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$5 / night
When early settlers ventured up Mount Graham, the Arcadia area was usually as far as they got on the first day. A little later in the history of the Pinaleños, Arcadia was the site of one of several Civilian Conservation Corps camps established in the 1930s to provide jobs for workers idled by the Great Depression. Today, Arcadia Campground, which has 19 campsites, is the first campground visitors encounter on their way up Mount Graham by way of the Swift Trail (AZ 366), which was built by those Depression-era workers. Arcadia Campground is shaded by stands of tall ponderosa pine interspersed with Gambel oaks and Arizona walnuts. Such a diverse habitat makes this an excellent area for bird watching. Watch for poison ivy. Note: Black bear area.
$20 / night
Located in an oak woodland at an elevation of 5,200 feet, Round-the-Mountain campground is pleasant year-round. This campground includes 3 campsites, a restroom, horse corrals, and a trailhead.
Less than 2 miles from US Highway 191, this lightly used campground is shaded by large Gambel oak and sycamore trees. The area provides camping, water play and wildlife viewing.
Please follow LNT principles when dispersed camping
$20 / night
Located near the riverside at 6200' elevation within the beautiful Blue River Valley, Blue Crossing Campground is a perfect choice for a peaceful, rustic camping experience in a beautiful setting well off the beaten path. It also provides a convenient base camp for anyone seeking to explore the Blue Range Primitive Area via the Tutt Creek Trailhead. 4 total campsites, 2 with Adirondack-style shelters. Trailer 16" max Access to Blue Range Primitive Area. 14 day stay limit.
Found a beautiful dispersed camping spot beneath the Aspens and Ponderosas on the north side of FR803 about a mile west of the Riggs Flat Lake Campground. There’s a great overlook to the east looking out toward Pima and Safford.
The paved road turns to dirt road about half a mile before the turn off. Pretty bumpy. Once we arrived we drove the loop and saw no pull off spots for our RV.
The location is wrong! This is the coordinates - 33.76672° N, 109.35443° W This was so much more beautiful before the Wallow Fire. Please put out your fires! I grew up not far from here and always enjoy coming. There are small trout in the river and Big Lake, Crescent Lake, Mexican Hat Lake, Reservation Lake, and Lee Valley Reservoir all close. There is picnic tables, potable water in tanks if needed, vault toilets, fire rings all in the campground. The marina store at Big Lake and Crescent Lake both have stores with firewood. At the time of the posting, the camp host at Diamond Rock campground had firewood for sale not far up the road. Watch the corners going in and out as the OHV guys drive pretty fast and the road is narrow in many places. Bear Wallow Cafe is in Alpine and I recommend the pie!
Not much for camping area, but it’s right on the creek and secluded and quiet. No toilets. No trash. Verizon in and out. 4x4 needed to exit. Road is a couple miles, rough, and one shallow water crossing.
There are vault toilets there. There is a few places one could pull off for a quick sleep, but not a campground at all. Little further south are places in the trees further off the road on the right hand side .2 and .6 miles down.
The road in turns to dirt for a brief minute, then back to paved. It winds and there are some tight turns. You turn off the pavement to dirt the last 1/4 mile. Wouldn’t take anything over 35’ 5th wheel. $5/night is not bad to have vault toilets, water spigot, picnic tables, river close. Biking trails, horse trails, hike trails, OHV trails all close. There are corrals at the “Host” site. There is a boat ramp 2 miles before the campground. There is one farther up also. Not sure about at the campground. No Verizon signal here.
Cottonwood Campground: (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(71 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)
Overall Rating: Not an appealing campground except as a stop over.
Security: no
Usage during visit: light
Site Privacy: no
Pad surface: Dirt
Reservations: No
Outside Road Noise: This cg is right off the highway. Some sites back up towards the highway.
Through Traffic in campground: No
Setting: Under tree canopy.
Solar: solar looks to be pretty good in most sites.
Insects: Did not seem to be a problem during our brief April visit.
Host: No
Sites: Near highway. Site 1 backs up towards the highway.
Bighorn, NM: great for stopover., As it is right off the highway (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(71 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)
Overall Rating: 3 perfect for a stop over Security: no Usage during visit: light Site Privacy: no Site Spacing: OK Pad surface: dirt Outside Road Noise: some highway noise Through Traffic in campground: no Electric Hookup: no Sewer Hookup: no, Dump Station: no, Potable Water Available: no Generators: allowed Bathroom: pit toilet Showers: no Setting: parallel with creek, just off the highway. Solar: great Insects: none during our visit in April. Host: no Sites: along the creek bed, just off the highway.
Not many spots. Had to squeeze in between a couple people. I’d say there are about 20-25 spots in total if you don’t mind being a little close. What amazing 360 views of the sky. You feel like you are in a globe.
A small campground overlooking the Gila River. Only about a half dozen sites but very lightly used and isolated. $5 fee. Closest stores are in Clifton, and the little station in Three Way. The road to the campground from US-191 is dirt, but easily passable by any vehicle that isn't a lowrider. Good condition.
Gravel tent pads, awnings, grills, firepits, and clean restrooms. No hook-ups or water/sewer. Decent T-Mobile service, nice BLM Ranger checked on us both mornings. Woke up to the mine blasting one of those mornings, but that wasn't entirely unexpected.
Overall a great place to stay, would recommend.
All the facilities are very clean. $3/night and you have two hot wells to soak in during the day. This is a recreational area for OHVs so expect to hear people having fun on the weekends.
Nothing beats the summer Arizona heat like escaping to the top of the Pinaleños.
At 8800 ft elevation, this corral and campsite offers amazing weather in the summer and gorgeous views off the edge of the mountains.
Be prepared to bring in anything you might need, including water. There are only about 3 campsites located near the vault toilets, but their are dispersed sites further down the forest road.
This forest road is gated off during the winter months and this area is not accessible.
stayed here mostly to do some astrophotography as it’s almost 10k ft elevation and almost perfect bortle 1 skies made this a pretty ideal spot, i’d suggest bundling up as it gets pretty cold most nights of the year but was freezing when i went in october. definitely a wonderful and secluded campground.
This campsite is a repeat location for family. I almost didn’t even want to post a review so I could keep it hidden. Located right next to a large meadow, we almost always see elk or deer. There is also a nice trail next to a creek but the path was over grown when we tried to hike down it. The road down to the campsite is in good shape, but the sites are small. Perfect for 1-2 tents.
Vault toilet and no other amenities. Bring water.
This is a popular site for hunters during elk/deer season. We often find carcasses and bones around the site.
This is a great campsite that is full of amenities for FREE (donations accepted).
There are just a few spots and they are first come , first serve. We enjoyed chatting with the camp host and taking a walk along the hiking trails.
At over 9000 feet elevation, this is a great spot to beat the AZ summer heat. The sites are nestled away among the tree and feel very secluded considering how close together they actually are to each other.
Great for tent camping or a small camping trailer. Site have picnic tables, vault toilets, and drinking water
Plan were for higher up the mountain but too dark. This was perfect went around the loop 3 times and found a spot for our off-road trailer. Great table and benches - they were even totally level. Bathroom were clean, not malodorous, cleaned o. The day we left by USFS staff leaving them smelling even cleaner. All sites are under tree. A deer came through. Good jump off point to go to Riggs Flat lake, use the kayak. Next time we’ll bring fishing rods
This campground is well maintained. It is on roper lake. They have cabins that overlook the lake and plenty of camping spots for both tints and rvs. They also have a day use area with a designated swimming area and lots of picking tables
*I live nearby and chose to write a more accurate description for the community members. As I am under 55 yrs old I have not stayed here, although I've worked throughout this park for many years.*
This is a large, multiple-block Senior Citizen community. There are RV spots available with restrictions. this is in town and not a camper's ideal location for outdoor privacy.
RV rates are based on two adults, 55 years with NO PERSON UNDER 40 years of age.
Daily:$40.00
Weekly:$150.00
Monthly:$265.00(plus electric)
Year: Limited availability–$2,300.00(plus electric)
Here are just some of the wonderful features for our active seniors and winter visitors:
Warm winter days, cool winter nights Sunshine 340 days per year average
The backdrop of Mt. Graham stands nearly 11,000 feet high!
Municipal Golf Course and Country Club nearby
The best location for hunting and fishing, hiking, and dune buggies
A birder's paradise!
Blocks from Mt. Graham Community Hospital
Shopping and restaurants nearby(including Super Walmart and Home Depot)
In-season planned activities
A local airport right in Safford
Firing ranges, radio-controlled aircraft parks, and paintball courses
All with spectacular painted desert sunsets
We came out here to enjoy NM for the weekend so we stopped here to enjoy the views and the night sky, I’m amazed how few people are out here! If you have this place on your bucket list of places to stop, do it! It’s beautiful.
It’s dry camping only meeting no water and put toilet. There are 12 sites with tables, fire pit, and barbecue reasonably level. Why a good location, because it’s between catwalk national recreational trail and the ghost town called Magpllon town
This is my second favorite campground. I'm a nomad and there is nonpotable water access and vault toilets. 1.50 a night with National Park Pass. It is SUPER windy most days so be prepared. Very secluded. One hour to town. Only three people in 7 days have driven by the campsite. The ranger and camphor were two of them.
Only three spaces, 1 up front closer to Hwy 180, 2 in the back. Clean pit toilet, fire rings and picnic tables, no fee. Dry wash along side that looks to carry water sometimes. We were the only ones there on a Friday in July. Fair amount of road traffic but mostly stopped after 10pm. Nothing special but a fine place to stay the night.
Beautiful little campground! Just 7 sites, walking distance from Hannigan Meadow, access for a nice trail to Aker Lake right in the campground. Some mild road noise from 191, but very peaceful stay. Every site will fit a small rv or tent.
Great little campground! Only 5 sites, just one that you can get a small rv onto. Over looking a beautiful meadow. Couple miles in off 191, dirt road was in great shape. Very secluded and quiet.
6/30/2022, 7:00 pm, completely empty. Nice little campground, high enough elevation that it was noticeably cooler than lower elevations. Heavily wooded, super quiet and secluded. I was able to easily get a 24' class C in and manuever around. Dirt road in from 191 was in great shape
6/30/2022, 5:00 pm, completely empty. Nice little campground, high enough elevation that it was noticeably cooler than lower elevations. Heavily wooded, super quiet and secluded. I was able to easily get a 24' class C in and manuever around.
We stopped for a quick, one night stay after a day trip to the Gila Catwalk with intentions to return. Very clean and quiet campground with amenities in great condition. We were not prepared for how little shade is available so it was quite warm once the storm passed. Next time we will be sure to plan for that.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Clifton, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Clifton, AZ is Owl Creek Campground with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
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TheDyrt.com has all 20 tent camping locations near Clifton, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
