This Ironwood Forest National Monument is made up of 129,000 acres and contains a significant system of cultural and historical sites covering a 5,000-year period. Possessing one of the richest stands of ironwood in the Sonoran Desert, the monument also encompasses several desert mountain ranges including the Silver Bell, Waterman, and Sawtooth, with desert valleys in between.

Elevation ranges from 1,800 to 4,261 feet. Three areas within the monument, the Los Robles Archeological District, the Mission of Santa Ana del Chiquiburitac and the Cocoraque Butte Archeological District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The monument is a travel corridor for illegal immigrants traveling from Mexico. All suspected illegal activities should be reported to BLM or local law enforcement authorities. Stay safe by avoiding contact with persons exhibiting suspicious behavior or engaged in dangerous activities. Drive with caution and look for fast-moving vehicles and pedestrians on back roads. Some roads are rugged: high clearance or four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended in those areas.

Ironwood Forest BLM Aqua Blanca dispersed camp

This Ironwood Forest National Monument (map: https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/docs/2020-12/AZ_IronwoodForestNM-508.pdf) is made up of 129,000 acres and contains a significant system of cultural and historical sites covering a 5,000-year period. Possessing one of the richest stands of ironwood in the Sonoran Desert, the monument also encompasses several desert mountain ranges including the Silver Bell, Waterman, and Sawtooth, with desert valleys in between.

Elevation ranges from 1,800 to 4,261 feet. Three areas within the monument, the Los Robles Archeological District, the Mission of Santa Ana del Chiquiburitac and the Cocoraque Butte Archeological District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The monument is a travel corridor for illegal immigrants traveling from Mexico. All suspected illegal activities should be reported to BLM or local law enforcement authorities. Stay safe by avoiding contact with persons exhibiting suspicious behavior or engaged in dangerous activities. Drive with caution and look for fast-moving vehicles and pedestrians on back roads. Some roads are rugged: high clearance or four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended in those areas.

BLM Ironwood Forest National Monument - Reservation Road Dispersed Camping

Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads. Learn more: https://www.campendium.com/camping/boondocking-101/

BLM Ironwood Forest National Monument - Pipeline Rd Dispersed camping

BLM Ironwood Monument - 2555 ft Knob Overlander 4x4 Dispersed Camping area

A Recreational Permit allows the authorized permittee limited privileges to use State Trust land for some recreation. Recreation under this permit is limited to: geocaching, hiking, horseback riding, picnics, bicycling, photography, sightseeing and bird watching. Overnight camping is restricted to no more than 14 cumulative days per year. Remote-controlled aircraft (drones) may be operated on State Trust land with a Recreational Permit and in conjunction with applicable local, state, and federal regulations. 

AZ State Land North Pump Station Road Dispersed

Ironwood Forest BLM North Pump Station Rd Dispersed

Next time you need a break in your busy life consider cool weather camping at Tucson Mountain Park's beautiful Gilbert Ray Campground, located on the west side of the Tucson Mountains, a convenient 13 miles from Tucson. RV campers should access the park by way of Ajo Highway to Kinney Road and follow the signs to the campground.

The campground has 130 RV sites with individual 30-amp electrical hook-ups. The campground has 5 sites that are designated tent only, however tenters are welcome to camp in an RV site but are asked not to use the electrical hook-ups. It has centrally located water, picnic tables, modern restrooms, and an RV dumping station. Shower facilities are not available. There are handicap bathrooms.

There is a seven-day length of stay limit. The park's peak season is January 1st through March 31st. Camping fees are $10.00 per night for tents and $20.00 per night for trailers and RVs. Senior Pass/Golden Age Pass NOT valid. Due to limited tent sites you can tent in a RV site, however, during peak season the RV campsite fee applies. Wood fires are prohibited.

Gilbert Ray Campground

Welcome to Diamond J RV Park!

Please call for reservations. Our hours are Arizona time; or Mountain Standard.

We love our customers, so feel free to visit during normal business hours.



Justin's Diamond J RV Park

Our natural, unspoiled desert setting is the main draw to
Desert Trails RV Park in Tucson, Arizona. But we have also accumulated many amenities since 1998, and we surprise our guests with the extent of our facilities. We are an adult 40+ RV park and attract an energetic customer base. This is reflected in our hiking, biking, dances, aerobics, and other outdoor activities. We offer a campground atmosphere, unlike other RV Parks, and don’t offer “annual rates” for permanent residents. Every “off-season” we upgrade infrastructure as well as improve existing buildings and create new spaces for expanding activities. The Trailer Life (Good Sam) directory recognizes this too, by increasing our “ratings” to 9/9/9.

Not under any measurable category are the amazing artists who perform 2-3 times per week. Our enthusiastic audiences also like the conventional “shows.” All evenings are well attended and generate an “electric” intimate atmosphere which encourages top names to return to our relatively small venue at Desert Trails. On nights without live music, we fill up the rest of the schedule with lectures, bingo, karaoke, poker, and games.

Desert Trails RV Park - Adult-only Resort

A-Bar-A RV Park & Storage Facility

The Silverbell Group Camp Site is located adjacent to Silverbell Road, north of Ragged Top Mountain.

It is an excellent spot for recreational camping, providing a pull-through for larger vehicles and trailers. Road conditions to the site are highly variable and sometimes require high clearance vehicles. To get there you must travel approximately eight miles on a dirt road which is not regularly maintained. 

Volunteers have helped enhance this site by relocating vegetation and placing boulders to guide vehicle traffic. Volunteers also help maintain the site by making sure visitors remove all their trash and maintain primitive fire pits.

To access the site, visitors take the paved Silverbell Road past the small town of Red Hill to where it turns into a dirt road. From there, it is eight miles around the bends and through the washes of Silverbell Road to arrive at the site. Please follow “Leave No Trace” principles for camping, don’t destroy any vegetation, and leave the site better than you found it.

BLM Silverbell Group Campsite

Bureau of Land Management

Nice view of the mountain and beautiful cactuses

Blm spot

This access point to Ironwood Forest BLM National Monument is at the west end of Manville road, the last 1/2 mile is graded dirt.  The camping area is just a large parking area with some BLM info signs, the area is bordered by barrier rocks.  Vegetation is ugly beat down desert by livestock grazing. Not much privacy here if more than 2 camps. Cell signal is good. The old two track road west is likely only a 4x4 Jeep type road.  Free dispersed. 14d limit, no water, trash or toilets.

Ironwood Forest BLM Aqua Blanca dispersed camp

Save more with PRO

About This Campground

Access

Stay Connected

Site Types

Features

For Campers

Reviews

2022 Explorer Giveaway