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Established Camping

Spillway (AZ)

Spillway Campground, near Woods Canyon Lake, Arizona, is a fantastic spot for those looking to immerse themselves in nature. With its beautiful setting right by the lake, it’s perfect for fishing, kayaking, or just soaking up the serene surroundings.

The campground features well-maintained sites with picnic tables and fire rings, making it easy to enjoy meals outdoors and gather around the fire at night. Visitors have praised the cleanliness of the facilities, noting that the hardworking host team keeps everything in top shape. One camper mentioned, “The hardworking helpful host team keeps the grounds and toilets immaculate.”

If you’re up for some adventure, the area offers great hiking trails, including a scenic route to the Mogollon Rim for breathtaking views. Plus, there’s a small convenience store nearby for any essentials you might need. Just a heads up, the sites can be a bit close together, but the peaceful atmosphere and proximity to the lake make it a worthwhile experience.

Whether you’re tent camping, RVing, or trying out glamping, Spillway Campground has a little something for everyone. So pack your gear and get ready for a memorable outdoor escape!

Description

National Forest

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest

Overview

Spillway Campground is on the shores of popular Woods Canyon Lake near the town of Heber in north central Arizona. Situated in a pine forest with plenty of shade, the campground has individual campsites as well as one group campsite for small gatherings. Given its proximity to the lake, hiking trails and scenic areas, Spillway is a convenient getaway for anglers, boaters, hikers, families and photographers.

Recreation

Woods Canyon Lake is one of seven lakes in the Rim Lakes Recreation Area, and one of the most visited. Trout fishing (both lake and stream) is a favorite pastime. Woods Canyon Lake only allows electric boat motors. Two other lakes are within a short drive. The Rim Lakes Vista Trail, less than a mile from the campground, and others in the area lead to spectacular views of the Mogollon Rim. An easy hiking trail meanders around the lake, and the paved roads in the recreation area make for great afternoon bike rides. Families might also enjoy attending educational programs given by Forest Service rangers on the weekends.

Natural Features

Spillway is located in a thick forest of ponderosa pine, oak and Douglas fir at an elevation of 7,500 ft. The campground is situated on the lakeshore overlooking the calm blue waters of 52-acre Woods Canyon Lake, where visitors may see squirrels, deer, elk and a variety of birds. Nearby hiking trails offer views of the Mogollon Rim, a 200-mile long cliff in northern Arizona that ranges between 5,000 and 7,000 feet in elevation and serves as the geographical dividing line between the cool high country above and the hot, dry desert below. Summer temperatures can be very pleasant because of the elevation. However, the rainy season often brings afternoon thunderstorms from late June through August. Visitors should come prepared for rain and cool nighttime temperatures.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (928) 535-0181.

Nearby Attractions

Gas, phone and groceries are available 10 miles east at Forest Lakes. The nearest full service community is Payson, Arizona, 35 miles west on Highway 260. Visitors can explore endless vistas and take part in many outdoor activities in the surrounding Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, which encompasses 2 million acres of magnificent mountain country in east-central Arizona and New Mexico.

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Location

Spillway (AZ) is located in Arizona

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Payson, Arizona, take Highway 260 northeast toward Heber. Turn left (west) onto Forest Road 300 directly across from the Rim Visitor Information Station and follow for 5 miles. Turn right at Woods Canyon Lake Road. Spillway is on the right, another 0.75 miles further.

Address

APACHE-SITGREAVES
AZ

Coordinates

34.3319444 N
110.9363889 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

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

Site Types

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

Features

For Campers

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

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Water Hookups

Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

6 Reviews

Reviewed Sep. 27, 2021

Nice woodsy retreat

Very nice campsites with a short walk to woods canyon lake. Access to restrooms but not too close to neighboring campsites.

Site09
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Spillway (AZ) by Cristina C., September 27, 2021
Reviewed Jul. 9, 2021

Woodsy and Clean

Beautiful campground with great weather! These are drive up campsites with great hosts. There was a nicely cleaned out fire ring and a good size flat ground area for our 4p tent. The campsites were a little close at times and was noisey after quiet hours but not after midnight which was good. At our site we were down wind from the restrooms so we would catch a smell at time but, it was a short hike to the spillway and follow that to the lake which you could rent boats and skip rocks.  Very woodsy and a nice cool night perfect for a fire.

Site013
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Spillway (AZ) by Michael B., July 9, 2021
  • Review photo of Spillway (AZ) by Michael B., July 9, 2021
  • (6) View All
Reviewed May. 17, 2021

Beautiful campground

Great setting on the lake. Hardworking helpful host team keeps the grounds and toilets immaculate. Lake is lovely. Early morning access before day use crowds come is great for quiet early morning kayak or SUP use.

Site23
Month of VisitMay
Reviewed Sep. 1, 2019

Woodsy

Site #15 was very open and easy to back into and right by the lake. Good shade. Our spot has a large table, metal fire ring and charcoal grill. The campsite has 26 spots. It’s fully stocked over the summer month with trout. They have kayak rentals available also and electric trolling motors are allowed on the lake. They have a small convenience store down by the lake with some essentials you may have forgot. Closest town is Forest Lake (10miles) with gas and groceries. No service with Verizon at all. Highly advise taking the trail to the rim to one of the lookouts.

  • Review photo of Spillway (AZ) by Melissa S., September 1, 2019
  • Review photo of Spillway (AZ) by Melissa S., September 1, 2019
  • Review photo of Spillway (AZ) by Melissa S., September 1, 2019
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Jul. 29, 2019

Convenient access to lake

This is one of our go to campgrounds because of it’s proximity to Woods Canyon Lake. Not many sites here so it’s quiet but you are kind of close to each other. There is a gravel road so no strollers or skateboards. Well water nearby but no flushing toilets.

  • Review photo of Spillway (AZ) by Kimberly D., July 29, 2019
  • Review photo of Spillway (AZ) by Kimberly D., July 29, 2019
Reviewed Mar. 4, 2017

On the water!

This is the only campground on the shores of woods canyon lake! It is small, no trailers over 14 feet. It fills up fast in the summer and the sites are a little close together but it is a beautiful campground.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does Spillway (AZ) have RV hookups?

    According to TheDyrt.com, Spillway (AZ) has water hookups.

  • What is the max vehicle length at Spillway (AZ)?

    Spillway (AZ) allows vehicles up to 45 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Spillway (AZ)?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Spillway (AZ), although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Spillway (AZ)?

    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 Spillway (AZ). If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Spillway (AZ), try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Spillway (AZ)?

    There are 28 campsites at Spillway (AZ) and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts