Best Tent Camping near Clay Springs, AZ

Tent campsites near Clay Springs, Arizona offer a mix of established and dispersed camping options within the surrounding national forest areas. Airplane Flat Campground and Chevelon Canyon Lake Campground provide tent-specific sites with basic amenities, while several primitive tent areas can be found along forest roads throughout the region. Most tent campgrounds are situated at higher elevations, providing relief from summer heat with temperatures typically in the 70s during daytime and 50s at night.

Most tent sites feature dirt or forest duff surfaces with minimal improvements beyond fire rings and occasional picnic tables. Vault toilets are available at established campgrounds like Airplane Flat and Chevelon Canyon Lake, but dispersed camping areas require self-contained waste management. According to one visitor, "There isn't any potable water at this site or trash. Bring your own water. Pack it in, pack it out." High-clearance vehicles are recommended for accessing many of the more remote tent camping areas, particularly the final half-mile to Chevelon Canyon Lake Campground where washouts can create challenging conditions.

The tent camping experience in this region offers significant solitude and natural beauty. Areas near Chevelon Canyon Lake provide access to fishing but require substantial hiking to reach the water. As described in feedback on The Dyrt, "It is not an easy hike back up. It's almost all non-stop elevation gain and extremely rocky." Tent campers frequently use these areas as bases for fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing, with elk bugling commonly heard during fall months. Most tent sites fill quickly on summer weekends but remain relatively uncrowded during weekdays. The star-gazing opportunities are exceptional on clear nights, particularly during new moon phases when light pollution is minimal. Forest-gathered firewood is generally available near most tent camping areas, though some sites have more limited supplies.

Best Tent Sites Near Clay Springs, Arizona (36)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Clay Springs, AZ

452 Reviews of 36 Clay Springs Campgrounds


  • JohnandLisa R.
    Aug. 23, 2018

    McHood Park Campground

    Great place!

    Absolutely love it here! Clean area, clean bathrooms, concrete spots, Quiet hours 10pm-6am. Grill, picnic table, fire ring. Beautiful beach to swim at and Larry the camp host is very helpful 😊

  • Hayley K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 17, 2020

    Hawley Lake Apache Indian Res

    Camping for Nearby Lake Access

    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. 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)

  • Audrey R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 30, 2018

    Bear Canyon Lake and Camping Area

    Just don't go on a holiday weekend

    If you go during the winter months (that is, if roads are open), you may likely be the only one there! The lake is not very easily accessible for camping but it's an easy hike down for fishing, photography, and simply enjoying nature. Keep your eyes peeled, you may spot a bald eagle. The actual campground is usually crowded with no privacy. Perhaps suitable for a large group. Restrooms, never mind, just bring a shovel and use the woods; it's cleaner. Just don't be disgusting and leave it all out. Leave No Trace, PLEASE. Also, you'll need to carry out all your trash. On a holiday weekend (Labor Day especially) there are so many visitors but otherwise only a few venture out that way. Your best bet for solitude is to drive 2-4 miles passed the campground which will be on your right and find a good dispersed spot. Just bring ribbon or rope to mark a tree from the road in case you need to travel down to Woods Canyon Lake store or out to a Rim viewpoint for cell service.

  • Shaun S.
    Apr. 11, 2017

    Christopher Creek

    Family Fun!

    So this campground has it all! The creek, bathrooms, paved roads and space! Site's are clean and well taken care of! Bring firewood or buy it from the host because there is none laying around! The creek is stocked with trout and makes for calming background noise! We will be back for sure! $20 a night per site! Group sites available! Bear boxes at every site and trailers are limited to 22'. No hook ups available but there is a dump station a few miles away at ponderosa!

  • Gerard R.
    Jul. 7, 2020

    Chevelon Crossing Campground

    Off the grid!

    Many of the photos listed here aren’t correct. There aren’t any paved parking spots that others have posted. Anyhow, I love this place because odds are you will be the only one camping out there. It’s a good 45 minute drive after the pavement ends. Most of the sites have picnic tables and fire rings but are near where you park. We carried our stuff down the canyon about 100 feet to set up. It was kind of dry but there was still water running through. Very secluded place with no one else there. So peaceful. Plenty of firewood. Beautiful meadows as well. We went hiking down the stream a bit and found some smaller bear foot prints so be aware. Some friendly raccoons tried to join us for dinner by the fire as well. There are some vaulted toilets there which was surprising. If you like solitude, this is your spot.

  • Krista Z.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 28, 2019

    Woods Canyon Group Campground

    Ranger Review: RovR RollR 60 at Woods Canyon Group Campground

    Campground Review:

    Woods Canyon Group Campground was a great area! There are 12 usable spots most of which I would consider double if not triple occupency. The roads were well maintained and would be easy to drive into even with a car. Each site had a metal fire pit with grill grates and a picnic table. We didn't end up using the fire pits at the individual sites at all because there was a huge (probably about 3 foot wide) metal campfire ring in the middle of the group loop. We easily sat about 20 folding camp chairs around the pit each night. There is also a large concrete area with about 10 picnic tables and 2 huge grills. There are also 2 prep tables and 2 poles with hooks you can use to hang lanterns and trash bags. The only real downside to this area is that it was not covered so mid day sun may be really warm and rain could get in the way. 

    The loop has it's own vault style bathroom building with a men and a women's side. They were very clean and kept well stocked (probably because there is a designated host to the group site and he was very attentive). There are 2 potable water faucets in the loop. When we arrived the water was really murky brown but by the time we left it was running clean. If I had to guess it was because we were the first ones to run water through the pipes in a while. There is also a designated dumpster near the entrance/exit so you don't have to tote your trash home.

    There is only 1 entrance/exit to the loop and it made it really nice for the kids. They were able to ride their bikes around the loop and play in the grassy area in the center without a lot of traffic in and out. There are multiple hiking trails in the area and the lake is just a short walk away. 

    At the entrance there is a sign with prices for the sites per night so I imagine that if you go up on a night that the entire loop is not rented they will rent out single sites. The site is a bit hard to find and can get confusing because it's called Woods Canyon campground at Woods Canyon Lake but there are actually 4 or 5 other campgrounds around Woods Canyon Lake. The sign at the entrance was also broken so it could be easy to miss if you aren't paying attention. I drove up using Google maps and it did take me right to it. With as close as it is to the main road leading to the lake we didn't hear much of the traffic (except for the loud side by sides and quads).

    .....................................................

    Product Review:

    As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time - today I am testing the RovR RollR 60. This cooler definitely has some cool features that help it stand out. The first thing is the all-terrain puncture resistant rubber tires. I was able to roll this thing through camp and over rocks about the size of baseballs with no issues. If for some reason you do manage to damage the tires they are replaceable! The RollR 60 was very easy to pull. They have a dual sided aluminum handle with rubber grips. The design was made specifically with your heels in mind. You actually pull the cooler off to the side so it isn't constantly bumping into your heels.

    The RollR 60 is certified grizzly bear resistant. It has a rotomolded foam insulated lid and body which helps the ice retention (up to 10 days with proper use) as well as making it super durable. We used it for 3 days and had very little ice melt even with the cooler sitting in the warm mid-day sun. The lid seals with an airtight gasket and I can confirm when it is latched it is leakproof. The cooler has a removable dry bin inside which is one of my favorite parts. This bin attaches to the inside with a removable screw and it keeps all of the water out so no more soggy bags or cardboard! The center divider of the dry bin is cut out and it works great to fit a full size loaf of bread or carton of eggs.

    On top of the RollR 60 is a removable canvas storage bin. The one it comes with is almost an off white color and does show dirt fairly easily so if you are going to be getting filty you may want to upgrade to the designer tote. Even though the tote is collaspsible it is very sturdy when it is set up and can handle a lot of stuff inside. Our fold up camp chairs were hanging out the top and still didn't topple the tote. When the tote is folded down it velcros to the lid for easy storage and then doubles as a make shift padded seat.

    RovR has gone above and beyond with the accessories available for this cooler. They have a prepping board that can attach to the side (perfect for sandwiches, cheese boards, or cutting limes). There is an optional umbrella/rod holder. Again, you could carry the rods or umbrella in the storage tote but this would keep the rod from getting banged up with the other items in there over rough terrain. There is a cup holder because sometimes a flat surface can be hard to find and setting things on the ground can always be risky. There is also a BikR kit you can use to attach it to a bike for easy towing. The accessory I was able to demo was the stash bag. It was a fleece lines drawstring bag with 2 zippered pockets on the outside. It was perfect for putting in my keys, phone, and wallet for easy access and to keep them off the ground and prevent them from getting lost.

    As with all things there are bound to be features that you aren't in love with. When it comes to the RollR 60 these features aren't deal breakers for me but worth calling out. The RollR 60's handle is not adjustable. I'm 5ft 7in and it worked well for me as well as a few other people that tried it all in the 5-6ft height range. However, I could see it being difficult for someone a bit shorter than that (for example a child). When my son was rolling it around he managed to tip it backwards and because it wasn't latched there was ice everywhere. We played around with it and figured out that if you lifted it much beyond 45 degrees it would roll backwards since the handle doesn't lock open. This could be problematic if you were dragging it up a steep incline. The handle is also just about the same height as the cooler and when it hangs down it often hit the ground and did get pretty dirty. 

    The cooler doesn't have a specific lock location. It does have the metal bars where you attach the accessories that you could use a larger padlock on but not a standard sized lock. The drain plug is not attached to the cooler in any way so be sure when you are draining it that you don't set it down and lose it. My biggest peeve was the weight of the cooler. I literally could not lift it by myself when it was loaded so getting it in and out of the truck was a 2 person job. (thankfully, because of the wheels I was able to move it around camp by myself without any issues)

    Overall I really liked the RovR RollR 60. If you like to bike to the beach and take a cooler or to do walk-in campsites this is the way to go. It was so nice to have the additional storage bin on to to help minimize the amounts of trips we needed to make back and forth and it was so easy to pull. Make sure you are either super strong or plan to have help loading and unloading the cooler from a vehicle (again, this would be a great reason to just tow it behind a bike).

  • Michael B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 9, 2021

    Spillway (AZ)

    Woodsy and Clean

    Beautiful campground with great weather! These are drive up campsites with great hosts. There was a nicely cleaned out fire ring and a good size flat ground area for our 4p tent. The campsites were a little close at times and was noisey after quiet hours but not after midnight which was good. At our site we were down wind from the restrooms so we would catch a smell at time but, it was a short hike to the spillway and follow that to the lake which you could rent boats and skip rocks.  Very woodsy and a nice cool night perfect for a fire.

  • Tiffany B.
    May. 12, 2022

    Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area Campground

    5 star if you pick the right sites

    We booked the last site available so I think with some careful reviewing of site map and asking over the phone about specific needs this is a 5 star spot, but it isn’t particularly pop up friendly. There are primitive tent sites and an assortment of electric + sites. The grounds are gorgeous, lots of space around the lake, so so so very quiet and clean. We have a small pop up. Generally we chose more primitive or small electric only sites. No rigs like ours were in the tent area so not sure if that is an option. Almost ALL the spaces are side by side shared double lots in the cinnamon teal loop. At least 40% - amazing if you’re group camping, but I like my space and privacy. Quiet hours 8pm- 7am. Showers/toilets in each loop. No outlets in bathroom for hair drying etc. showers were cold after minute 2 and each unit was a full bath so also cold and wet. None of this would matter at a cheap site but a hook up is $65/night. Surrounding town is cute with amenities. Visit The House for a meal.

  • Beth G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 18, 2023

    Chevelon Canyon Lake Campground

    Off the beaten path- but be prepared to hike to the water

    Chevelon Canyon Lake Campground is my favorite type of site. 1) vault toilets 2) National Forest location 3) semi established camping sites 4) still classified as dispersed camping.

    There isn’t any potable water at this site or trash. Bring your own water. Pack it in, pack it out.

    The sites are large in the camp site area. We were there on a non-holiday weekend and it stayed busy. The sites are first come, first serve and free. We camped in site #1 which had 2 fire rings, a metal picnic table, and large trees to provide shaded areas throughout the day. In mid-September, highs were mid 70 degrees Fahrenheit and lows were in the mid 50s. Our whole group commented on how nice the weather was on this trip.

    We went during a new moon and the stars were fabulous.

    There was definitely some rough road the last .5 mile before you reach the camp on FR 169B. Some of it had washed out and there are a few step areas. We had no issues with our group of stock 4x4 pickup trucks and Subarus. Our neighbor at the next campsite over even had a Fiat.

    As for the lake, we were not prepared for how long of a hike down it was to the water. According to my watch, it was over a mile and 550 feet of elevation. It is not an easy hike back up. It’s almost all non stop elevation gain and extremely rocky. We brought our mini bike and didn’t dare take it down to the water. We ended up on carrying 1 kayak down to the water because no one wanted to have to hike it back up. It took 2 fit men, 90 mins to bring that kayak back up from the water the day we left. We even had a kayak cart. We were very jealous of the people with quads. Our group only caught 1 small trout but we met other people that were having better luck. Note: live bait is not permitted.

    I would go back, but I wouldn’t even try to kayak or paddle board again. I’d just take our time walking to water and brining a picnic to the lake. Maybe just cast a few lines from the shore.


Guide to Clay Springs

Tent camping near Clay Springs, Arizona primarily occurs in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, ranging from 6,000 to 7,500 feet elevation. This region sits at the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau, characterized by pine forests transitioning to juniper woodlands. Road conditions vary seasonally, with most forest roads becoming impassable during winter months and following heavy summer monsoon rains.

What to do

Fishing at remote lakes: Chevelon Canyon Lake offers fishing opportunities requiring preparation. According to Beth G., "There isn't any potable water at this site or trash. Bring your own water. Pack it in, pack it out." Access to the lake requires significant hiking effort with "over a mile and 550 feet of elevation" change on the trail.

Wildlife viewing: Brown Creek Campground provides excellent opportunities for wildlife observation. Krista Z. notes, "This is a hunting area so we did see quite a few people hunting. Biggest thing with this is don't wear a brown fur coat and try to look like an elk." The secluded setting increases chances for elk, deer, and small mammal sightings.

Stargazing: Dark skies make Airplane Flat Campground ideal for astronomy. The campground provides "picnic tables and fire rings" according to Hannah M., making it comfortable for nighttime observation. Clear nights reveal exceptional Milky Way visibility with minimal light pollution interference.

What campers like

Spacious sites: Chevelon Canyon Lake Campground features generously sized camping areas. Beth G. reports, "The sites are large in the camp site area... We camped in site #1 which had 2 fire rings, a metal picnic table, and large trees to provide shaded areas throughout the day."

Temperature comfort: The higher elevation camping areas maintain moderate temperatures even during summer. Beth G. observed, "In mid-September, highs were mid 70 degrees Fahrenheit and lows were in the mid 50s. Our whole group commented on how nice the weather was on this trip."

Fishing access: Some campers appreciate proximity to angling opportunities despite challenging terrain. Hannah M. explains, "The campground is located at the top of a road that leads down about 0.8 miles to Lake Chevelon. The road from the campground to the lake is closed to motor vehicles, although we did see some small off road vehicles able to bypass the gate."

What you should know

Limited facilities: Most campgrounds offer minimal amenities. At Brown Creek Campground, Krista Z. found, "There are very few fire rings established so plan to build your own... There are no bathrooms so plan accordingly."

Difficult lake access: Reaching water requires serious effort at some sites. Beth G. warns about Chevelon Canyon Lake: "It is not an easy hike back up. It's almost all non stop elevation gain and extremely rocky." This makes equipment transport particularly challenging.

Road conditions: Access roads deteriorate seasonally. Beth mentions, "There was definitely some rough road the last .5 mile before you reach the camp on FR 169B. Some of it had washed out and there are a few step areas."

Campsite availability: Sites fill unpredictably even during off-peak periods. Beth G. observed, "We were there on a non-holiday weekend and it stayed busy. The sites are first come, first serve and free."

Tips for camping with families

Pack entertainment options: Limited developed recreation facilities means bringing your own activities. Jesse M. reported about their family trip to Chevelon Canyon Lake Campground: "But we cut our trip short because our kids were covered in dirt, hot, and exhausted."

Plan for hiking challenges: Trails near campgrounds can prove difficult for younger children. Layne L. advises, "Make sure you Pack lots of drinking water and some snacks to keep you going. Because it is a treck!"

Consider site spacing: Some campgrounds offer better separation between sites. Andy K. found Airplane Flat suitable for families: "Had a nice time here with the family. The spots are spaced out decently."

Prepare for darkness: Nighttime illumination is minimal in forested sites. Krista Z. shares, "We went on a moonless night and it PITCH BLACK. I know it was overcast but I have to imagine with the amount of tree coverage even a clear night wouldn't be very well lit on the ground."

Tips from RVers

Vehicle clearance requirements: Most tent camping areas near Clay Springs have rough access roads. While tent camping at Brown Creek, Krista Z. noted, "There were only a few spots where I think you could have parked more than 2 tents or anything larger than a pop up camper."

Site selection for larger vehicles: Airplane Flat Campground accommodates some RVs but size restrictions apply. Gerard R. mentions the site has "Vaulted toilets are available, picnic tables and fire rings" making it more suitable for RVs needing basic facilities.

Weather considerations: Forest roads become impassable during wet conditions. Several campgrounds close seasonally, with Bryce R. noting about Airplane Flat: "Great area los of room," but access depends entirely on current road conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Clay Springs, AZ?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Clay Springs, AZ is Airplane Flat Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Clay Springs, AZ?

TheDyrt.com has all 36 tent camping locations near Clay Springs, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.