Tent camping near Yarnell, Arizona offers both high desert and pine forest settings with elevation changes between 4,000 and 8,000 feet. Campers can access primitive sites on Prescott National Forest land where seasonal temperatures range from below freezing in winter to over 100°F in summer. The region enforces 14-day stay limits with varying fire restrictions based on seasonal conditions.
What to do
Off-road exploring: Boulders OHV Area provides access to miles of desert trails and washes for exploration. "Miles 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," notes one camper at Boulders OHV Area.
Fishing opportunities: Several high-elevation lakes within 30-45 minutes of camping areas provide fishing options. At Crown King Area, one visitor mentions, "The lake fish species present include Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, and Muskie" at Horsethief Basin Lake, which sits at approximately 6,000 feet elevation.
Mountain biking: Access well-maintained trails directly from camping areas. A reviewer at Enchanted Forest Trail Campsites states, "Mountain biking trails are pretty sweet. Well-groomed and challenging. Better trails than Thumb Butte. Lots of variation with mountain lanes covered with shade and wide open. Tough yet giving."
What campers like
Seasonal temperature advantages: The higher elevation camps provide significant relief from summer desert heat. According to visitors at Camp Wood Area, "We enjoy the beautiful weather, wildlife, and nature. We have successful fishing competitions between one another. The summer months can be a little difficult to endure but the spring months are the best."
Wildlife viewing: Many campsites offer opportunities to observe desert wildlife in natural settings. Campers report coyote howling at night and javelina activity around camps. One camper at FDR79 Trittle Mountain Road warns, "Do be careful with your food and trash totes. Javelina got into mine on the second night, so for the rest of my stay, everything was in the van."
Stargazing: Clear desert skies and minimal light pollution create excellent night sky viewing. As one camper at Copper Basin Campsites noted, "This could have been the most beautiful site. The stars were amazing and the sites are generously large."
What you should know
Road conditions: Many tent camping areas require high-clearance vehicles with some needing 4WD capabilities. The road to Crown King involves "bumpy dirt roads, steep terrain, switchbacks, and the occasional one vehicle bridge" according to one visitor, who notes it's "roughly ~26 miles (from Bumble Bee) of bumpy dirt roads."
Site maintenance issues: Some dispersed camping areas suffer from trash accumulation. At Enchanted Forest Trail Campsites, one camper observed, "Unfortunately there's been a lot of homeless and left behind trash when we stay we always leave with bags and bags of trash." Another noted, "Garbage Everywhere!! My dog was laying in cigarette butts."
Cell service limitations: Most camping areas have limited or no cellular coverage. One camper at Trittle Mountain Road reported, "Our problem was that we operate with Verizon and TMobile. Unfortunately neither carrier had a good enough signal here for us to spend the week we planned."
Tips for camping with families
Supply preparation: Limited services require bringing all essentials. Crown King has minimal shopping options with high prices. "The main city of Crown King has a general store with essentials and a 1 pump fuel station. Prices are steep so best advised to fill up on gas and supplies before heading up," notes one visitor.
Site selection strategy: Choose sites further from main roads for better experience. At Copper Basin, "You need a little clearance to get into camp 7 but nice to be away from the road," while at Enchanted Forest, "I lucked out and got site #11 which was well separated from the other sites. The other sites are relatively close together."
Water planning: No reliable water sources exist at most tent camping areas. "Bring your own water" is essential advice for family camping trips, as all reviewers note no drinking water available at FDR79 Trittle Mountain Road and similar dispersed sites.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Uneven terrain at most sites requires leveling equipment. One RVer at Trittle Mountain Road noted, "We stayed one nite at site 5 in our 24ft Mercedez Sprinter. It's not super level but decent space to maneuver to find your favorite orientation."
Limited turn-around space: Larger RVs face difficulties at road ends. A camper at Trittle Mountain mentioned, "We were able to turn our pop up camper around about 1/4 mile past campsite 16," indicating tight quarters for larger rigs.
Dust and noise considerations: Some areas experience heavy off-road traffic creating dust and noise. At Boulders OHV Area, an RVer observed, "Little dusty and noisy but plenty of room to camp and the trails are great!"
