Camper submitted image from Upper Hospital Flat Group Site - 1
View All
Camper submitted image from Upper Hospital Flat Group Site - 2
Nature

Established Camping

Upper Hospital Flat Group Site

Upper Hospital Flat Group Site is located in the Coronado National Forest near Safford, AZ. The terrain consists of forested areas with flat open spaces suitable for group camping. Temperatures can range from 30°F in winter to 90°F in summer, and nearby attractions include Mount Graham and Roper Lake State Park.

Description

National Forest

Coronado National Forest

Overview

Upper Hospital Flat is a great place for groups to escape the summer heat of surrounding deserts and retreat to a scenic meadow in the Pinale__o Mountains of southeastern Arizona. The area is known for camping, scenic driving, picnicking, birding, wildlife viewing, hiking, mountain biking and history. In the 1880s, the campground served as the site for a field hospital for ailing soldiers from nearby Fort Grant, hence its name. The restorative powers of this cool, high-elevation location also attracted officers and their families seeking a summer refuge from desert heat. Today, Hospital Flat serves as popular getaway for outdoor enthusiasts and campers.

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. Nearby Hospital Flat Campground includes a 0.75-mile nature trail that gives interpretive information about the meadow and its plant and animal inhabitants. The Swift Trail also 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.

Natural Features

The campground sits along Big Creek in a mixed conifer forest, adjacent to a meadow that comes to life with wildflower blooms in late summer. The 9,000-ft. elevation offers pleasant summer temperatures. 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 Visitors Center, Riggs Lake, and a variety of trails can be accessed along the Swift Trail Scenic Drive. The town of Safford is approximately a 1 hour drive from the Hospital Flat 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 is now first come, first serve and is fee-free.

Suggest an Edit

Location

Upper Hospital Flat Group Site 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 23.3 miles to the Upper Hospital Group Site entrance on the right (MM 137.2). 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 23.3 miles to the Upper Hospital Group Site entrance on the right (MM 137.2).

Address

711 14th Ave., STE D
Safford, AZ 85546

Coordinates

32.6669444 N
109.8744444 W

Open in Google Maps

Is Upper Hospital Flat Group Site sold out?

Quickly grab cancellations!

Learn More

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site

Stay Connected

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

Site Types

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

Features

For Campers

  • Picnic Table
  • Toilets
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Pull-Through Sites

Contact

General Info


Reviews

Add Review

There are no reviews of Upper Hospital Flat Group Site

The Dyrt Explorer Badge

Earn an Explorer Badge!

Be the first person to review this campground!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the max vehicle length at Upper Hospital Flat Group Site?

    Upper Hospital Flat Group Site allows vehicles up to 40 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Upper Hospital Flat Group Site?

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

  • Does Upper Hospital Flat Group Site have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Upper Hospital Flat Group Site does not have wifi.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Upper Hospital Flat Group Site?

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

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Upper Hospital Flat Group Site?

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

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Upper Hospital Flat Group Site?

    There are 1 campsites at Upper Hospital Flat Group Site and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts