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Firewood Available
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Pull-Through Sites
  • Big Rig Friendly

Drive Time

Reviews

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72%
29%
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4.5

out of 5

7 Reviews

Momo H.
Reviewed May. 16, 2025

Quick stay in Tonto

Wonderful campground. We used our national park pass for a discount. Potable water hookups if you’re running low. We got there after office closing hours, but the site has a kiosk for after hours tickets. Very quiet, woodsy and peaceful. Burn restrictions are in effect at this time, but make sure you check when you arrive. The rv sites include picnic table, lantern hook, grill and fire pit.

Site26
Month of VisitMay
Susanne C.
Reviewed Jul. 9, 2021

Clean, quiet, close to plenty

Great, quiet little campsite in immaculate condition. The camp hosts are friendly, informative, and take great care of the grounds. There are vault toilets available close to all sites, and clean running water available as well. The creek was dry while we were here, due to a dry summer, but there's a little waterfall behind the sites during rainier weather. We'll be back!

Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Sharp Creek by Susanne C., July 9, 2021
  • Review photo of Sharp Creek by Susanne C., July 9, 2021
  • Review photo of Sharp Creek by Susanne C., July 9, 2021
Bob & Ramona F.The Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed May. 21, 2021

Fantastic!!!

This is our favorite payson area campground!!! Large, disbursed spots. If you want space and quiet, this it your place!

Site12
Month of VisitMay
Ashley S.
Reviewed Feb. 3, 2021

Beautiful Clean Campground Near Lakes

We stayed here summer of 2020. It was a wonderful trip and we absolutely loved the campground. It was pretty full but it still felt like you had plenty of your own space. The woods surrounding were beautiful and peaceful. Our two young children loved running around and exploring.

It was a dry summer and fire restrictions were in place. There was also a fire in northern AZ that made it a bit smoky, but not too bad. It was unfortunate we couldn’t have a campfire but we made do. The cam hosts were very friendly and kept the vault toilet and area very clean. The campground was close to two beautiful lakes just a short drive away great for fishing. We were in space 021, Juniper Loop. It was beautiful and we would definitely stay there again.

  • Review photo of Sharp Creek by Ashley S., February 3, 2021
  • Review photo of Sharp Creek by Ashley S., February 3, 2021
  • Review photo of Sharp Creek by Ashley S., February 3, 2021
  • (5) View All
Emily Z.The Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed Sep. 10, 2019

Solid campground

Pretty nice campground, especially with the paved roads for the bikes. It also has a cool creek within a short hike, about 1.5 miles round trip. Overall a nice campground but not necessarily some place I’d go back. Mainly because the lack of shade in the space we were in and a few around us.

  • Review photo of Sharp Creek by Emily Z., September 10, 2019
  • Review photo of Sharp Creek by Emily Z., September 10, 2019
B
Reviewed May. 31, 2019

Fantastic Campground

We love the Sharp Creek Campground. It is very clean and level and the hosts are very nice and helpful. No hookups but can dump at Ponderosa a few minutes away. They do have water available for RVs on site. Overall, one of our favorites.

  • Review photo of Sharp Creek by Bob S., May 31, 2019
Showing results 1-7 of 7 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to camp at Sharp Creek?

Camping at Sharp Creek can cost between $29.00 and $150.00 depending on the site.

What is the max vehicle length at Sharp Creek?

Sharp Creek allows vehicles up to 120 feet.

Are fires allowed at Sharp Creek?

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

Does Sharp Creek have wifi?

No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Sharp Creek does not have wifi.

Is there cell phone reception at Sharp Creek?

According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is available, AT&T is good, and T-Mobile is good.

How hard is it to get a campsite at Sharp Creek?

Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Sharp Creek. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Sharp Creek, try setting up a text message Alert at TheDyrt.com/alerts

Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Sharp Creek?

There are 20 campsites at Sharp Creek and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert at TheDyrt.com/alerts

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