1 campground with availability this weekend
The Groom Creek Horse Camp near Prescott National Forest provides specialized equestrian accommodations with most sites designed as pull-through to fit large horse trailers. Each campsite features high lines and a corral for horses, along with a fire pit and picnic table. Water sources are distributed throughout the campground, though campers should bring containers to transport water to their sites. The campground maintains wheelbarrows and rakes near dumpsters for cleaning horse areas. Campers report the trails as beautiful and well-shaded, with some hilly sections that offer varied riding terrain. Dispersed camping is permitted just outside the campground boundary for those seeking more primitive options.
Crown King Area and Horsethief Basin Lake offer primitive equestrian camping opportunities approximately 26 miles from Bumble Bee along bumpy dirt roads with steep terrain and switchbacks. The trail requires high-clearance vehicles, with 4x4 strongly recommended, especially for reaching Horsethief Basin Lake situated about 7 miles beyond Crown King town. The area provides serene camping at elevations around 6,000-8,000 feet with expansive views of the Phoenix valley. The nearby town of Crown King has a general store with essential supplies and a single fuel pump, though prices run high—campers should stock up before ascending. Winter visitors experience breathtaking snow-covered landscapes, while summer travelers appreciate the cooler mountain temperatures. ATVs are allowed near some campgrounds and on certain trails, requiring horse owners to note which trails permit motorized vehicles.
"They have a lake to fish in and equestrian center to go on horse back rides."
"Dead Horse Ranch is a beautiful Arizona state park."
Available this weekend
from $25 - $70 / night
"The Hazlitt Hollow campground and Horse Thief Basin Lake are ~7 miles from the main city of Crown King and definitely require a high clearance vehicle (4x4 highly recommended)."
"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."
"Which is OK in the Arizona winter, but not when it is still hot. We were here when it as really slow, not sure what it will like when the campground is full."
"There are lots of trees and it’s a great park to walk around. At the back you have the River you can walk around and you are surrounded with mountain views."
"Compared to another campground close by that is a little less but we had double the space and trees and a creek behind us. They’re very busy and we were only able to get two nights."
"Sites a little close to each other. Grounds were surrounded by nature and close by main Sedona street. Check in after hours were smooth."
from $42 - $84 / night
"This is a very beautiful campground for horse people only. Most sites are pull through to accommodate large trailers. The trails are very pretty. Parts are hilly, but well shaded."
"We take portable panels also due to traveling with 2 horses. Take some way of hauling water to your camp site, there are several water Fawcett for filling but not close to all sites."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $18 / night
"Blackberry bushes and the spring nearby are a nice seasonal bonus and add to the tucked-away forest vibe. Easy access, good tree cover, and a classic Prescott National Forest atmosphere."
"Driving distance or short walk to lake. No Verizon cell service."
"Quiet with nearby hiking and biking even a little lake."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $18 - $36 / night
"All paved driving and campsite parking except equestrian area no hookups they have places to fill water and to dump. Restrooms and showers nice a clean."
"Each horse site has two large corrals, a fire pit, and picnic table. There is water locations around the campground as well as bathrooms."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $22 - $170 / night
"Lots of hiking trails."
"Horse Heaven we were surrounded by beautiful horses in lush green pastures our dog enjoyed walking around the farm."
from $60 / night
ScoutFYI- This is not a free dispersed campground as noted on the maps link. It’s a county run campground with a fee. It IS a pretty nice though with tons of hiking/biking and I think equestrian trails.
GuideThe road up to this is fine for almost all rigs, the turn into the campsite will be tight. They have no camping signs along road 525c, although the map from the forest shows camping is allowed along this road. Make a right on road 9529 and there is a great campsite immediately on the left. It has a circle turn around. Incredible views, great hiking and no one around for miles. The BLM camping on road 525 is crowded. No one on this road. I get the sense they are trying to get people not to camp, but the maps show it is completely allowed. We are here in October and the weather is 70 degrees. Note that when dirt roads get wet, it is a whole different story. Coordinates are 34.87989889666775,-111.94793655703302.
I did buy a wilderness pass from the Arizona forest service. $20 for the year.
GuideA bit on the expensive side for a 22 foot RV is $50 night and it’s not allowed to put an additional RV of 20 feet in the same spot even though they assigned us a pull through site with more than enough room for a 20 foot vehicle. The women’s showers at Cooper’s Hawk Tail Loop were moldy and soap scum on the shower walls. Hottest water was only on the warm side. If you are not a paid camper in the campground there is a $20 (yes $20!) charge for a shower…self pay at the kiosk by the showers/toilets. Staff at the check in kiosk very helpful.
ScoutNice facilities but we found that some of the people working here aren’t very nice.
GuideI only gave it a 2 Because of the App! This app says showers, None! Electric, Non-Existent! Several Water Hydrants scattered throughout the grounds. $29 a night, I've done A lot better, & it's off season. Trying to get all the Great Folks $$$ Heading to Quartzsite before they do an off-season price. 🤔 maybe I got grumpy cause I can't take a Big boy Stand Up Shower tonight 😏! In general it is a nice campground. Now hopefully they do have a dump station 👀 EDIT ‼️ IF I COULD RATE IT NEGATIVE I WOULD ‼️ @ 515AM WHEN NATURE CALLED I WALK TO THE BATHROOMS THERE LOCKED ‼️‼️‼️‼️ $29.00 A NIGHT FOR WHAT ❓❓❓❓ & I FOUND OUT LAST NIGHT THAT THE SHOWERS HAVE BEEN CLOSED SINCE COVID‼️ UPDATE YOUR APP‼️ CAUSE IT'S TURNING OUT TO BE REAL DIRT‼️
ScoutStayed 4 nights in October 2026 at sites 49 and 62 in the Red Tail Hawk campground.
PROS: Lots of nice hiking trails and pretty walks along the Verde River and 2 small lagoons. Nice camping areas and camp hosts very accessible.
CONS: Overrun with skunks! We could not enjoy a campfire due to the large number of wild skunks taking over camp sites every night when darkness falls. The amount of puncturevine is ridiculous! These are invasive weeds that have hard burrs that get into your dog's paws or shoes and they are painful. Each campsite is covered in them.
Finally, what is up with the LED rope lights? We literally could not sleep because of the extremely bright and abundant strings of lights. A short light strip to deter rodents is one thing but 300 feet wrapped around your campsite is rude, obnoxious, and aggravating. No one needs to see an airport runway in a campground. JUST STOP IT!
ScoutHorse Heaven we were surrounded by beautiful horses in lush green pastures our dog enjoyed walking around the farm. Visiting the horses that were roaming throughout the pastures we were able to offer them apple slices and enjoy their warm muzzles on the palms of our hands. RV hookups were quiet clean and easy to setup our camping site. Nashwa Farms is open YEAR AROUND to allow their guests to enjoy visiting the Historic Verde Valley
TravelerThis place is an absolute treasure!!!
There’s plenty of wildlife, from wild horses, roadrunners and even skunks and cows. The birds sing nicely if you don’t mind an early morning wake call.
The river runs well enough to float down stream on a tub. Some people bring paddle boards and cruise that way. Some people pull up a chair and sit by the banks. There’s a few places where you can swing from a rope and jump in the water. Warning though some areas are shallow so jump with caution.
The porta-potty’s are surprisingly well maintained. There’s a few large dumps so no reason to not pick up after ourselves.
It stays consistently busy with people coming and going throughout the day and a few camping the night.
Overall, it’s a great getaway for anyone in the valley.
GuideThere is some recent fire damage - looks like controlled burn in area with logging going on in back side of hill but the pull through and camp area with views of valley are gorgeous! please do not build fire rings under trees or right along the cliff edge. The wind rushes up the mountain cliff and the fire danger of both these rings is absurd. Use stoves or portable fire pits since burn bans are almost always on and don’t be stupid starting fires under trees or on cliff face with rushing wind.
Other than that, enjoy these absolutely breathtaking views and cool mountain breezes blowing up the mountains! Please again, don’t build fire rings under trees in the pine mats or along the extremely windy uplift currents of the ridge face.
i have 2 bars of ATT service and starlink worked well pointing north.
None of the marked springs were flowing and all creeks were dry so be sure to bring all your water you may need. There is a cute “potato lake” 2 miles away but it’s more of a mud hole and wildlife tank and not good for water. I hope they get some monsoon rains here soon to recharge the water sources!
Cordes Junction serves as a strategic basecamp for equestrian enthusiasts seeking equine-friendly camping options in central Arizona. The region sits at the intersection of several ecosystems with elevations ranging from 3,000-8,000 feet across nearby camping areas. Summer temperatures range from 70-95°F during day and 50-65°F at night, while winter brings freezing nights and occasional snow at higher elevations.
Trail riding near Bartlett Lake: Bartlett Flat offers scenic shoreline riding within 45 miles of Cordes Junction. "Nice area kids loved the water and my buddy caught some fish, pretty quiet until pride rave kick off and then drunk pontoon guy kept the entertained with his remarks over his PA system," notes camper B O., who recommends bringing portable facilities since "the bushes are littered with sh!t tickets."
Mountain biking at McDowell Mountain: This park features extensive trail networks about 60 miles from Cordes Junction. "Miles of mountain biking trails which were spectacular. We've ridden lots of places and this is definitely one of my favorite. Trails are not technically difficult but a great workout and so pretty," says Mike M., who advises booking ahead as "sites fill up because it's so great."
Explore historic mountain towns: The Crown King area provides access to small mining communities. "Unimproved camping area, hard to get to and a cool old little mountain town. Don't forget to stop for a beer in Cleator," suggests Matt M. Crown King sits roughly 26 miles of bumpy dirt roads from Bumble Bee.
Riverside camping: Verde River RV Resort offers water access with maintained grounds. "We really enjoyed our stay. We had an end/corner spot, which felt very spacious. The landscaping was nice with grass between units and trees in some areas. Felt more like a park than packed in parking lot feel of others," reports Mike T.
Cooler elevations: Dead Horse Ranch State Park provides relief from summer heat at higher elevations. "This park offers a much needed break from the Arizona heat in the spring and summer months. The 'lakes' are really more like ponds but plenty large enough to fish in as is the Verde River, running through the park," explains Audrey R., who adds that "facilities are always clean."
Scenic water access: South Mingus Mountain basecamp on Forest Road 413 combines elevation with access to water sources. "Very nice and numerous spots. Pretty flat. Stay away if rain is in the forecast. This place gets muddy and you will get stuck in a larger RV. Very quiet and the night sky is absolutely amazing," advises Michael F., noting "Most spots have limited shade, so keep that in mind in the Summer."
Connectivity varies by location: Cell service ranges from excellent to non-existent within 30 miles of Cordes Junction. At Yavapai Campground, "No Verizon cell service," reports Melissa S., while at South Mingus Mountain basecamp, Michael F. notes "One of the few spots in NorthernAZ where T-Mobile is full 5G."
Wildlife encounters: Expect active wildlife throughout the region. At McDowell Mountain, Larry G. describes how "singing coyotes at night and early morning" are part of the experience, noting they'll "sing you to sleep and also wake you up in the morning."
Weather fluctuations: Temperature changes can be dramatic at higher elevations. At Crown King, B O. describes winter conditions as "breath taking" when "everything was covered in snow," while recommending visitors "fuel up before going up there" since town supplies are "over priced."
Playgrounds and activities: Houston Mesa Campground offers dedicated facilities for children. "The campground's proximity to swimming holes, hiking trails, and the charming town of Payson provides endless opportunities for exploration and adventure," writes Brad and Britany B., adding "They've recently improved the playground for young ones."
Swimming options: Seek campgrounds with water access during summer months. At Bartlett Flat, one camper recommends camping "little further back from where the rv congregate, so it's quiet and peaceful, boat traffic isn't to bad and the shore line is great for kids to swim."
Cabin alternatives: For families new to horse campgrounds near Cordes Junction, Arizona, cabin options provide comfort with outdoor access. At Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Spencer A. reports an "Outstanding one night stay at the DHR Cabins. The family had an awesome stay. Cabins right on the river, quiet and spread out enough."
Hook-up availability: Rancho Sedona RV Park offers full services for larger rigs. "Great location as you can walk right into Sedona. Very well kept RV park with very clean bathrooms. Sites are spaced out a bit; not as tight as some other RV parks," notes Kim G., who appreciates the "huge shade trees."
Road conditions: Access to several equestrian camping areas requires high-clearance vehicles. For Crown King and Horsethief Basin, Caitlin S. warns there are "many areas that are only single vehicle width" and requires "experienced 4x4," though the "amazing weather all year round" makes it worthwhile for those properly equipped.
Site selection strategy: At Verde River RV Resort, Thomas S. explains they "price the space according to size, whether it has trees, and whether it is along the river. We took a cheap space with none of the above, but it was still great!" He notes the convenient location "only 10 minutes from Cottonwood, 30 minutes from Sedona, 30 minutes to Prescott."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Cordes Junction, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Cordes Junction, AZ is Dead Horse Ranch State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 69 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Cordes Junction, AZ?
TheDyrt.com has all 28 equestrian camping locations near Cordes Junction, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
