Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. Discover secluded campsites where you can reconnect with nature. Or maybe you like to bring your family and friends along. Either way, there are Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest campgrounds just for you. Find the best campgrounds near Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, AZ. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.
"We camped here when we had a permit to fish at nearby Christmas Tree Lake. Christmas Tree Lake is a beautiful little lake nestled in the White Mountains of Arizona on Apache land."
"Hawley Lake is the perfect escape when you want to get out of the heat. Pristine views, cool weather during the summer and clean facilities almost make you feel like your not in Arizona anymore."
"Like my title implies, this is where you go if you really want to “get away” from It all! This gorgeous campground is remote, very remote."
"Great campsites within walk distance of the lake! Down fall is the campsites are big (enough room for all your camp friends) but you can only have two cars per site. Don’t let this keep you away!"
"Excellent location near Pinetop-Lakeside and Show Low. Easy check-in. Wifi available. Clean bathrooms. Laundry available. Wonderful hosts. 24 hour security driving around."
"We had to crab over them so that we didn't leave our plumbing with them (and very nearly did leave some plumbing the first time over the first one)."
$9 / night
"Cyclone Lake (Basin?) is nestled in the Arizona mountains and offers a breathtaking escape into nature."
"Horseshoe cienega lake and campground is located off the 260 about 45 minutes east of Pinetop-Lakeside. First impressions: wow!"
"Quiet, large campground, easy access to lake, wildlife. Close to town but far enough that it feels like your way out."
"Los Burros was a beautiful little spot, tucked away in the pines near Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ. There are at least two camping spots that include a fenced in area for your horses to stay."
"There was a corral near one of the sites for horses. On the way in we passed an entire heard of cattle right next to the road. There is also 2 historic buildings from the ranger station."
$18 - $150 / night
"Cute little Campground literally on the edge of town. If you look in one direction you'll see the apartment buildings about a quarter mile away (you can see it in the video)."
"There are no hookups at all on this second loop, but you can fill fresh water from over near the dump station.
Short walk to the lake for swimming and/or fishing."
$26 - $90 / night
"Big lake is a short drive from the campground, where you can rent a boat, fish from shore and a small store with supplies. There is always wildlife around, especially skunks, so watch your pets."
"The squirrels are voracious and chewed through my stuff sack with sealed food that I left on the picnic table when I went for a bike ride around the lake."
$20 - $125 / night
"The only trash receptacle I saw was a dumpster at the entrance, a closer one (by the toilets) would have been nice to get rid of my dog waste bags."
"There was an outhouse near our site and it was kept pretty clean. We had 5 adults and 10 kids so we kept to ourselves the entire time we were there. I highly recommend this campground."
GuideNice wide sites for your RV. This park is located in the forest area of Show Low, AZ. At this time, the amenities (due to COVID 19), except for the laundry room, are closed so was unable to give it a 5 star rating. Location is central to everything. In fact, we rode our eBikes to get to just about everything. Temps are warm in June and then cool down significantly after the Monsoon rains begin. Nice people in the park. Nice dog park and dog run.
GuideThis is really a Park Model Resort that has about 25% of their sites set aside for RVs. The RV sites are scattered throughout the park but they have tried to group them together as much as possible. The sites are pretty level, really wide, and fairly deep. There is a concrete patio with each site. Sites are covered in cinders which are a bit of a pain. They present a somewhat soft surface which is like walking in about 6 inches of soft sand. Almost all the sites have a tree planted right at the front next to the road. Some of the trees are a bit wide which really makes getting into the site difficult. Even though the sites are wide the RV parking area is between the patio and the sewer connection which is about 11ft wide. When you combine that with landscaping and patio covers on some of the park models and getting in some sites can be real challenging for a larger rig. We have a 40ft motorhome and have been to this park probably 8 times. So far we have made it in and out but with some new scratches and a bit of maneuvering. Cell service is pretty bad here. We have Verizon cell phones which usually worked for phone service but sometimes cut out. We have Verizon and AT&T hotspots. AT&T worked the best but not fast enough to stream anything most of the time. There is Wi-Fi offered for a fee but we have not tried that. They also offer cable TV which I believe is free. They have a couple of dog parks, nice common areas, laundry, and a small gym. They have some other clubs and activity rooms but all of those have been closed due to Covid.
TravelerI have been coming up to the White Mountains since I was a kid. Rainbow campground has been our go-to spot for camping. There are 3 loops that are FCFS. The rest of the sites are reservations. The sites all have picnic tables and fire rings. There are full bathrooms throughout the area and pay showers when is not covid. Big lake is a short drive from the campground, where you can rent a boat, fish from shore and a small store with supplies. There is always wildlife around, especially skunks, so watch your pets. The sites are laid at where you don't feel like you are right on top of your neighbor. None of the sites in Rainbow have hook-ups, bit there is a dump station down the road. There is another campground for full hook-ups down the way.
ScoutSituated in NE Arizona, you get to experience cooler weather, fishing across the road and a local general store near by for those forgotten items. The camp grounds are clean and have ever amenity necessary without feeling like you're at a hotel. We like the spots in the back half of the grounds.
TravelerProbably the most beautiful campground in Arizona. Just outside Show Low, in the eastern part of the state, you are nestled in the pine & juniper of the region. Despite being in the middle of a developed area, once in the park, you feel appropriately isolated. We were at a reserved tent site (Osprey 12). All tent sites overlook the lake & a couple of them even have creeks running through them after rain. Visited family on a full hookup site & while the pads are huge, it seemed like you were more exposed to your neighbors. The tent loops all have access to a vault toilet & the middle loop has showers as well (the other loops are still walking distance from showers). There are several day use areas & boat ramps to the lake. Saw (& heard) many different birds & animals. Can't wait to go back.
ScoutLove this campground, clean and quiet! We went in June during fire restrictions but it was still a nice site. Lakes nearby within walking distance dogs had a blast!
ScoutThis is an RV Resort, not a camp ground. The lots are average size and fairly easy to get in to. I’m glad I had a spotter. They have nice amenities including cable TV. There is free WiFi, but only at the office. Dog friendly. It has many park models and seems to be a retirement community. The people were nice. Great place to spend the summer months in Arizona. A bit expensive, but I was here for work so it was paid for.
ScoutGreat fire pit and some flat spots for a tent. The highway got quieter in the middle of the night for a little while. We stayed right next to some ruins and all three of us had wild dreams about ghosts, ghost horses, and animals. The next morning we found we were only a few steps away from a mountain lion kill site! WOW! So many kinds of animals. Elk. Coyote. Cow. Sheep. You name it! It was an exciting way to spend the evening. Enjoy!
LegendWe camped here when we had a permit to fish at nearby Christmas Tree Lake. Christmas Tree Lake is a beautiful little lake nestled in the White Mountains of Arizona on Apache land. It boasts some amazing fishing for the native trout species- the Apache trout. The fish are stocked, so it may not be a true experience for some but most of the access to the native fish in their native habitat is restricted or non existent to protect these beautiful creatures. The lake offers paid access on a day to day basis. A total of 25 permits per day are offered to keep fishing pressure in check. But these permits are non refundable so don't reserve too early.
Permits and information can be found on the website but customer service can be difficult. Camping is available on a first come basis at Hawley Lake which also offers great fishing and beautiful scenery. Be aware that I did experience some free range cattle snooping through the camp at 2am which was a bit unexpected. Also, being in the mountains, it was pretty cold at night.
The area we camped in was open and the roads were well marked. Campsites were situated near fire rings with only the occasional picnic table. There were four pretty well maintained portable toilets near our camp as well. Be sure to review the rules and regulations on the website as some areas are off limits and to make sure you have all the proper permits for fishing and/or camping.(State and local licenses required for fishing)
Explore the beauty of Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest while enjoying a camping experience that welcomes your furry friends. With a variety of pet-friendly campgrounds, you can create unforgettable memories with your pets in the great outdoors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest is Hawley Lake Apache Indian Res with a 4.5-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest?
TheDyrt.com has all 72 dog-friendly camping locations near Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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