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This recreation area is part of Alamo Lake ACTIVITIES Boating Camping Fishing Hiking Picnicking Water Sports Playground Park Specialized Sport Site Other Recreation Concession Site: Groceries
$15 - $70 / night
Happy Endings Retreat is an amazing place to relax and enjoy nature! Off the beaten path and out of cell phone range, you can truly get “away from it all” here! The property is just 10 miles from beautiful Lake Pleasant and in the thick of prime hiking and miles of UTV roads. Do you prefer quieter activities? Contemplate nature in Hell’s Vinyard – where we have begun the process of renovating the 100-year-old vines or just sit by the pool. We are working hard to create a place for others to retreat and escape the city. Owners Kevin & Scott have been best friends for years and when this property came up, they knew it would be a great fit for two creative movie producers who love camping, hiking, and shooting. They are dedicated to developing Happy Endings Retreats’ 100 acres as an affordable place for people to enjoy the outdoors. You are sure to enjoy yourself and you won’t believe the view!
Traveler
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
Scout
Never camped before in my life, so I have nothing to compare this to. Having said that- the staff were great, bathrooms very clean. The weather was quite warm, so we didn’t do much exploring. Also - the donkeys!! Everywhere!
GuideMiles 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.
TravelerA few things. 1st. If you plan on staying overnight with an RV do not reserve the Ramada sites. They’re meant for day use and are super tiny and squished together. We started there, but our 24ft trailer wasn’t even close to fitting. So we had to move.
We moved to the sites with no water and no electric. Super awesome sites, very clean and very quiet.
Donkeys…..there are tons of donkeys, really cool…..the first night. They’re cool until you realize they don’t sleep and all they do is make a lot of noise,lol. Not that I wouldn’t go back again because of the donkeys, but just be prepared they’re not far away and they make the “hee-haw” noise All Night Long, lol.
Don’t camp here without water sports or Side by side. There aren’t any trails for bike riding or hiking. But the water is great to spend a couple of days on and the Side by side trails are endless.
Overall, really nice camping. I would definitely go back, with or without a SxS. Just not in the summer….there’s no shade and it’s desert.
Scout
I have tried to contact the ranch and got no response. I assume they aren't in business anymore.
RangerPulled into our reserved spot only to see a 6ft x 6ft section roped off for a drip irrigation repair. It was really great to have this area roped off right where you would normally have the awning out and sit. Would have been nice to know this was being worked on when I booked so I could have looked for another spot. Otherwise it is a fine enough campground.
GuideAlamo Lake is a long-time favorite spot. Only a couple hours West of PHX and some great views with an abundance of SxS / ATV trails. Alamo Lake is also very well known for it's fish (especially bass & crappie). Section C has Water & Electric. Section D is primitive and as such, less crowded. This is a great place Oct - April. Outside of those dates, you'll want Electric so you can run the A/C. Wi-Fi & cell service is questionable. Some spots are good, others are not. While I've done a lot of work out here, try to stay off the devices, PCs and TVs. Enjoy what's out here!!
ScoutIf you are wanting to explore go here its nice and you can make all time of memories. Nice place to explore
RangerTruth be told I prefer camping at elevation with pine trees etc. It is winter in AZ so that was not an option for this trip. Our friends found this place and booked the sites. We were in the Ramada section. It has electric but no water at the sites. There are about 10 total sites in this section with a bathroom (clean). Our site was not level from to back so we had to lower the camper to about 3 in off the ground in the front. There was a tree which was nice but it also meant I had to park far from the power for the site. The cord reached with just a little slack in it. Ramada section is in the Maintenance area or the campground so I got to see a shed, tractors and Diesel tanks from my door. The lake was about 3/4 mile from our site. The camp rangers were very nice. The campground was clean and the general store was good too. Overall not my vibe for camping.
ScoutScott and Kevin have a great piece of property they love To share! Located in a valley of the Bradshaw mountains just about and hour and a half from Phoenix, this is an awesome getaway- away from it all. I boondocked for a couple days and enjoyed the quiet solitude of the canyon, enjoyed hiking, and the beautiful sunrises and sunsets. It’s a rocky dirt road to get here, but my class C rv easily made it- and I’ve taken it in worse roads. Well worth the effort, give this place a try! thanks Kevin and Scott!
LegendAshley here with The Dyrt. I had the pleasure of helping Kevin & Scott get their property listed with us. These two are dedicated to making this experience the best possible one for their guests. Lounge at the lake, hike in the fields, or relax in their renovated vineyard. Give them try and share your experience here!
TravelerThis was my first time camping since I was a kid. Was it the most beautiful place? No, unless it’s nighttime because the stars are beautiful way out there. The lake was nice, the campsites were immaculate, the bathrooms were incredibly clean, and the rangers were awesome and friendly.
TravelerThis place is amazing. It’s feel like you are camping in wilderness. Lots of wildlife and beautiful views. The rangers are pretty kind. Plenty of services for campers (Tents, RV’s, cabins) and daily visitors.
ScoutLove camping love fission love having a fire when I’m able to in the winter doesn’t matter that rains or if it snows love camping give me some good spots and I’ll be there
Legend
General: Located less than an hour from Phoenix, this campground is an easy getaway. There are two campgrounds: The Family Campground (40 sites) with water and 30/50 amp electric hookups and the more“rustic” Willow Canyon Campground (19 sites) with no hookups. This campground is good for tents, campervans, or small (16 feet or less) trailers. There was a gate attendant when we checked in around 6 pm on a Monday and we were given an information packet with information on the campground, nearby facilities in the town of Surprise, and trails, which was very helpful considering we were not familiar with the area.
Site Quality: We stayed in the Family Campground so we could take advantage of the electric hookups. The sites are gravel, a good size, well-maintained, and spaced a decent amount of distance apart. Some are pull-through and some back-in. In addition to the aforementioned water and electric hookups, each site also has a picnic table, bbq grill, and fire pit. Some have covered picnic shelters but not all. Most of these also have space for tents.
Bathhouse: Is located in the center of the loop and was clean. Sites on the inside have paths leading to the bathhouse but if you are on the outside of the loop, access is via a path between sites 34 and 36 or sites 11 and 13. Three stalls, one sink, and one shower. One sink is not really adequate for 40 sites, but I did not encounter more than one other person at a time. Soap dispenser, rack, and air dryer. The way the water faucets are is wasteful: once you turn them on, they run for quite some time before turning off. Hot water was appreciated. Did not use the shower so cannot comment on that.
Activities: Several hiking trails. The most popular one is the waterfall trail, but you need to drive to the trailhead for this. It is paved for the first half mile (shortly after the petroglypghs) and then it is a rocky, gravel path. The waterfall only runs after heavy rain (I would think this would make access very challenging). There was water in the “pool” and it is scenic so it was worthwhile to go despite no running falls. There are restrooms, a picnic area and a playground near this trailhead. Some of the other trails are used by mountain bikers or horseback riders. The information you receive at check-in details the usage for each trail.
This campground was mainly an overnight as we continued to head west but I am glad we took the time to hike the waterfall trail before leaving. If you need groceries or other supplies, the town of Surprise, about 8 miles to the east, would have everything you need. Note there is a nearby air force base and you will hear jets flying by, although this was during daylight hours.
TravelerThis is a great spot that we’ve been visiting for years. If you like to explore, look no further. There are loads of trails heading every which way and you won’t be disappointed. Plenty of hiking, off-roading, fishing, etc. for the avid adventurer. Or, if you’re the type who likes to relax at camp with a book, carving, etc. with a good view, there’s plenty of that as well! Try for a site on the outside of any of the loops for better views. C-sites are closer to the trail access.
GuideCamped with our Class c RV. First night was. Dry camping. Cost $15. Included a cement pad , great view,picnic table & fire grate. Next 2 nights were full hook up by visitors office and small convienience store. Hiking trails, fishing and boating lake. Saw wild mules from campground. Hidden Jen in Central Az.
GuideAlamo Lake State Park is one of our FAVORITES!!!! Great camping with large spots that aren't on-top of each other. Site amenities go from Full-Hookups to primitive. If looking for primitive, there's no need to camp in the campground. There are HUNDREDS (of not thousands) of places to camp outside the park. Look for signs for "The Wayside" and head that direction. Park where you like (off the road). One of the reasons we like the Park (especially in winter) is because the heater often runs all night and it with AC hookups, we don't worry about the heater fan draining the batteries. Also, we know that we can get WiFi in "Section C" and still have great views!!!! As for the Wayside, plan on visiting!!! Wonderful, family owned business that are doing their best to promote SxS, UTV, ATV 4x4 exploring in the area. There is also a runway just West of the restaurant/bar and it's common to see small airplanes visiting for breakfast or lunch.
GuideSuper regional campground in the west Phoenix area. Clean hot showers and bathrooms. Solid mtb and hiking trails in the park.
GuideI fought a Badger twice a night for three nights. The Rangers are aware of the issue but obviously nothing has been done. The Badger I delt with was 20-25 pounds and nasty. It tried to get in my tent and my Clam Shelter. I cleaned up the beach of plastic worms and fishing line. The campsites are kept nice and the showers are very nice. It's a drive to get to the park.
GuideThis park is quite large and has many camping options: day passes, tent camping, semi-developed sites, and fully-developed sites with awnings for big rigs.
There are many hiking trails too, for every level of difficulty.
The nature is splendid, with hummingbirds, chipmunks, and plenty of chollas and prickly pear cactai.
The ambience is quite festive, much more than what I am used to (although the noise may be due to the fact I went on NASCAR weekend).
TravelerThe rangers and staff here were extremely friendly and helpful. The lake is gorgeous. Watch out for wild burro along the highway. I had cell service close to the lake but at the RV site I did not get service (ATT). The closest gas station is 45 minutes away. There is a shop up the road that sells 10 gallons in case of emergencies. I will return here. It was so peaceful and relaxing. Beautiful views and desert sunsets.
GuideNot a ton of dispersed camping around here but the spots we found were ok. You’re a short drive or walk to the water where you can boat, fish, hike. Pretty views when you get there. The entrance to the dispersed sites we found are to the left about a half of a mile before you enter the Alamo state park off of Alamo Rd. We were able to pull our 22’ travel trailer in, but it’s kind of a steep climb. Would recommend having a 4x4.
TravelerAlamo state park wasn’t all that bad. Due to the virus and our sons upcoming surgery plus several parks and lake being closed this was the only option. The wild burros are a very neat site and great to watch! The lake unfortunately was experiencing a blue green algae bloom 🤢 Park rangers advised to NOT let pets or small children in the water. And fishing was also a bust due to water conditions. Our trip was the end of May so we did experience 110° during our weekend stay. We used the Choilla camp ground (C12) nice pull through spot with water & 30amp and was big enough to accommodate a second vehicle with our Jetskis.
Over all we were happy with our stay and would recommend / plan to visit again in fall or spring when the temps are cooler
GuideWe love camping here. Well maintained and bit of a drive off the main highway but that is good in my book because of less people. There is dispersed camping somewhat near here for all the peeps that use ATV's on the abundance of trails. There are slot canyons to those that are adventurous. Wild burros make their presence known at night as well. The Alamo dam was built in 1968 by the Army Corps of Engineers. This created the present man made lake. There is actually a ghost down at the bottom of the lake. Before it’s construction, along the Bill Williams river, the town of Alamo Crossing was there. The town was established in the 1890s, abandoned in 1918 and sat in ruin for 50 years. So to this day one could scuba dive down to the bottom of the lake, which has a max depth of 80ft, and explore a flooded town on the bottom.
GuideThis park is so close to town, but far enough that you feel like you are way out. There are standard campsites (water and electric) as well as tent camping area. The sites can fit good sized rigs. There is a ton of trails for hiking, biking, and horses. Brand new showers, restrooms, and a dishwashing area. Dogs are allowed, but please keep them on a leash and pick up after them so we don't lose the privilege!
Here is a link to the Maricopa parks with maps: https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/maps/
ScoutHuge area to disperse camp with an actual bathroom. If you dont mind occasional off road vehicles driving through during the day, its a good spot with plenty of room.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Congress, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Congress, AZ is Alamo Lake State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 22 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 4 glamping camping locations near Congress, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
