Blue Ridge Reservoir

There are a few things I wish I'd have known before this trip. The parking lot is pretty small, once you drop your kayak/canoe/small boat, you have to drive up a steep little dirt incline to park your car near the restrooms. You can also follow along a rough trail along the ridge with steep drop offs and go down to the dam where the road ends, if you want to explore some. The road from 87 to the water is pretty rough and rattled a rip into our jeep soft top. You will be shaken all the way down. 

  

Go early, the few camp spots along the river fill up quickly. There are a lot of canoe and kayak campers who make their camp early in the day and then set out to fish, so by the time we head downs stream to find a spot on a Saturday round 6 or so it was very full. We found about the very last camp spot along the river, 4 miles down from the boat dock. Some parts of the river are just craggy rock jutting straight down in the river and then high up into the sky, making for great views but little room for camp spots. The camp spots that are around are secluded, grassy and gorgeous. If it hadn't been raining on the one random day it decided to rain this month, we'd have had more fun that evening, taking in the sights, sounds and hanging out by the waterside. 

  

There are a a few maintained campgrounds around, Rock Crossing seemed to be the popular one but it is not ON the water. I think you may be able to hike down to the water from the campsite, however. There are dogs everywhere! Does in canoes, dogs in kayaks, dogs on the shore, it was a puppy party! There are also plenty of fish. Where we camped at the water's end there were little baby fish that we caught, but all the bigger fish were splashing along the deeper areas. There are also places to jump from the rocks and swim. There is zero cell service down in the water. In fact, I didn't get any service until getting up near the one gas station kinda by Happy Jack on 87. If you're down on the water there is quite a ways before you reach a gas station with any kind of anything you may need, but for a gas station they're pretty stocked with fishing and camping gear. So much fun to be had!

A hidden gem

Stunning. This is one of the most peaceful places I’ve been to in Arizona. It’s serene, not too many people, didn’t see a motorized boat in sight, and it’s a great place to chill. We brought our kayaks here and stayed one night a few hours out into the water. There are so many random spots you can stop at to camp, and several places to explore. Guaranteed Zen. 



When in Doubt, Kayak it Out...

Heavily wooded area with tons of space for dispersed sites. Road is in great shape and easy for our travel trailer to make it in. Camping spots are towards the beginning of the road you turn off of, so don’t drive all the way down to the water like we did lol

Cozy spot in the woods

One of the best sites in all of Az. This is specific to dispersed camping around the lake as that is what we took part in. Lots of available areas where you can find seclusion and quiet surrounded by a beautiful area. We spent two nights off the lake that took some hunting to find but well worth it. 

No facilities so please pack out everything you bring in and keep it better than how you found it. There are facilities around but if you’re dispersed they won’t necessarily be there for you.

Fishing was great and the lake was beautiful. Primo spot and area.



Incredible camping with some work

What an awesome area with an endless amount of spots to set up camp at. Like others my wife and I drove way past the turn to the dispersed camping area and made our way down to the water. But like Boss Ross always said, that turned out to be a happy mistake because it was so beautiful down there. We felt like we were in Colorado. We went to the end and turned around and ended up finding a camping spot in a very secluded area that over looked the cliff. Also, I did not know the Arizona Trail goes right through this area. RAD!! Over all, an epic spot and we will be back. Next time we will try and find that overlook spot of the view of the reservoir.  

Beautiful Backcountry Wilderness

About a few miles above the reservoir boat launch area. FR 751B has tons of dispersed areas with fire rings and good privacy. Good location for an overnight camp spot. 