Arizona camping is a very popular activity... especially in the summer months in the cool "high country" South of Flagstaff.

Arizona camping appeals to both residents and visitors, including winter visitors practicing long term RV camping in the desert.

As you might expect, most of this outdoor living migrates from the desert to the cool mountains and back, depending on the weather. And like the campers, this article will also migrate from the desert to the pine forested Coconino Plateau.

Bureau of Land Management Camping

Information from the BLM website...

BLM Arizona provides many opportunities for camping on public lands. Visitors have the opportunity to camp at campgrounds, Long-Term Visitor Areas (LTVAs), or in dispersed areas throughout the state.

Developed Campgrounds and Picnic Areas

BLM Arizona manages many developed campgrounds and picnic areas in the state. Each campground offers a different mix of facilities, landscapes, and outdoor activities. Most campgrounds have use fees ranging from $4.00 to $10.00 per unit per night. Most sites have a 14-day stay limit.

Developed Campground Location Map

Long-Term Visitor Areas

Long-Term Visitor Areas (LTVAs) are specially designated areas located on BLM lands in California and Arizona. These LTVAs provide places for visitors to stay for longer periods of time between September and April. A seasonal special recreation permit is required, and the permit allows visitors to stay in any of the six LTVAs in California or two LTVAs in Arizona: Imperial Dam LTVA near Yuma and La Posa LTVA near Quartzsite. The America The Beautiful Interagency Passes, or Golden Age/Golden Access Passports are not accepted.

Dispersed Recreation Camping

Camping on public lands away from developed recreation facilities is referred to as "dispersed camping." Most of the remainder of public lands in Arizona are open to dispersed camping, as long as such use does not conflict with other authorized uses or occurs in areas posted "closed to camping," or in some way adversely affects wildlife species or natural resources.

Dispersed Camping Location Map (pdf)

Dispersed camping is allowed on Public Lands in Arizona for no more than a period of 14 days within any period of 28 consecutive days. The 28-day period begins when a camper initially occupies a specific location on public lands. The 14 day limit may be reached either through a number of separate visits or through 14 days of continuous overnight occupation during the 28 day period. After the 14th day of occupation, the camper must move outside of a 25 mile radius of the previous location until the 29th day since the initial occupation. The purpose of this special rule is to prevent damage to sensitive resources caused by continual use of any particular areas. In addition, campers must not leave any personal property unattended for more than 10 days.

Arizona camping strongly favors desert camping between October and March. Some are winter visitors and many are Arizonans out enjoying their state.

Desert camping is popular with winter visitors. They come to Arizona's warm deserts in their RV's by the thousands. Many choose to experience Arizona camping in desert RV parks and campgrounds in central Arizona and along the Colorado River, rather than in the larger towns.

If you dream of winter camping and your dream looks like the sunrise photo below , then Central Arizona is the place for you.

Some campers live in commercial RV Parks and campgrounds all winter... until the snow is all melted and the weather has warmed up back home.

Arizona camping means camping on the open desert... for some adventurous types. They love staying on the open desert near small towns or desert bass lakes. There's lots of room.

Boating, hunting, fishing, rock hounding, biking, hiking, and just plain "getting out" lures many Arizona residents to camp in the open desert and around our desert lakes.

Sedona and the nearby Verde River Valley lures a number of visitors in the spring and fall transition months.

Arizona camping changes when the desert heats up. A mass exodus occurs with the changing season.

Local campers head for South of Flagstaff. The green forests and meadows are soothing to the eyes of desert dwellers.

Arizona camping South of Flagstaff offers a lot of choices for the outdoor living set. Pictured above is an open camping area (we call it dry camping) in the Coconino National Forest.

These areas are favored by those with self-contained trailers and motor homes. These areas are also favored by large groups, including clubs, church groups, and for family reunions.

Camping in these open areas allows your group to get off by yourselves, and away from others.

South of Flagstaff also offers many improved campgrounds, many by lakes or streams. Water, picnic tables, fire pits or grills, toilets, and other improvements are available.

Arizona camping by fishing lakes and streams offers several forms of recreation in addition to the camping and fishing.

You can watch the bald eagles, ospreys and herons that make their homes around some of our lakes.

Hiking or just short nature walks are popular, and mountain biking the trails around many campgrounds is always a treat.

Rock climbing is strenuous, but it is attracting more and more participants each year.

Please don't ride ATV's around and around the roads within the campground. ATV riding is restricted to traveling to and from camp.

Improved campgrounds tend to be favored by tent campers, and those with tent trailers or small campers.

The photo at the top of this page was made in Monument Valley, near the Utah border. Monument Valley is a great place for a 2 or 3 day camping and sightseeing trip.

Arizona camping is a frequent activity for many. It also holds a powerful attraction to... full time camping nomads, occasional campers, and those looking for a cheap vacation.

Arizona camping has something for all of us. It's nice that the forest is huge and there's enough room for all.

A quick Google search using the keyword phrase campgrounds + arizona state parks returns interesting and informative listings and ads. The keyword phrase az blm campgrounds also is productive.

Arizona Camping News and Information

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January 23, 2012

Coconino National Forest

New Red Rock Pass area changes begin

Sedona, AZ – New changes to the Red Rock Pass Program area become effective February 1, 2012. As a result, the public will see fewer areas where a Red Rock Pass is required. Our new Red Rock Country Recreation Guide and trail maps will also be available February 1 to provide more information about local recreation opportunities, or online at www.redrockcountry.org.

In addition, the Forest Service is bringing back the Grand Annual Pass. This pass covers the Red Rock Pass area and entrance into several popular concession managed sites: Call of the Canyon, Grasshopper Point and Crescent Moon Ranch. This pass is being offered in cooperation with Recreation Resource Management who operates and maintains these sites under contract with the Forest Service. The Grand Annual Pass can be purchased at either the Sedona Chamber in Uptown Sedona or at our Red Rock Visitor Center.

The new Red Rock Pass fee area includes two major travel corridors and seven stand alone recreation sites. Included at these fee sites are the 6 standard amenity services including: restrooms, picnic tables, garbage receptacles, parking, signing and patrol.

Specifically, the new designated fee area includes: a several mile corridor along State Route 89A, beginning at Midgely Bridge and extending north to Bootlegger day use area in Oak Creek Canyon; and secondly, the State Route 179 corridor beginning at Bell Rock Vista & Pathway and extending north past Back O' Beyond Road. These corridors include: the Huckaby Trailhead, Encinoso, Bootlegger, Banjo Bill and Halfway day use areas in Oak Creek Canyon; and Cathedral Rock, Little Horse, Courthouse Butte, Yavapai Vista, and Bell Rock Vista Trailheads along SR 179. Other individual sites include: Honanki, Palatki and V-V Heritage Sites, and Doe/Bear Mountain, Boynton Canyon, Baldwin and Jim Thompson Trailheads.

The Daily Red Rock Pass remains at $5, Weekly Pass at $15, Annual Pass at $20, and the new Grand Annual Pass is available for $40. Passes are available for purchase at several Forest Service locations, the Sedona Chamber Visitor Center and various Sedona businesses.

For more information, please contact the Red Rock Ranger District located one mile south of the Village of Oak Creek or call (928) 203-7500.

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January 20, 2012

BLM

Fee-Free Days for BLM-Managed Lands in Arizona Set for 2012

PHOENIX – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in conjunction with other agencies within the Department of the Interior, will waive recreation-related day-use fees for visitors to the National System of Public Lands for Martin Luther King, Jr., weekend (January 14-16); Get Outdoors Day (June 9); National Public Lands Day (September 29); and Veterans Day weekend (November 10-12).

“While the BLM serves as the steward of America’s public lands, we can’t do our job alone,” said BLM Director Bob Abbey. “Waiving fees a few days out of the year may help some people, who might otherwise not have the opportunity to experience their public lands and develop a passion for them as others have.”

Site standard amenity and individual day-use fees at BLM recreation sites and areas will be waived for the specified dates. Other fees, such as overnight camping, cabin rentals, and group day-use, will remain in effect. In Arizona, day use fees will be waived at:

Area	Site Name	Contact Number
Arizona Strip	Virgin River Gorge Recreation Area	(435) 688-3200
Kingman	Burro Creek, Wild Cow Springs and Windy Point Recreation Sites (The purchase price of the Desert Garden Brochure and campsite dump fees will also be waived)	(928) 718-3700
Lake Havasu	Crossroads Campground and Bullfrog, Bass Point and Quail Hollow Day Use Areas	(928) 505-1200
Phoenix	Painted Rock Campground and Painted Rocks Petroglyph Day Use Area	(623) 580-5500
Safford	Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area	(928) 348-4400
Tucson	St. David Cienega/Land Corral, Fairbank Historic Townsite, San Pedro House and Hereford Bridge Trailheads	(520) 258-7200
Yuma	Squaw Lake Campground and Boat Launch, Senator Wash Boat Ramp and Day Use Area, Senator Wash North and South Shore Campgrounds, Betty’s Kitchen Watchable Wildlife Area, Oxbow Recreation and Wildlife Area and Ehrenberg Sandbowl Off-Highway Vehicle Area	(928) 317-3200

There are over 12 million acres of BLM Public Lands in Arizona to visit, enjoy and explore. Fee free days provides a great opportunity to visit a new area, and explore the wonder of your public lands in Arizona.

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September 10, 2010

USDA Forest Service
Coconino National Forest

Editor's note, 11-1-2011: The dates will change slightly from year to year, but the campground closures will generally follow the list below.

Coconino NF Prepares for Seasonal Campground Closures

Flagstaff, AZ – Coconino National Forest officials are preparing for seasonal closures of campgrounds and day-use areas, which will be closed for the duration of winter and are reopened every spring.

When closed, campgrounds and day-use sites will no longer have services available, and in many cases, will be gated closed. Some campgrounds on the Coconino, however, will remain open year-round.

Alternately, a few campgrounds on the Coconino may be used during the closure season, free of charge, as long as the roads to those campgrounds remain open. During the off-season, visitors must use the designated sites and be prepared to camp without services such as water and toilets.

Visitors who choose to camp in dispersed located must remain at least one mile from designated recreation sites. As always, practice Leave No Trace methods when camping in the forest.

The following chart outlines the campgrounds and day-use areas on the Coconino:

Campground	District	Available in Off-Season (as long as roads are open)	CLOSES at NOON on listed DATE
Ashurst Lake Campground	Mormon Lake	Yes	Oct. 11
Forked Pine	Mormon Lake	Yes	Sep. 13
Canyon Vista	Mormon Lake		Oct. 11
Dairy Springs	Mormon Lake		Oct. 11
Dairy Springs Group	Mormon Lake		Oct. 11
Double Springs	Mormon Lake		Closed Sep. 7
Kinnikinick	Mormon Lake	Yes	Closed Sep. 7
Lakeview	Mormon Lake		Oct. 11
Pinegrove	Mormon Lake		Oct. 11
Bonito	Peaks		Oct. 11
Little Elden Springs Horse Camp	Peaks		Oct. 11
Lockett Meadow	Peaks		Closed – Schultz Fire Closure Area
O'Leary Group Camp	Peaks		Oct. 11
Beaver Creek	Red Rock		Open Year-Round
Cave Springs	Red Rock		Mid-Nov.
Chavez Crossing Group Camp	Red Rock		Open Year-Round
Clear Creek Camp	Red Rock		Open Year-Round
Clear Creek Group	Red Rock		Open Year-Round
Manzanita	Red Rock		Open Year-Round
Pine Flat	Red Rock		Closed for construction
Blue Ridge	Mogollon Rim		Sep. 27
Clints Well	Mogollon Rim		Open Year-Round, Depending on Weather
Elks Group Camp	Mogollon Rim		Open Year-Round, Depending on Weather
Kehl Springs	Mogollon Rim		Open Year-Round, Depending on Weather
Knoll Lake	Mogollon Rim		Mid-Oct.
Moqui Group	Mogollon Rim		Sep. 27
Rock Crossing	Mogollon Rim		Sep. 27

Day-Use Areas	District	Available in Off-Season (as long as roads are open)	CLOSE DATE
Lower Lake Mary Picnic Area	Mormon Lake		Oct. 11
Upper Lake Mary Site#1	Mormon Lake	Yes	Oct. 11
Upper Lake Mary Site#2	Mormon Lake	Yes	Oct. 11
Lake Mary Narrows Launch Site	Mormon Lake		Sep. 13

For more information regarding recreational opportunities on the Coconino National Forest, please visit our web site at www.coconinoforest.us, or call 928-527-3600.

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May 28, 2011

SoFA Staff

Forest Campsites Are First Come

Flagstaff, Arizona - Coconino National Forest officials are re-iterating that "homesteading" open access campsites is illegal under Federal law. Violators can be fined or their illegally placed property seized.

The Coconino National Forest's website provides this information

Can I reserve a campsite by parking a vehicle, placing a tent or other personal property on the forest in advance of occupying the site?

No, vehicles, personal property or other objects including tents left on the forest for the purpose of reserving a campsite or storing property is in violation of Title 36CFR 261.10(f)"Placing a vehicle or other object in such a manner that is an impediment or hazard to the safety or convenience of any person" The violation is a Class B Misdemeanor with a fine of $250. In addition leaving property unattended for 72-hours is considered abandon property under Title 36 261.10(e) "Abandoning personal property". Fine is $250 for a vehicle or structure and $100 for other objects. Vehicles and other personal property left unattended over 72-hours may be impounded by the Forest Service

Forest Officers experience increase violations during busy Holiday weekends and during the hunting season. To avoid a citation and/or impounding of your personal property do not leave property unattended in the forest.

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February 22, 2010

USDA Forest Service
Coconino National Forest

New Camping and Campfire Regulations for Fossil Creek

Sedona, Ariz. – As students and families anticipate warm weather and head for water during Spring Break, the Forest Service is helping visitors prepare for changes at Fossil Creek, one of Northern Arizona’s more popular swimming and camping sites.

If you are going to Fossil Creek, the Forest Service wants you to know about new camping and campfire regulations that will affect your visit there. Specifically, to help protect Fossil Creek, beginning March 8, 2010, campfires will be prohibited throughout Fossil Creek and camping will be limited to certain areas away from the creek.

Big changes for Fossil Creek began in 2005 with the decommissioning of the Arizona Public Service Hydro-electric dam and the return of full flows to the creek. Then in 2009 Congress designated Fossil Creek as a National Wild and Scenic River. The Coconino and Tonto National Forests are working together to maintain and protect the area’s special values.

“Fossil Creek is incredibly beautiful and became popular really fast, so it’s no wonder that it’s being loved to death,” said Red Rock Ranger District Recreation Staff Officer Jennifer Burns. “Unfortunately, we’re seeing its beauty eroded from impacts of tens of thousands of visitors wanting to get close to the clear pools and lush vegetation.”

Officials say trees are being chopped down for firewood, human and pet waste is threatening water quality, streamside vegetation is being trampled as new trails are created and the ground is littered with waste, glass, trash and ash.

“We are very concerned about the threat of wildfire to the creek and nearby communities,” said Burns. “Last summer we put out over 200 abandoned campfires.”

As the Forest Service works with the public to create and implement a long-term Comprehensive River Management Plan, officials and volunteers will be on site informing visitors of current and anticipated changes in how the area is managed for recreation. “Until we get a long term plan worked out,” says Burns, “we have to stop the trashing of this treasure. We hope visitors understand these interim management changes are meant to buy us time.”

Because Fossil Creek is one of only two Wild and Scenic Rivers in the State, the Forest Service will be including Fossil Creek in a national Respect the Rivers campaign to connect people to their riparian environments, return watersheds and rivers to a healthy state and call on the public to become stewards of such national treasures.

For more information about Fossil Creek or how to help protect the area, please go to: www.coconinoforest.us, www.redrockcountry.org, or www.tonto www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/home.shtml or call the Red Rock Ranger District at (928) 282-4119 or the Payson Ranger District at (928) 474-7900.

Also, you can find any relevant Forest Service press releases regarding seasonal Arizona camping openings, restrictions, or closures, and... I leave winter closure press releases posted long term for your information on that same page.

Arizona camping news releases covering access, campground improvement activities and permit programs are also posted there as they are issued.

Arizona camping, high country camping, or desert camping used in a Google search will show you many additional resources.