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Facilities

Established Camping

Upper Arcadia

Upper Arcadia is located near Safford, AZ, within the Coronado National Forest. The terrain consists of forested areas and rugged landscapes. Temperatures can range from 30°F in winter to 90°F in summer. Nearby attractions include the Mount Graham International Observatory and Roper Lake State Park.

Description

National Forest

Coronado National Forest

Overview

Upper Arcadia sits along Swift Trail in southeastern Arizona, providing an escape from desert heat and a pleasant place to take in the high desert scenery in spring and fall. Visitors enjoy hiking, camping, birding and picnicking.

Recreation

The campground lies along the Swift Trail Scenic Drive, which takes visitors from the Sonoran Desert at 2,900 feet to alpine meadows and forest on the 9,000+ foot ridges of the Pinale__o Range. Because of its diverse habitat, the area is well-known for birding and wildlife watching. The Swift Trail provides access to a number of hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking trails, along with several other campgrounds that invite you for an afternoon picnic. A trip up to Riggs Lake, stocked with trout by Arizona Game & Fish, or to the Columbine Visitors Center could make a worth-while day trip as well. The Arcadia Trail #328 starts at the Upper Arcadia Campground and leads up the mountain to Shannon Campground. A 1-mile spur off this trail leads to the top of Heliograph Peak, one of the highest mountains in southeastern Arizona.

Natural Features

The shady campground is in a thick forest of tall ponderosa pines interspersed with Gambel oaks and Arizona walnuts, at an elevation of 6,700 feet. The Coronado National Forest covers 1.78 million acres of southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Elevations range from 3,000 to 10,720 feet in 12 widely scattered mountain ranges, or "sky islands," that rise dramatically from the desert floor, supporting biologically diverse plant communities.

Nearby Attractions

The Mount Graham Wilderness Study Area, which includes the 10,720-foot Mount Graham, the tallest mountain in southern Arizona. Columbine Visitor Center, Riggs Lake, and a variety of trails can be accessed along the Swift Trail Scenic Drive. The town of Safford is approximately a 30 minute drive from the Upper Arcadia campground, heading north on SR 191. Safford is home to our Ranger Station, where you can go to find information about trails, camping, hunting and fishing, and other questions you may have about our district (open Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm).

Charges & Cancellations

Please review the Rules & Reservations Policies page on recreation.gov

Fee Info

This site has a $25 per night fee and a $5 per vehicle per night fee. Your check-out through recreation.gov will only include the Nightly/Daily rate. You must pay the per vehicle fee by cash or check upon arrival at the designated Fee Station.

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Location

Upper Arcadia is located in Arizona

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Safford, Arizona: Take State Route 191 south for 6 miles. Turn right onto State Route 366/Swift Trail and travel 11.5 miles to the Arcadia Campground entrance (MM 125.5), taking the next right turn to access Upper Arcadia. From Tucson, Arizona: Take I-10 East for 90 miles. Take exit 352 for State Route 191, and turn left toward Safford. Drive 26.3 miles north and turn left on State Route 366/Swift Trail. Continue for 11.5 miles to the Arcadia Campground entrance (MM 125.5), taking the next right turn to access Upper Arcadia.

Address

711 14th Avenue, Suite D
Safford, AZ 85546

Coordinates

32.6494444 N
109.8186111 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Hike-In
    Backcountry sites.

Stay Connected

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

Site Types

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

Features

For Campers

  • Picnic Table
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Pets
  • Fires

Contact

General Info

Reservations


Reviews

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5.0

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1 Review

Reviewed Aug. 26, 2021

Great spot

Beautiful views albeit mostly hiking along the dirt road… girlfriend and I went in my truck in May, 2021. I have been up to this site a couple times before in July and August months. Never have been disappointed… like any camping site, it’s ideal if you can get there Monday-Thursday but weekends aren’t bad. Summer days (May through August at least) seem to be quite warm between I’d say 85-90+ degrees. However it really cools down around 5:30 or 6pm. Nights can be chilly getting into the upper 50s to low 60s. The last time I went with my girlfriend we inflated a queen sized mattress and slept in the bed of my truck. Gorgeous sleeping under the stars!!!!

Sitefirst one one the right
Month of VisitMay

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the max vehicle length at Upper Arcadia?

    Upper Arcadia allows vehicles up to 40 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Upper Arcadia?

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

  • Does Upper Arcadia have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Upper Arcadia does not have wifi.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Upper Arcadia?

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

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Upper Arcadia?

    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 Upper Arcadia. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Upper Arcadia, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Upper Arcadia?

    There are 2 campsites at Upper Arcadia and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts