The Mogollon Rim area near Young, Arizona sits at elevations between 5,000-7,500 feet, providing significantly cooler temperatures than lower desert regions during summer months. Most dispersed camping sites in this region are accessible via Forest Service roads that range from well-maintained gravel to rougher dirt trails requiring higher clearance vehicles. Camping areas throughout Tonto National Forest surrounding Young offer dog-friendly environments with varying levels of amenities depending on established versus dispersed sites.
What to do
Fishing at nearby lakes: Woods Canyon Lake and other rim lakes offer excellent trout fishing opportunities within a short drive of most Young-area campgrounds. "The trout fishing here is top notch. The lake is stocked during the summer almost everyweek but the hold overs in the spring can get pretty huge!" reports Shaun S. about Aspen Campground.
Hiking the Mogollon Rim: The area features numerous trails including the Sinkhole Trail that starts within Canyon Point Campground. "We decided to brave the Sinkhole Trail while we were there. It was very easy and only about ¾ of a mile each way with great tree coverage," explains Krista Z.
Creek exploration with pets: Several camping areas feature access to small creeks where dogs can cool off during warmer days. At Christopher Creek Campground, Elizabeth C. notes, "Nice little hike by the creek that the dogs love. Campgrounds are set apart enough to have a tad of privacy."
What campers like
Elevation and temperature: The higher elevation campsites provide welcome relief from summer heat. Adam S. mentions of Bear Canyon Lake and Camping Area, "The lake itself is beautiful and less crowded than Woods Canyon Lake. Lots of traffic at night oddly enough and there were gunshots at night as well."
Spacious sites: Many campers appreciate the generous spacing between sites. "Sites are great, semi private. Lake is beautiful, store available," shares Karen G. about Aspen Campground. At Sharp Creek, reviews note "Large, disbursed spots. If you want space and quiet, this it your place!"
Wildlife viewing: Elk and other wildlife regularly visit several of the area's campgrounds. Sharon F. from Aspen Campground reports, "Elk wander through the campgrounds in early mornings and evenings. Beautiful place."
What you should know
Fire restrictions change frequently: Summer conditions often lead to fire bans throughout the Young area. "Love Christopher Creek as always... no fires allowed so it was pretty quiet which was nice," notes Elizabeth C. Always check current fire restrictions before arrival.
Weekend crowds: Most camping areas fill quickly on summer weekends. At Little Green Valley, Jessalyn C. advises, "This place is dispersed, meaning no hook-ups. Pack out what you pack in, no trash services. Can get a little loud on the weekends with the side by sides zooming around."
Limited cell service: Cell coverage varies widely across the Young area. Rick G. reports about Houston Mesa Campground, "Reasonable cell coverage with Verizon," but many other areas have spotty or no service.
Bathroom facilities: Most established campgrounds maintain vault toilets with varying cleanliness. "The bathrooms are immaculate! They were clean and fully stocked with paper products, a trash receptacle, and air freshener," explains Krista Z. about Canyon Point Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Crawdad catching: Christopher Creek offers unique opportunities for children. "The best part is catching crawdads with our home made fishing poles (which is a step up from when i was a kid and would catch them with cups)," says Jennifer A. from Sharp Creek Campground.
Kid-friendly hiking options: Several short trails suitable for children exist throughout the area. Matt M. explains that Canyon Point is "close to forest lake estates, and Payson is a short drive away for anything you might have forgot or need."
Wildlife education: The Forest Service occasionally hosts educational programs at certain campgrounds. At Aspen Campground, Matt M. shares, "It's been a while but still great. I've been to this area a lot of times as a kid and decided to take my kid up here. It still a great area."
Tips from RVers
Dump stations: While most pet-friendly camping areas near Young lack hookups, some provide dump services. Helena and Kyle R. note about Aspen Campground, "Sites well spaced out, friendly hosts, close enough to the lake and the dump out ($7), quiet."
RV site selection: When camping with pets in RVs, consider site location carefully. H.Z. mentions about Mogollon Campground, "Just a 1/2 mile on dirt road so that's nice but the walk in spots for this campsite are SMALL and VERY tight/close together. Not only that but all spots are parallel."
Water access points: Many campsites offer potable water filling stations for RVs. Momo H. notes about Sharp Creek, "Potable water hookups if you're running low. We got there after office closing hours, but the site has a kiosk for after hours tickets."
