Tent camping near Yarnell, Arizona spans primitive backcountry sites and marked tent-only campgrounds across the surrounding national forest lands, with options ranging from free dispersed sites to accessible sites with fire rings. Crown King Area near Horsethief Basin Lake provides tent campsites at higher elevations (6,000-8,000 feet), offering respite from desert heat. Approximately 27 miles from I-17/Bumble Bee junction via dirt roads, this area requires careful planning for tent campers. The Enchanted Forest Trail Campsites provide 11 marked tent-only sites with adequate spacing between most locations, while FDR79 Trittle Mountain Road Dispersed Camping offers free backcountry tent camping in both pine forest and high desert settings.
Most tent campgrounds in the Yarnell region feature uneven, natural surfaces that require careful tent placement. High-clearance vehicles are necessary for accessing many primitive tent camping areas, particularly Crown King and Horsethief Basin which require 4x4 vehicles to navigate bumpy dirt roads, steep terrain, and occasional single-vehicle bridges. Fire rings are common at established sites, but campers should bring their own water as drinking sources are scarce. Wildlife precautions are essential, as one camper noted: "Be careful with your food and trash. Javelina got into mine on the second night." Most areas enforce 14-day stay limits and seasonal fire restrictions may apply during dry periods.
Spring months deliver optimal conditions for backcountry tent camping near Yarnell, with fall offering similarly pleasant temperatures and fewer crowds. According to reviews, sites at Copper Basin provide a sense of seclusion while remaining relatively accessible: "Quiet, surrounded by trees, trails nearby." Walk-in tent sites at Enchanted Forest Trail offer varying experiences, with some campers reporting that site #11 provides better separation from neighbors and road noise. The region's higher elevation tent campgrounds provide cooler temperatures during summer months when desert heat intensifies. Winter camping is possible at some locations, though snow can limit access to higher elevation areas like Crown King, where one visitor described winter camping as "breathtaking" with snow-covered surroundings.
"Several fire rings on the site we did not use. Great stay for exploring in the car to Sedona and driving Hwy 89a"
"The sites are close to the dirt road leading up the butte. Lots of hiking, biking trails. Its close to town so very busy with outdoor enthusiasts. Some campsites are cleaner than others."
"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."
"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)."
"Lots of shade but area of sun to charge my batteries. Minimal cell service, but I'm from Colorado and I have Xfinity. I'm pretty sure they use Verizon towers."
"It’s not super level but decent space to maneuver to find your favorite orientation. Our problem was that we operate with Verizon and TMobile."
"Quiet, surrounded by trees, trail’s nearby. You need a little clearance to get into camp 7 but nice to be away from the road."
"I'm still new to this and I only have Quartzsite and Yuma as reference points, but Prescott isn't nearly as user friendly. One of the places I went to didn't exist."
"We drove to the end and then came back and took a left up a hill next to another campsite! It was a great site and clean. We were presently surprised!"
"Nice trees and trails. Verizon is doable even with the tall pines. Quiet considering the closeness of the campsites"
"The area to camp is marked clearly with signs and there is a metal fence surrounding the area as well. Pit toilets are here and were cleaned when we used them."
"If you dont mind occasional off road vehicles driving through during the day, its a good spot with plenty of room."
from $150 / night
GuideSite 27 is nice, however, you are directly below the power&telephone lines. Sweet forested setting, clean facilities and some hiking trails. Very convenient to Prescott, but you do get road noise from Hwy 89, especially during the day.
TravelerCampsite 1 was where I stayed. There is a little creek running through the middle of the site. There was a lot of rain and the storm drain from the road empties to this run off. Site is basically cut in half. Road runs around this site so not very private. The area is beautiful and the service road well maintained. Good for a night or two while passing through. 7 night limit. Cell service for Verizon was weak but worked.
ScoutThe road gets progressively rougher as you approach the higher-numbered sites, with significant ruts and rocks that can make trailer access challenging. I had to enter site 17/18 through the neighboring camping area to avoid potentially damaging my truck and trailer.
Site 17/18 is a large, shared camping area with several possible spots, including an elevated area. It's set back far enough from the road that the occasional passing vehicle isn't bothersome. Plenty of large trees provide shade without completely blocking solar exposure.
Unfortunately, there's considerable trash and discarded tarps around sites 17 and 18, and several nearby sites appear to have long-term occupants. This detracts from the camping experience.
On the positive side, I found a reasonably level spot for my trailer without much effort. Site 19, just up the road, looked more appealing.
Overall, a workable dispersed camping location, but the rough access, litter, and atmosphere make this a generous 3 out of 5.
TravelerFound a nice site further down the gravel road. Hiking trails are just down the road a little ways. Gets busy on weekends but pretty much have the area to yourself weekdays. I have a low clearance vehicle and it can be a challenge getting into the sites. Good cell service for Verizon.
LegendClose to Pheonix. Spacious sites. Good trails. Clean facilities. Some wildlife.
LegendClose to Pheonix. Spacious sites. Good trails. Clean facilities.
ScoutThis campground is nice. Clean bathrooms for being vault toilets. The hosts were very helpful and informative and welcoming
ScoutThis campground is amazing and has the best camp hosts around. The bathrooms are clean and the sites beautiful!!!
TravelerPretty nice campground. Well maintained. Bathrooms are nice and clean.
Camp host Karen gave me some shit about parking at friend’s site.
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.
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."
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."
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."
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.
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!"
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Yarnell, AZ is Thumb Butte Loop Campsites with a 4.3-star rating from 7 reviews.
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