Aspen Campground is a scenic hideaway for anglers, boaters, families and photographers, located in north central Arizona near Heber and Payson. It sits in a dense pine and aspen area forest near the shore of Woods Canyon Lake at an elevation of 7,000 ft. With spacious campsites, calm and scenic lake waters, a marina, boat ramp and many amenities, Aspen is one of the most popular camping spots in Arizona. Natural Features: The large and rambling campground offers several camping experiences and environments from marshy meadows to a rocky forest. Wildlife viewing includes birds, squirrels, deer and elk. Deer, skunks and bears are common campground visitors. Summer temperatures can be very pleasant because of the elevation. However, the rainy season often brings afternoon thunderstorms from late June through August. Visitors should come prepared for rain and cool nighttime temperatures. Recreation: Popular activities include trout fishing, hiking, boating and photography. Woods Canyon Lake is one of seven lakes in the Rim Lakes Recreation Area, and one of the most visited. Two other lakes are within a short drive. Woods Canyon Lake only allows electric boat motors. An easy hiking trail meanders around the lake, and the campgrounds paved roads make for great bike rides. Families might also enjoy attending educational programs given by Forest Service rangers on the weekends. Facilities: Aspen Campground is a large facility with 148 campsites. It is composed of four loops in alternating meadow and wooded areas, and campsites are spaced well apart from each other. The nearest showers are 10 miles away at Canyon Point Campground. A marina with a full service store with groceries, boat rentals and firewood is available at the lake. Gas, phone and groceries are also available in nearby Forest Lakes. Nearby Attractions: Visitors can explore endless vistas and take part in many outdoor activities in the surrounding Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, which encompasses 2 million acres of magnificent mountain country in east-central Arizona and New Mexico. The nearest towns are Heber and Payson. ACTIVITIES Boating: Marina Picnicking: Picnic Tables

Aspen Campground at Woods Canyon

Located in the ponderosa pine forest, this campground is within walking distance of Willow Springs Lake which provides boating and fishing opportunities. Hiking and mountain biking opportunities are nearby in the non-motorized Wildlife Area. The General Crook National Recreation Trail is also within a mile of the campground. Be prepared for rain, often heavy, through July and August. Expect cool to cold nighttime temperatures. Natural Features: Sinkhole Campground is surrounded by ponderosa pines. The entrance, roads and back-in section is asphalt. Recreation: Fishing and boating are available at nearby Willow Springs Lake which is approximately one mile from the campground. Facilities: Sinkhole Campground has 26 sites (sites 14 through 26 are available for advanced reservation). Sites 1 through 13 are first-come, first served. There are two accessible sites, two double sites and the rest are single sites. All sites are back-in. Each site offers a campfire ring with grill and picnic table. Additional amenities include accessible vault toilets, drinking water and trash service. A camp host is available at the site. Nearby Attractions: Woods Canyon Lakes is located approximately 10 miles west off of Road 300 and Road 105. The store at the lake has boat and kayak rentals. Gas, phone and groceries are available approximately four miles east at Forest Lakes.

Sinkhole Campground

## Overview

Spillway Campground is on the shores of popular Woods Canyon Lake near the town of Heber in north central Arizona. Situated in a pine forest with plenty of shade, the campground has individual campsites as well as one group campsite for small gatherings. Given its proximity to the lake, hiking trails and scenic areas, Spillway is a convenient getaway for anglers, boaters, hikers, families and photographers.

## Recreation

Woods Canyon Lake is one of seven lakes in the Rim Lakes Recreation Area, and one of the most visited. Trout fishing (both lake and stream) is a favorite pastime. Woods Canyon Lake only allows electric boat motors. Two other lakes are within a short drive.   
  
The Rim Lakes Vista Trail, less than a mile from the campground, and others in the area lead to spectacular views of the Mogollon Rim. An easy hiking trail meanders around the lake, and the paved roads in the recreation area make for great afternoon bike rides.   
  
Families might also enjoy attending educational programs given by Forest Service rangers on the weekends.

## Facilities

The campground is a relatively small facility with 26 individual campsites and one group site that can accommodate up to 25 people. Tents, trailers and small motorhomes are allowed - please read information on each individual spur size to determine if your RV will fit in the site. The main campground loop road has a fairly tight turning radius hedged by trees so no RV/trailer over 32' is recommended. Each shaded campsite offers a leveled spur, picnic table, fire ring, and charcoal grill. All campsites, loop road, vault restrooms, and water hydrants are compliant with the Architectural Barriers Act for accessibility. Some sites are directly on the lakeshore with a view of the water. 

Restrooms are provided. Boat rentals and basic camping supplies are available at the Woods Canyon Store, while the nearest showers are at Canyon Point Campground 10 miles away.

## Natural Features

Spillway is located in a thick forest of ponderosa pine, oak and Douglas fir at an elevation of 7,500 ft. The campground is situated on the lakeshore overlooking the calm blue waters of 52-acre Woods Canyon Lake, where visitors may see squirrels, deer, elk and a variety of birds.   
  
Nearby hiking trails offer views of the Mogollon Rim, a 200-mile long cliff in northern Arizona that ranges between 5,000 and 7,000 feet in elevation and serves as the geographical dividing line between the cool high country above and the hot, dry desert below.   
Summer temperatures can be very pleasant because of the elevation. However, the rainy season often brings afternoon thunderstorms from late June through August. Visitors should come prepared for rain and cool nighttime temperatures. 

## Nearby Attractions

Gas, phone and groceries are available 10 miles east at Forest Lakes. The nearest full service community is Payson, Arizona, 35 miles west on Highway 260.   
  
Visitors can explore endless vistas and take part in many outdoor activities in the surrounding Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, which encompasses 2 million acres of magnificent mountain country in east-central Arizona and New Mexico.

Spillway (az)

## Overview

Houston Mesa Campground is located in the forested northern section of Tonto National Forest, just one mile north of Payson, Arizona and less than two hours from Phoenix.   
  
With family, equestrian and tent-only campsites, this campground can accommodate a range of visitors and offers plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors, including several miles of hiking and horseback riding trails nearby.   
  
As the fifth largest forest in the United States, the Tonto National Forest is one of the most-visited "urban" forests in the United States (approximately 5.8 million visitors annually). Its boundaries are Phoenix to the south, the Mogollon Rim to the north and the San Carlos and Fort Apache Indian reservations to the east.

## Recreation

Many visitors come to Houston Mesa to horseback ride, hike, camp and picnic. Houston Mesa Loop Trail is a 9-mile round trip through a pinyon and juniper woodland and can be accessed from the horse camping area. The Houston Mesa Interpretive Trail is a 0.5-mile self-guided trail. 

## Facilities

Houston Mesa has 74 campsites, including 29 equestrian sites for campers with horses or mules, and 17 tent-only sites for those who want a quieter experience. There are several amenities to make campers feel at home, including showers (coin-operated) and flush toilets. All of the sites are accessible.  
  
  
  
The horse camping section (Mule Deer Loop) is across the street from the main campground and features 29 individual sites with tables and grills. Corrals are also available. Campers who reserve these sites must have horses or mules. 

## Natural Features

The campground is located at an elevation of 5,200 ft. in a mixed forest and shrub area, with spacious campsites offering both sun and shade. Winters are pleasant and cool with cold nighttime temperatures, while summers are warm and sunny, providing a nice getaway from the hotter deserts around Phoenix. Hawks, eagles, javelina, deer, fox, skunk and coyote live in the area. 

## Nearby Attractions

Campers who make the quick trip to the town of Payson, one mile south, will find restaurants, shopping and other conveniences.   
  
Scenic driving and outdoor recreation abound in the surrounding Tonto National Forest, which embraces almost 3 million acres of rugged and spectacularly beautiful country, ranging from saguaro cactus-studded desert to pine-forested mountains beneath the Mogollon Rim.

Houston Mesa Campground

Bear Willow Road Dispersed Camping

Payson Campground & RV Resort

Fr 171 Campground

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Aspen Campground

This secluded forest camp offers easy access to two features of high visitor interest. The first is Knoll Lake, a medium-sized body of water tucked away in a picturesque setting. People come here to fish for trout and tour the lake in small boats. The second feature of interest near this campground is the spectacular Mogollon Rim, a two thousand foot escarpment that marks the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau. This picturesque plunge from cool highlands to low deserts extends across most of Arizona. The area around Knoll Lake, however, is the home of some of the Rim's most magnificent views. It provides a scenic setting for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding or just sitting back and enjoying the panorama.

Knoll Lake Campground

A beautiful, narrow, canyon-bound lake, accessible by foot trail only, Bear Canyon Lake is one of several in a series of fishing lakes built by Arizona Game and Fish Department. Despite being several miles down a dirt road and having few amenities, it draws many visitors. The partially developed campground which is set among the mixed conifer, oak and aspen, has only limited amenities. Bear Canyon Lake is a "Pack it in - Pack it out" area. There is NO GARBAGE SERVICE. Please be good stewards of the land and leave the area better than how you found it. For purposes of fire restrictions, this campground is considered to be an 'undeveloped' campground. No fires will be permitted when fire restrictions are in effect for the Apache-Sitgreaves Forest. At an elevation of 7,560, Bear Canyon Lake consists of 60 surface acres with a maximum depth of 50 feet. Because of its depth, this lake has no water quality problems. The Arizona Department of Game and Fish stocks it with catchable-sized rainbow trout about six times each year.

Bear Canyon Lake and Camping Area

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The Best Camping in Young, Arizona

Top Young Campgrounds

Aspen Campground at Woods Canyon

Sinkhole Campground

Spillway (az)

Fr 171 Campground

Aspen Campground

Houston Mesa Campground

Bear Willow Road Dispersed Camping

Knoll Lake Campground

Bear Canyon Lake and Camping Area

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