Best Tent Camping near Black Canyon City, AZ

Looking for the best Black Canyon City tent camping? Find the best information on tent campgrounds near Black Canyon City, including sites, reviews, and tips. You're sure to find the perfect campsite for your Arizona tent camping excursion.

Best Tent Sites Near Black Canyon City, AZ (19)

    Camper-submitted photo from Crown King Area (Horsethief Basin lake)
    Camper-submitted photo from Crown King Area (Horsethief Basin lake)
    Camper-submitted photo from Crown King Area (Horsethief Basin lake)
    Camper-submitted photo from Crown King Area (Horsethief Basin lake)
    Camper-submitted photo from Crown King Area (Horsethief Basin lake)
    Camper-submitted photo from Crown King Area (Horsethief Basin lake)

    1. Crown King Area (Horsethief Basin lake)

    7 Reviews
    63 Photos
    89 Saves
    Crown King, Arizona

    Horsethief Basin Recreation Area offers a variety of recreational opportunities including: hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, camping, fishing, and OHV riding. Castle Creek Wilderness is located nearby, and Horsethief Cabin and Turney Gulch Group Campground are available by reservation. Day use sites and trails are open year-round; overnight accomodations are not available during the winter. Scroll down (below the recreation map) to learn more about these recreational opportunities. Note: Until further notice, use of a high-clearance vehicle is recommended for those who plan to visit recreation sites in Horsethief Basin.

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Phone Service
    • Tents
    • Equestrian
    • Cabins
    Camper-submitted photo from Boulders OHV Area
    Camper-submitted photo from Boulders OHV Area
    Camper-submitted photo from Boulders OHV Area
    Camper-submitted photo from Boulders OHV Area
    Camper-submitted photo from Boulders OHV Area
    Camper-submitted photo from Boulders OHV Area

    2. Boulders OHV Area

    5 Reviews
    9 Photos
    29 Saves
    Wittmann, Arizona
    • Fires
    • Phone Service
    • Reservable
    • ADA Access
    • Tents
    • Standard (Tent/RV)
    Camper-submitted photo from Childs Camping Area
    Camper-submitted photo from Childs Camping Area
    Camper-submitted photo from Childs Camping Area
    Camper-submitted photo from Childs Camping Area
    Camper-submitted photo from Childs Camping Area
    Camper-submitted photo from Childs Camping Area

    3. Childs Camping Area

    4 Reviews
    8 Photos
    73 Saves
    Strawberry, Arizona

    In 1908 the Arizona Power Company began construction of the Childs Power Plant. For more than 90 years, the water of Fossil Creek had been diverted by a system of pipes and flumes from its natural course to power the turbines of the Childs and Irving hydroelectric plants. During this time, Fossil Creek had been reduced to a mere trickle, compared with the normal one million gallons per hour flow once witnessed by early inhabitants of the region.

    In 2004, APS, the current owner of the plants, agreed to decommission them and restore the creek to its natural flow. (From "Pine-Strawberry Archeological and Historical Society")

    The area is now a very popular dispersed camping area. It sits below the remnants of the old power plant buildings on the edge of the Verde River. A short hike upstream and some wading will get you to the ruins of the Verde Hot Springs, a once famous resort.

    • Pets
    • Tents
    • Toilets
    • Alcohol
    Camper-submitted photo from McDowell Regional Park-Ironwood
    Camper-submitted photo from McDowell Regional Park-Ironwood
    Camper-submitted photo from McDowell Regional Park-Ironwood
    Camper-submitted photo from McDowell Regional Park-Ironwood
    Camper-submitted photo from McDowell Regional Park-Ironwood
    Camper-submitted photo from McDowell Regional Park-Ironwood
    Camper-submitted photo from Enchanted Forest Trail Campsites
    Camper-submitted photo from Enchanted Forest Trail Campsites
    Camper-submitted photo from Enchanted Forest Trail Campsites
    Camper-submitted photo from Enchanted Forest Trail Campsites
    • No image available
      • No image available

        7. Tonto National Forest Rattlesnake Cove

        1 Review
        9 Saves
        Rio Verde, Arizona

        Rattlesnake Cove provides direct access to Bartlett Reservoir. Rattlesnake Cove has a sloping beach suitable for use in many water recreation activities. This area boasts of beautiful vistas of the desert with mountains in the background. The beach at Rattlesnake Cove is generally gently sloping with gradual change in water depths. Enjoy this primitive area with your friends and family by bringing your own grill and gear.

        • Tents
        • No image available
          Camper-submitted photo from Needle Rock Campground
          Camper-submitted photo from Needle Rock Campground
          Camper-submitted photo from Needle Rock Campground
          Camper-submitted photo from Needle Rock Campground
          Camper-submitted photo from Needle Rock Campground
          Camper-submitted photo from Needle Rock Campground

          9. Needle Rock Campground

          1 Review
          8 Photos
          16 Saves
          Rio Verde, Arizona

          The beach on the Verde River is generally rocky, but attracts many people during the hot summer months. The area is noted for its unusual rock formations. Nearby is a protected riparian area, the Mesquite Bosque. This popular water recreation area attracts many people trying to escape the Arizona summer heat. The rocky beach area is surrounded by beautiful towering rock formations. Near the recreation site is a fenced unique biological area, a stand of mesquite. Bald Eagles and Great Blue Herons are frequently seen in this vicinity.

          • Pets
          • Phone Service
          • Tents
          • Equestrian
          • Alcohol
          • No image available

            10. Pine Mountain Wilderness

            Be the first to review!
            3 Saves
            Black Canyon City, Arizona

            The southern-most wilderness area on the Prescott National Forest shares a boundary with the Tonto National Forest. Recreational opportunities include: hiking, backpacking, and horse riding. Mechanized equipment of any kind is not allowed in wilderness areas. Trails in the Pine Mountain Wilderness include: Nelson Trail #159 Buck Basin Trail #158 Pine Flat Trail #165 Tule Rim Trail #162 Verde Rim Trail #161 Willow Springs Trail #12 The USFS Wilderness Stewardship brochure explains more about designated Wilderness and how you can become involved in helping care for this precious resource.

            • Tents
          Showing results 1-10 of 19 campgrounds

          Recent Tent Reviews in Black Canyon City

          653 Reviews of 19 Black Canyon City Campgrounds


          • Julie M.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Arizona State Trust Land FSR 761 Dispersed
            Nov. 14, 2024

            Arizona State Trust Land FSR 761 Dispersed

            Quiet spot

            At the start of the road there are a couple of large areas where there were multiple vans parked but we kept going further down until we found a spot on our own. It was flat and we had a nice quiet night.

          • GThe Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Childs Camping Area
            Oct. 20, 2024

            Childs Camping Area

            Be prepared

            I really like the place, however, and this is a big however. The road in is 20 miles or so, and it's all unprepared, so for a smaller vehicle like mine, I had to be very careful. That 20 miles takes about an hour and a half. Remember everything you need before coming into child's. It's a long day if you have to run to the store Trust me, I spent 5 hours there and back. Hot springs are a mile from my campsite. River seems pretty nice. Gonna wet a worm see if the sucker's. biting although there are a couple protected species of suckers.

          • RThe Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Beaverhead Flats Road Dispersed Camping
            Oct. 17, 2024

            Beaverhead Flats Road Dispersed Camping

            Close to Sedona

            Easy to find off Beaver Flats rd. The camp areas are pretty spread out which was nice. Decent shade from some Juniper trees and we could barely hear the road from our campsite. Some of the sites are pretty clase to the road though and are probably fairly noisy. I’m guessing there are about 7 sites total. It’s not the type of place for a big motor home or a big trailer.

          • D
            Camper-submitted photo from Hilltop Campground
            Oct. 15, 2024

            Hilltop Campground

            Love this close campground

            I am a frequent camper at Hilltop. I tent camp so I camp on 16 which isn't as big a the other sites but fine for me. I came spring and fall and never summer. I just went at the end of Sept 2024. Weather was gorgeous 80 hi/ 50 low. This is earlier than I normally camp. I have camped late October and have sleep in my tent in 19° weather. A Mr Buddy heater helps but have a carbon monoxide alarm just in case. Quieter than Lynx Lake campground but a bit further out. Still it's beautiful. I am local so of I forget something I can go home and come back out. Host normally has firewood for sale. They are still working on the water lines so as of the end of Sept there was only the water you bring in yourself. Costco is down the road a ways and they fill propane tanks pretty cheap. Lots to do in the area if you want to go to town and enjoy dinner. Prescott and Prescott Valley have great restaurants.

          • Kerri W.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Senetor Highway Dispersed spot 5
            Oct. 14, 2024

            Senetor Highway Dispersed spot 5

            Do Better

            We left late from Phoenix on the Senator Highway from Meyer and we should’ve stopped while we were ahead. We ended up at the North end just outside of Prescott in the dispersed sites. Disgusting. Every single site looked like this one. We’ve got a RTT so thankfully it was a quick set up for the night and we’re outa here. If we’d have had adequate trash bags (a dumpster would’ve been ideal) we’d have spent the next few days cleaning up. If you pack it in pack it out. It’s real easy. That all being said- if you’ve got a large group with sxs and you enjoy the Senator, this is definitely the perfect spot.

          • sThe Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Beaverhead Flats Road Dispersed Camping
            Sep. 7, 2024

            Beaverhead Flats Road Dispersed Camping

            got the whole desert to myself!!

            beautiful views! super duper underrated and conveniently close to sedona access: 3stars (for my car, yours will do way better lmao) easy to find on the map! not a difficult road (at first), but gravelly for sure. i drive a 1995 ford f150 2 wheel drive and found that after 2-3 miles in, the road up to the overlook becomes too steep and rocky for my truck to climb, but a 4x4 definitely can do it! if u have a car like mine take it nice and slow and you will do just fine :3 business/safety/people: 5stars! not a SINGLE other camper here and i arrived on a friday night! its like i have the whole desert to myself. all you hear are crickets and very very distant highway sounds. maybe its because i came in early september but this is by far the most quiet of blms ive ever been to sites: sites are easy to back in and most come with rock firepits! in the site im at, people left piles of firewood close to the pit which was an amazing help bc i arrived so late

            the only con that i can think of is that there r a lot of bugs (ants and moths especially), which doesnt bother me at all but for some it could be a little annoying. if you have full cover (tent, rv, camper, van, etc) then do not worry at all, but i camp in the bed of my truck so its a lil different for me.

            if u want solitude come check this place out !

          • RThe Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Boulders OHV Area
            Aug. 24, 2024

            Boulders OHV Area

            Nice and levelled

            We liked it there. Nobody else on Friday night, plenty of space

            The typical rumble strip dirt road to this point but easily doable.

            Service: 1 bar Verizon

          • k
            Camper-submitted photo from Desert Sands RV Park
            Jul. 18, 2024

            Desert Sands RV Park

            חשפניות בבאר שבע

            https://erotic-show.com/

            רקדניותחשפנותבתלאביב:ביןבידורלביקורתחברתיתתלאביב,המוכרתבכינוי"העירשלאנרדמת",מציעהמגווןרחבשלבידורלילי,אשרביניהםנמנותגםמועדוניחשפנות.התעשייההזו,אףעלפישנתפסתלעיתיםקרובותכחלקבלתינפרדמהבידורהמבוגרים,מעוררתגםויכוחיםעזיםוביקורתחברתית.מועדוניהחשפנותבתלאביבמציעיםשללהופעותומופעיםאשרמגווניםבהתאםלדרישותהקהל.המבקריםבמועדוניםאלומחפשיםבידורוהתרגשות,אךמאחוריהקלעיםעומדותסיפוריםשלרקדניותאשרלאתמידמרוצותמהמצבהנוכחי.המרחבהחברתיוהתרבותיבופועלתתעשייתהחשפנותבתלאביבמורכב.מחד,ישנםקולותהטועניםכיהתעשייהמאפשרתביטויעצמיואוטונומיהלנשיםהמופיעותבה.מאידך,קולותביקורתייםמדגישיםאתהצדדיםהפחותמועדפיםשלהעניין,כגוןהתייחסותמזלזלתואובייקטיביזציהשלהאישה.המאבקיםהמשפטייםוהחברתייםסביבנושאזהרביםומגוונים.בשניםהאחרונות,נערכוקרבותבבתיהמשפטעלשאלותשלזכויותוחופשעבודהמולהצורךלהגןעלכבודהאדםולמנועהפליהושימושלרעה.עדיין,קהלהמבקריםוהתומכיםבמועדוניםאלוממשיךלהיותרחבומגוון.עלרקעזה,עולההשאלהעלהתפקידשלהמדינהוהחברהבפיקוחובקביעתמדיניותבתחוםזה.האםישלחזקאתהפיקוחעלמועדוניהחשפנותלשםשמירהעלכבודהרקדניותוהקהלהרחב,אושמאישלאפשרחופשפעולהרחביותרתוךכדישמירהעלהזכויותהפרטיותוהעסקיותשלבעליהמועדונים?הוויכוחסביבתעשייתהחשפנותבתלאביבממחישאתהמתחביןחירותלביןזכויותאדם,ומדגיםאתהאתגריםהעכשווייםשלהחברההישראליתבטיפולבשאלותשלמוסר,תרבותוכלכלה.זהודיוןשמשקףגםאתהצורךלהתמודדעםתופעותחברתיותנוספות,כגוןשוויוןמגדריוהתמודדותעםדימוייגוףומיניות.בסופושלדבר,הדיוןעלרקדניותחשפנותבתלאביבמציעהזדמנותלחשובמחדשעלהדרכיםבהןחברהיכולהלקדםתרבותרחבהיותרשלכבוד,הוגנותושוויון,תוךכדישמירהעלעקרונותשלחופשפרטיוביטויעצמי.

          • Jim W.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Lynx Lake Campground
            Jul. 18, 2024

            Lynx Lake Campground

            Lynx lake near Prescott

            House are really nice lots of big trees lotta pine trees. You’re kind of have privacy at your campsite which is nice.

          • Sarah C.
            Camper-submitted photo from Verde Goats, Cheese, and Arts
            Jul. 15, 2024

            Verde Goats, Cheese, and Arts

            Relaxing and Very kind!

            My friend and I stayed and the host was very respectful and sweet. Make sure you keep your shoes close because he has some cool pups but they love to take shoes haha

          • Caitlin S.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed camping near Crown King
            Jun. 17, 2024

            Dispersed camping near Crown King

            Gorgeous secluded camping

            Secluded dispersed camping in the woods just outside of the town Crown King. 4x4 is recommended, campsites are not accessible when snowfall has occurred. Beautiful wildlife including deer always nearby.

          • Jim A.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Saguaro Cove
            Jun. 13, 2024

            Saguaro Cove

            Remote Camping

            Takes a little 4 wheeling to get there or you can access it from the water.  Basic dispersed camping but gets a little warm during the summer months.  Views are nice and its a nice pack it in, pack it out spot.

          • RThe Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Soda Springs Road
            Jun. 6, 2024

            Soda Springs Road

            Good Stopover

            My son and I needed a place to camp after exploring the Sedona area. We arrived late in the day and so missed the heat. Set up with a tent, cooked dinner over a campfire. The stars were awesome!

            Next morning the heat came on quick. No shade, no water, etc. but we weren't here to stay. Packed and back on the road by 9am.

            Probably not a great spot for multiple days, at least when the creek is dry (it was when we were there)

          • AThe Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from North Ranch
            Jun. 1, 2024

            North Ranch

            Can’t beat the price, but—

            We stayed Mid May, ghost town, everyone who could had left. All felt kind of desolate.

            RV site had everything water, sewer and electric. Lots of weeds and nothing else.

            Showers adequate, Clubhouse house even sported its own large kitchen! People playing cards in an adjoining room were rude.

            Only necessity could make me return! Paid for 2 nights & LEFT after one.

          • DThe Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Copper Basin Campsites
            Jun. 1, 2024

            Copper Basin Campsites

            Loud & covered in glas

            This could have been the most beautiful site. The stars were amazing and the sites are generously large BUT the dirt road the site are off of is some kind of rodeo for fast four wheeling with loud music and louder engines. All night complete with a scream at 2am. The site we stayed at had about a box of rusty nails and enough glass someone must have been throwing bottles just to break them all. Not great for my tent bottom.

          • DThe Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from White Spar Campground
            May. 25, 2024

            White Spar Campground

            Ok for a campground

            Friendly place. Not much of an area for your site #4 though. Quite a bit of highway noise. Further in might have been better Was test for R.V. that hadn't been out in 2 years. I'll take my boondocking.

          • Monte W.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Enchanted Forest Trail Campsites
            May. 20, 2024

            Enchanted Forest Trail Campsites

            Nice alternative to a paid site

            11 sites are marked off that you are able to camp. I lucked out and got site #11 which was well separated from the other sites. The other sites are relatively close together. Only down part about my site was it was at the end of the dirt road and had many cars turning around near my site. Picked up a little bit of trash from previous campers. There was quite a bit of toilet paper around the site which was not cool.

          • Jason M.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Thumb Butte Loop Campsites
            May. 16, 2024

            Thumb Butte Loop Campsites

            Very Busy on the Weekend

            It’s a nice spot. There are bunch of sites along the Thumb butte trail. But, if you want to camp on the weekend, you’d have to arrive pretty early to grab a site.

          • Caitlin S.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Boulders OHV Area
            May. 15, 2024

            Boulders OHV Area

            Tons of spread out dispersed camp sites

            Miles of desert and washes to explore with tons of dispersed camping sites. Can get busy on holiday or event weekends but worth it otherwise. Some weekends have horse or Dirtbike events. Nearby washes lead to tons of trails near castle hot springs that can lead to various abounded mine sites (including Anderson Mill). Obviously not ideal camping in the summer but GREAT for the fall/winter/spring months.

          • Caitlin S.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Crown King Area (Horsethief Basin lake)
            May. 15, 2024

            Crown King Area (Horsethief Basin lake)

            Gorgeous secluded town for off-roading & camping

            Gorgeous easy dirt road ~27 miles from i17/Bumble bee. (There’s also a much more difficult trail from lake pleasant that requires very experienced off-roading 4x4). Great food and drinks(alcohol) at the crown king saloon and Mimi’s Cafe. There are amazing camping areas just past the main town, and even all the way up near Horsetheif Basin which is about 7 miles past crown king(requires 4x4). There is also an amazing ~30 mile trail from crown king that leads all the way to Prescott called Senator Highway. This also requires experienced 4x4 and like the trail to Horsetheif basin, there are many areas that are only single vehicle width. Amazing weather all year round, but extremely limited travel available while snow is on the ground.



          Frequently Asked Questions

          • Which is the most popular tent campsite near Black Canyon City, AZ?

            According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Black Canyon City, AZ is Crown King Area (Horsethief Basin lake) with a 4.7-star rating from 7 reviews.

          • What is the best site to find tent camping near Black Canyon City, AZ?

            TheDyrt.com has all 19 tent camping locations near Black Canyon City, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.