Best Tent Camping near Lakeside, AZ
Tent campsites in the Lakeside, Arizona region offer a mix of established campgrounds and more remote options within the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest and Apache tribal lands. Brown Creek Campground provides secluded tent camping with minimal development, while Shush Bezahze offers more amenities including drinking water, picnic tables, and toilets. Several campgrounds near McNary, including Shush-Be-Tou Lake and McCoys Bridge on the Apache Indian Reservation, provide basic facilities for tent campers seeking proximity to water.
Most tent camping areas near Lakeside feature minimal amenities, with campers needing to be self-sufficient. Brown Creek Campground has no established facilities, requiring visitors to pack in all supplies and pack out waste. A visitor noted, "If you didn't know it was here you wouldn't ever guess there was a campground. The only signage is a 'dead out' fire sign." Sites typically have fire rings, though some areas may have seasonal fire restrictions. Several campgrounds on Apache tribal lands require permits, with fees typically around $20 per day per person over age 12. Vault toilets are available at some locations like Shush Bezahze, but many dispersed areas lack bathroom facilities.
The higher elevation tent camping areas provide relief from summer heat, with temperatures typically in the upper 80s during day and cooler at night. According to one camper, "We went in July and it was upper 80's during the day, perfect at night for a fire." Walk-in tent sites are common at several campgrounds, with Cutthroat Campground requiring campers to hike gear uphill from parking areas to reach some sites. Many backcountry tent camping locations offer proximity to fishing, with Reservation Lake and areas along Canyon Creek providing trout fishing opportunities. Wildlife sightings are common, with bears occasionally spotted near camping areas along waterways. Most tent-only areas feature good tree coverage providing shade, though ground conditions can be dusty in heavily used sites.