Tent camping near Woodruff, Arizona offers remote high desert camping experiences with significant elevation changes. Most sites sit between 5,000-6,000 feet elevation, creating moderate daytime temperatures in summer but cool nights even in July and August. The area features volcanic soil and juniper-pine transition zones, making for firm tent sites but sometimes challenging stake placement.
What to do
Backcountry hiking access: At Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area, permits are free at the visitor center with helpful resources available. "Ask for a wilderness hiking booklet as well, it's very well made and can help orient yourself in the vast wilderness as well as offer hiking options and specific destinations and points of interest," notes Shavit L.
Night sky observation: The remote location creates excellent stargazing conditions away from city lights. "There's no light pollution so seeing the stars and the milky way is no problem. It's so quite, my husband said all he could hear all night was his tinnitus," shares Mara F. about the Painted Desert section.
Fishing opportunities: Chevelon Canyon Lake Campground provides access to a motor-free lake popular with anglers. Beth G. reports, "Our group only caught 1 small trout but we met other people that were having better luck. Note: live bait is not permitted."
What campers like
True wilderness solitude: Many campers appreciate the isolation found at these sites. At Brown Creek Campground, "If you didn't know it was here you wouldn't ever guess there was a campground. The only signage is a 'dead out' fire sign," explains Krista Z., highlighting its hidden nature.
Accessible primitive camping: Despite rugged conditions, most locations are reachable with standard vehicles. One camper at Chevelon Canyon noted, "We had no issues with our group of stock 4x4 pickup trucks and Subarus. Our neighbor at the next campsite over even had a Fiat."
Wildlife viewing: The combination of water sources and remote locations creates good wildlife spotting chances. Jeremy A. mentions seeing "a very wary herd of pronghorn antelope" during his backcountry camping trip at Petrified Forest.
What you should know
Limited amenities: Most tent sites near Woodruff provide minimal facilities. At Chevelon Canyon Lake Campground, "This is a small very primitive, four space campground off the beaten track," reports Dorman G., who adds that maintenance can be sporadic even for basic facilities.
Water accessibility: Bring all drinking water as sources are unreliable. "There isn't any potable water at this site or trash. Bring your own water. Pack it in, pack it out," advises Beth G.
Challenging lake access: Some campsites require substantial hiking to reach water features. One camper shares about Chevelon Canyon: "It took 2 fit men, 90 mins to bring that kayak back up from the water the day we left. We even had a kayak cart."
Tips for camping with families
Prepare for isolation: Cell service is minimal and emergency services are distant. Krista Z. notes about Brown Creek: "It looks like they've done some logging or clearing in the area and there was plenty of down wood on the ground to use. There are no bathrooms so plan accordingly."
Weather fluctuations: Concho Lake Recreation Area and other area campgrounds experience significant temperature drops at night. September camping typically sees 30-40 degree temperature swings from day to night.
Activity planning: Consider the physical demands of hikes to water. Layne L. warns about Chevelon Canyon: "The lake is a 45 minute hike down through the canyon. But once you're at the lake it's beautiful. The lake is nestles in between the tree covered hills with lots of life all around. But you have to really like hiking."
Tips from RVers
Site limitations: Most tent campgrounds near Woodruff have restricted parking areas unsuitable for larger RVs. Krista Z. observed at Brown Creek that "There were only a few spots where I think you could have parked more than 2 tents or anything larger than a pop up camper."
Road conditions: Final access roads can be rough with washouts and ruts. Audrey R. notes about Chevelon Canyon: "If you have an ATV, I highly recommend bringing it. There are 6-8 campsites above the lake but if you boat to the other end of the lake you can also pitch a tent there."
Limited setup space: Many sites have uneven ground with rocky surfaces. Several established campsites have limited flat areas for tent placement due to the natural topography and vegetation patterns.
