Best Tent Camping near Portal, AZ
Coronado National Forest surrounding Portal, Arizona offers several tent-only and primitive tent camping options in the Chiricahua Mountains. Sycamore Campground, located near Pearce, provides tent campsites alongside a mountain creek with access to hiking trails and waterfalls. West Turkey Creek Dispersed camping area offers more secluded tent camping with sites scattered along the creek. Herb Martyr Campground, situated at the end of a dirt road in the Cave Creek area, features three tent sites of varying sizes with picnic tables and fire rings. Happy Camp Trail provides walk-in tent sites on BLM land about 8 miles south of I-10 near Bowie, with numerous primitive tent camping spots tucked among distinctive rock formations.
Most tent campgrounds in the Portal area require preparation for primitive conditions. Sites typically feature dirt or gravel pads with minimal improvements. Vault toilets are available at most established campgrounds, though supplies like toilet paper may be inconsistent. Bear boxes are provided at Sycamore Campground due to wildlife activity in the area. Water is not available at any of these locations, so tent campers must bring all necessary supplies. Access roads to backcountry tent sites are often unmaintained dirt roads with washboard surfaces and occasional water crossings. High-clearance vehicles are recommended for reaching more remote tent camping areas, particularly after rain when roads may become challenging.
During weekdays in September, tent campers often have entire campgrounds to themselves according to visitor reports. One camper noted that West Turkey Creek Dispersed camping was "quiet, isolated, beautiful, and serene" with temperatures staying cool under tree shade, making it "perfect for pitching a tent for a few nights." The area around Sycamore Campground offers wildlife viewing opportunities, with visitors reporting sightings of deer and wild turkeys. At Happy Camp Trail, primitive tent sites provide excellent stargazing due to minimal light pollution. Tent campers frequently use these areas as bases for day hikes, with multiple trails accessible directly from campgrounds. The trade-off for these secluded backcountry tent camping experiences is the challenging access, with several reviewers mentioning 8-10 miles of rough roads to reach the more isolated tent sites.
