Sometimes you come across a campground that makes you feel like you are 12 again, just hanging out with the family in the beautiful surroundings of the Arizona Rim Country, roasting marshmallows. The sites have these awesome, monolithic, USFS, stone, picnic tables next to a solid cooking campfire pit, which makes me think of my earliest road trip memories. 

With only 9 spaces, and just a few that could accommodate an RV of any size beyond our compact 15 feet, this is the ideal place to easily car-camp near highway access.  No electrical hook-ups but the bathrooms are clean and there is good water.  Bring your solar panel as there is plenty of sun among the pines!

The uber-popular Horton Springs Trail starts right across from campsite #1, and it can lead you up and onto the rim for adventures lasting an afternoon or a week. Many backpackers began or ended their adventures at the trail sign. 

While it was super busy on the weekend, the mid-week peace of this place was priceless. There are a few lesser-known trails just around the corner which offer privacy and similar experiences. The creek is stocked with trout for fly fishing enthusiast and the trails are also multi-use for mountain bikers as well. The fresh water is palatable and the pit-toilets are efficiently kept clean by the annual resident camp host Ken, an amiable guy who loves the area as much as his job. He’ll chat you up or get you some firewood, but don’t bother on Wednesdays or Thursdays which are his day’s off. 

The town of Payson is less than 20 minutes away and has all the services and restaurants you could want. We highly recommend going to the Alfonso’s Mexican take out– absolutely worth it.