Cabins near Vernon, Arizona offer mountain retreats with elevations around 7,000 feet, providing cooler temperatures during summer months. In winter, temperatures can drop to 15°F overnight, requiring properly insulated accommodations for comfort. Cabin options range from rustic units with minimal amenities to fully equipped lodgings with heating systems and kitchenettes.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Lyman Lake State Park Campground offers decent catfish fishing despite challenging conditions. "The fishing was decent for catfish but you have to compete with the strong winds. Very few boaters when we were there," notes one visitor. The lake has multiple access points and fishing docks.
Hiking trails: Visitors can explore ancient petroglyphs and sandstone formations at several locations. "Well maintained trail system that offers amazing views of the sandstone rock formations and petroglyphs. There is a rock squeeze in the trail too," reports a hiker. Most trails are moderate difficulty with limited elevation gain.
Wildlife viewing: Early mornings provide opportunities to spot local fauna. At Coronado Trail RV Park, one camper observed, "The elk herds out number the cattle– a morning and evening spectacle!" Bring binoculars for optimal viewing between dawn and 8am.
What campers like
Cabin variety: Mountain Retreat in Heber offers monthly rates with utilities included. "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," according to one long-term visitor.
Weather patterns: Summer afternoons typically include brief rain showers that cool the area. As one camper at Big Lake noted, "Over Memorial Day weekend, we saw highs close to 80 and lows in the high 30s/low 40s. Only sprinkled once!" August temperatures average 75°F during daytime.
Campground hosts: Several locations feature attentive staff who maintain facilities and provide local knowledge. "The grounds were clean and the staff was very friendly and helpful," notes a Lyman Lake visitor. At Brook Char Campground, "The camp host Bob was very nice and had plenty of firewood for purchase."
What you should know
Wildlife precautions: Food storage practices must account for local wildlife. At Brook Char Campground, campers should "lock up all food and trash in your car over night" because "bears frequent the area." Other wildlife includes skunks which "waddled thru the campsite but never raised their tails."
Cell service limitations: Communications are unreliable throughout the region. At Lyman Lake, "T-mobile service was awful," while another visitor noted, "No internet service and poor phone reception (T-Mobile) which was a little issue for us as we are traveling cross country."
Reservation requirements: Book cabins well in advance, especially for summer weekends and holidays. Some campgrounds like Brook Char have "tent-only" sections with spacious sites featuring "multiple great clearings for tents" and "lots of shade."
Tips for camping with families
Tent-specific areas: Mogollon RV Park provides tent spaces with electrical hookups for families needing powered devices. "This is on the mogollon rim so there is some great hiking and sightseeing nearby. Several lakes close also," notes a visitor who found it suitable for short stays.
Lakeside options: Look for cabins with direct water access for convenience with children. At Brook Char, "Site 12 is the best for tent camping and closest to the water," and another family agrees it's "our family favorite for decades. The sites have plenty of room for 2 tents."
Bathroom facilities: Verify shower availability for family stays. Lyman Lake provides "Bathrooms and showers on site and several dumpsters are nearby to get rid of trash," while some campers appreciate that "bathrooms and showers are super clean and well maintained."
Tips from RVers
Adult-oriented options: Hawley Lake Apache Indian Res provides more peaceful settings for mature travelers. "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," shares one visitor who appreciated the controlled access.
Site access: Many roads to camping areas remain unmarked and can be challenging to navigate. "The directions given on the site for how to find this campground were not very clear. We spent a lot of time double and triple checking where we were," cautions an RVer about Brook Char Campground.
Wind considerations: The region experiences strong afternoon winds that can affect RV camping. At Lyman Lake, visitors noted it "gets a little windy in the afternoon and evening but dies down to have a little camp fire," suggesting RVers use proper stabilization and wind-blocking techniques.
