Andy M.
Legend
LegendLyman Lake State Park Campground
Nice spot on the way to Petrified Forest N.P.
Great help from the campground ranger at the store to get a spot.
Glamping near Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ
1 campground with availability this weekend
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Hawley Lake Apache Indian Reservation, Rainbow Campground, and Brook Char Campground feature upscale glamping accommodations nestled in Arizona's White Mountains near Pinetop-Lakeside. These destinations offer canvas glamping structures and stylish yurts with proper beds, electricity, and picnic tables for outdoor dining. Lyman Lake State Park provides cabin-style glamping with furnished accommodations that include comfortable sleeping arrangements and modern amenities. Many units include private fire rings with complimentary firewood at select locations. Timber Camp Recreation Area houses luxury yurts equipped with basic conveniences while maintaining a connection to nature. According to a camper, "Hawley Lake is the perfect escape when you want to get out of the heat. Pristine views, cool weather during the summer and clean facilities almost make you feel like your not in Arizona anymore."
The pristine natural setting around these glamping sites creates opportunities for fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing. Hawley Lake provides kayak rentals and excellent fishing access, while Timber Camp Recreation Area connects visitors with trails and scenic viewpoints. Most glamping accommodations remain open during summer months when temperatures reach comfortable 80-degree days and 50-degree nights—ideal for evening campfires under starry skies. The White Mountains location offers a refreshing escape from Arizona's desert heat, with easy access to Christmas Tree Lake and its native Apache trout. One guest shared, "This is probably the most beautiful campground I have been to so far. 80 degree days and 50 degree nights. Perfect for campfires under the blanket of millions of stars. The lake was amazing and quite beautiful."
Best Glamping Campgrounds near Pinetop-Lakeside (10)
1. Hawley Lake Apache Indian Res
"We camped here when we had a permit to fish at nearby Christmas Tree Lake. Christmas Tree Lake is a beautiful little lake nestled in the White Mountains of Arizona on Apache land."
"Hawley Lake is the perfect escape when you want to get out of the heat. Pristine views, cool weather during the summer and clean facilities almost make you feel like your not in Arizona anymore."
2. Pinetop Lakeside Valhalla
Check Availabilityfrom $100 - $1000 / night
3. Lyman Lake State Park Campground
"The grounds were clean and the staff was very friendly and helpful. Bathrooms and showers are on site and several dumpsters are nearby to get rid of trash."
"FHU available Spacious sites Wind does come up Lake is down and good fishing Clean restrooms and showers Has store well stocked (no tobacco or alcohol) Fish cleaning station Nice viewing of stars at night"
51 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $25 - $80 / night
4. Big Lake Campground
"Like my title implies, this is where you go if you really want to “get away” from It all! This gorgeous campground is remote, very remote."
"Great campsites within walk distance of the lake! Down fall is the campsites are big (enough room for all your camp friends) but you can only have two cars per site. Don’t let this keep you away!"
5. Rainbow (AZ)
"It is still a great place to escape the desert heat. It was 115 when we left the big city."
"The squirrels are voracious and chewed through my stuff sack with sealed food that I left on the picnic table when I went for a bike ride around the lake."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $34 - $110 / night
6. Brook Char Campground
"Lots of shade and easy paths for walking around the grounds, plus there's potable water at several sites."
"Located next to Big Lake, the campsite was in a great location. Firepit, picnic table and restroom facilities close by. The camp host Bob was very nice and had plenty of firewood for purchase."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $26 / night
7. Reservation Lake Apache Indian Res
"There is a loop around the East side with many different sites. There is a host there also.Tables and fire pit at most sites and some within walking distance to lake to fish."
8. Mountain Retreat in Heber
"You definitely cant beat the price and its nice that the rate includes water, electric and sewage."
Check Availabilityfrom $23 - $60 / night
9. Timber Camp Recreation Area and Group Campgrounds
"Biggest downside it is RIGHT off the highway so expect road noise. About the loop (single spaces called Brundrett 1): There are 12 spaces with co-ed bathrooms (toilet only)."
"The campground is right off the highway so there was a fair amount of traffic noise, but not unbearable."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $16 - $150 / night
10. Second Campground
"They do have a bathroom. It does make for a relaxing night after a short hike to the falls. The road back is a dirt road with a cliff on one side. Saw cars back there so not a bad road."
Drive Time
- 2 hrs 9 min from Flagstaff, AZ
- 3 hrs 9 min from Phoenix, AZ
- 3 hrs 10 min from Prescott Valley, AZ
- 3 hrs 27 min from Tucson, AZ
Recent Glamping Photos near Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ
4 Photos of 10 Pinetop-Lakeside Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Glamping Reviews near Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ
63 Reviews of 10 Pinetop-Lakeside Campgrounds
MB's J.
ScoutHawley Lake Apache Indian Res
Beautiful open area
Rv camping. Camping areas are big enough for 2-3 families
Nice amenities (Picnic table/ Firepit)
Calm campground nice with pets
- CCaylee H.Scout
Mountain Retreat in Heber
Best monthly rate and no restrictions!
This place is great for the whole family and there is no trailer year restriction. You definitely cant beat the price and its nice that the rate includes water, electric and sewage.
Candy P.LegendRainbow (AZ)
Arizona’s best kept secret!
Rainbow campground at big lake is magical! This is the place to beat the heat and make summer memories. Tucked into the pines and aspens this campsite is a quick drive or hike down to the lake. You can’t go wrong with any of the sites, including the first come first serve loops.
Rod D.
GuideRainbow (AZ)
Still a great place to escape the desert heat
It had been 28 years since we last camped at Rainbow. It is still a great place to escape the desert heat. It was 115 when we left the big city. Five hours later we found ourselves camped at 9100 feet, enjoying the cool temps in the mid 60's and the passing rain showers. Aspens, pines, and wildlife were all in abundance. Big Lake is a good fishing lake too.
The sites have plenty of space, shade, and privacy. Roads are paved and in good shape. The restrooms were constantly cleaned by the very friendly and capable staff from recreation resource management which operates the campground for the forest service.
Firewood and ice are available (stage 2 fire restrictions were in effect so no campfires), water was convenient as was gray water disposal. There is a centralized dump station, showers, and a small but educational visitor center. Trash dumpsters are centralized and easy to access.
If you don't fish there is still hiking to Mount Baldy, and short scenic drives to the very small towns of Greer and Alpine. We enjoyed exploring the miles of scenic forest roads, and wildlife viewing. We saw 4 Mexican gray wolves which was very special.
This is a very popular campground that accommodates all types of rigs. They do have first come first serve sites available, but it is recommended to make reservations at least 4 days in advance. Reservations can be made at recreation.gov. It's always best practice to print a copy of your reservation. There is no cell service in this area.
We look forward to camping again at Rainbow.
Brodie D.GuideLyman Lake State Park Campground
Great spot!
We pulled in after hours and a ranger kindly helped us find our spot. She recommended a cool hiking trail to check out the next morning. Bathrooms and showers are super clean and well maintained. There is only one designated bathhouse building so if you park far, you’ll be walking a ways. Did I mention the views are gorgeous? The views alone are worth staying here.
- JJoshua W.Guide
Lyman Lake State Park Campground
Amazing
The park was practically empty. The views are always amazing, and the weather was perfect. The wind picked up in the evenings to about 10 mph, but then was calm around 9pm. In the morning the lake was very calm, and taking the kayak out was so peaceful. I spoke with the ranger and ahead said next summer a vendor will have boat and jet ski rentals. Good and bad, but maybe that will help keep camping rates low. Highly recommend a trip here when you have a long weekend.
Carl L.ScoutBrook Char Campground
Bogus
Reserved site #13 on line for August 15th. On arriving this site has no flat areas and you must pass directly through site #12 to access. The entire campground was EMPTY except us. We decided to move to site #12 to get a flat area. I informed the host out of courtesy of our move to the empty adjoining site. He said NO! I had to pay him $20 to make the change. If I did it on-line, it would be zero fee. THERE IS NO CELL COVERAGE at this campground, so it is impossible to go online and make that useless change. Another caretaker drove by and said he didn't see a problem moving if it was his call. The dude at Brookchar would NOT budge...he wanted his $20 bucks ( I have a senior pass and at worst it would have been $8.00). Told him to stuff it and to contact his manager. He refused. The other caretaker guy drove away and and said he would discuss it with her. Bear in mind, the entire campground had zero reservations for that evening besides us. He returned later to inform me that the manger had "OK'ed" the change for no fee. It is zero fee to change a campsites....zero! Unbelievable,,,,Beware....
Michael S.
TravelerLyman Lake State Park Campground
Beautiful desert views
Clean, quiet, open campground, tents, trailers and cabins. Very happy with the week we spent here
Guide to Pinetop-Lakeside
Glamping sites near Pinetop-Lakeside sit at elevations between 7,000-9,100 feet in Arizona's White Mountains. This high-country location creates a distinct four-season climate with summer temperatures typically 20-30 degrees cooler than Phoenix. Many luxury camping options maintain seasonal operations with limited winter availability due to snowfall and freezing temperatures from November through April.
What to do
Fishing at multiple lakes: Big Lake Campground offers excellent trout fishing with permits required. According to a visitor, "Fishing was scare, sites were nice, lake was pretty!" Brookchar Campground provides easy access to fishing spots for different skill levels.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Reservation Lake Apache Indian Res features diverse wildlife. Campers frequently spot elk, deer, and various birds. One camper described seeing "blue jays, squirrels, chipmunks, as well as several elk who wandered through camp in the early evening."
Hiking to historic sites: Lyman Lake State Park Campground offers petroglyph viewing trails with interpretive signage. A visitor noted, "Well maintained trail system that offers amazing views of the sandstone rock formations and petroglyphs. There is a rock squeeze in the trail too."
What campers like
Seasonal temperature variations: Summer camping provides comfortable conditions with moderate temperatures. As one visitor to Rainbow (AZ) shared, "Five hours later we found ourselves camped at 9100 feet, enjoying the cool temps in the mid 60's and the passing rain showers. Aspens, pines, and wildlife were all in abundance."
Tent-only camping areas: Brook Char Campground offers dedicated tent sites with lake views. A camper mentioned, "The tent-only campground is small, but the sites are large and have multiple great clearings for tents. Lots of shade and easy paths for walking around the grounds, plus there's potable water at several sites."
Campground amenities: Several locations provide essential facilities with varying levels of service. At Timber Camp Recreation Area, "Sites are well maintained and level. Vault toilets were clean. Each site has a steel fire ring and grate as well as a nice metal picnic table."
What you should know
Permit requirements: Most recreation areas require specific permits for camping and fishing. At Hawley Lake Apache Indian Res, one visitor advised, "Be sure to review the rules and regulations on the website as some areas are off limits and to make sure you have all the proper permits for fishing and/or camping (State and local licenses required for fishing)."
Road conditions: Many glamping sites require driving on unpaved roads. At Reservation Lake, a visitor cautioned, "The dirt washboard road getting in (45 mins) was enough for me to not love this place. But, once you're there it really is a beautiful place."
Wildlife precautions: Proper food storage is essential when glamping near Pinetop-Lakeside. A camper at Rainbow Campground warned, "The squirrels are voracious and chewed through my stuff sack with sealed food that I left on the picnic table when I went for a bike ride around the lake."
Tips for camping with families
Select sites with kid-friendly amenities: Several locations offer facilities specifically designed for children. At Big Lake Campground, a visitor noted, "We rented a boat from the marina and spent about 3 hours fishing. Perfect weather. Wildlife: we saw blue jays, squirrels, chipmunks, as well as several elk who wandered through camp in the early evening."
Consider cabin rentals: For families new to glamping in Pinetop-Lakeside, cabins provide comfort with access to outdoor activities. A visitor to Lyman Lake shared, "Stayed at Elk Cabin for 2 nights. Cabins are very nice and clean. Campground is very well maintained and the staff is very friendly."
Plan for weather changes: Mountain weather can shift quickly throughout the day. One camper at Mountain Retreat in Heber advised, "This place is great for the whole family and there is no trailer year restriction. You definitely cant beat the price and its nice that the rate includes water, electric and sewage."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Multiple campgrounds offer varying levels of RV services. At Lyman Lake State Park, a visitor reported, "FHU available, spacious sites, wind does come up, lake is down and good fishing, clean restrooms and showers, has store well stocked (no tobacco or alcohol), fish cleaning station, nice viewing of stars at night."
Site selection considerations: When choosing a spot, look for level ground with adequate spacing. An RVer at Timber Camp Recreation Area noted, "Sites are well maintained and level. The campground appears fairly new."
Off-season advantages: Visiting during shoulder seasons provides better site availability. According to a Rainbow Campground visitor, "It had been 28 years since we last camped at Rainbow. It is still a great place to escape the desert heat."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping
campsite near Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ?
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ is Hawley Lake Apache Indian Res with a 4.6-star rating from 7 reviews.
What is the best site to find
glamping camping near
Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ?
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 glamping camping locations near Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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