OT: Camping
- Thread starter zibba
- Start date
vdhillon2
Member
Depends on if you have an SUV, want to hike, fish, boat, ect.
You can't go wrong with the Mogollon rim. Few lakes in the rim, you can camp at a developed sight, or keep going back into the rim offroading and find a secluded spot. Its also assesible by car for a small portion. My favorite spot out there is chevelon canyon lake.
If you are looking for a good hike West Clear creek Canyon is amazing, off Lake Mary road.
I take my boys ( who are 5 and 3) to christopher creek, an established camp sight you have to pay for, but good starter for them.
hope that helps.
You can't go wrong with the Mogollon rim. Few lakes in the rim, you can camp at a developed sight, or keep going back into the rim offroading and find a secluded spot. Its also assesible by car for a small portion. My favorite spot out there is chevelon canyon lake.
If you are looking for a good hike West Clear creek Canyon is amazing, off Lake Mary road.
I take my boys ( who are 5 and 3) to christopher creek, an established camp sight you have to pay for, but good starter for them.
hope that helps.
zibba
New member
Great, thanks for the info/insight. I think this trip we're hoping for a good (cool) camping spot where we can get in a nice day hike and just relax by a fire with some whiskey at night. 
I have a Jeep Commander but I'm not sure how reliable it is for off-roading, since I've never used it for that. I have an unbelievable amount of fishing gear up in Minnesota at my parents place -- I just didn't bring it with me when I moved here due to space constraints. I suppose there's no harm in starting to get geared back up out here. Although, I wouldn't know the first thing about fishing in AZ as I'm use to jigging from a boat mostly. And, on that note, I don't have a boat either so that limits things. Won't stop me from camping by a lake -- I've always preferred camping near water.
I have a Jeep Commander but I'm not sure how reliable it is for off-roading, since I've never used it for that. I have an unbelievable amount of fishing gear up in Minnesota at my parents place -- I just didn't bring it with me when I moved here due to space constraints. I suppose there's no harm in starting to get geared back up out here. Although, I wouldn't know the first thing about fishing in AZ as I'm use to jigging from a boat mostly. And, on that note, I don't have a boat either so that limits things. Won't stop me from camping by a lake -- I've always preferred camping near water.
BobthePhotoGuy
New member
Go upto Woods Canyon Lake. Everything from free to $18 a night. Fishing at the lake, hiking and gorgeous scenery.
Here are few pics from my list trip.
Here are few pics from my list trip.
zibba
New member
Beautiful pictures! All these suggestions are great. Going to be hard to figure out where to go first, but these are all going on the list the more I look.
Keep em comin! Thanks again.
BobthePhotoGuy
New member
Another easy place is Lynx Lake near Prescott.
There is also the Bull Pen on West Clear Creek near Camp Verde. Dirt road to get there but 4wheel not needed. A bit more remote but easy to get too. There are bathrooms.
There is also the Bull Pen on West Clear Creek near Camp Verde. Dirt road to get there but 4wheel not needed. A bit more remote but easy to get too. There are bathrooms.
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bugs713
In-A-Gadda-Divita!
Checkout http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/forum.php you will find some good places to go camping/wheeling and get help with your Commander. People there always have something going on, big and small outings, day trips and weekends. I'm going on a back way to Crown King run with them this weekend, several are camping over night. They have every model, shape, condition and year of Jeep, so no one feels left out! Nice forum with some really good, helpful people!
Bob, those photos gave me a woody for the woods!:thumbsup::thumbsup:
Bob, those photos gave me a woody for the woods!:thumbsup::thumbsup:
AaronFC
New member
lately i have been venturing out to new places. but my family has ALWAYS loved the rim. between full family campouts and camping with my best friend, my cousin, we have spend several weeks a year camping along rim road 300, (same road to get to woods canyon, bear canyon, knoll) from hwy 260 all the way over to the 87. now that school has started its not so busy all the time, but it is monsoon season and you can definitely expect rain, fog, and often hail almost every afternoon. my prefernce in bear canyon lake, small hike to get from camping areas to the lake but worth the walk. heres a couple pictures from the back side of the lake on an august morning, and afternoon, about three years ago. to get here, take the woods canyon lake turn off from the 260, and follow the signs to bear canyon lake, BUT turn right on forest road 84(if your each the fire tower, youve passed the 84) , and follow it till the left fork, (if you see the power lines you passed the fork) take that left fork and follow it down and to the left through the gravel pit and youll see the gate. pick a place to camp. hike down the road to find the lake. this lake has produced LOTS of fish for me. catching (and releasing) 2x the limit, some days more of stockers, and up to 18inch trout.ive also included a photo of my cousin with an example of a fairly common size fish here.
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AaronFC
New member
ALL of these rim lakes are great places to see osprey, and often eagles soaring over head. i regularly see the osprey hunting the lakes, and have even seen mid-air battles between bald eagles and the osprey. heres a photo of an osprey mid-hunt. this is kind of a cheated photo as i used a dead fish to bait the osprey for a photo op. he could actually hear the shutter on my SLR and it took him several fly-bys being spooked by the sound before he finally picked up this fish. the cool outcome of that scenario is i have several photos of this bird (saved SOMEWHERE on my external hard drives with thousands of other photos) looking at me as he flys by and hears the shutter.
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zibba
New member
Wow, thanks everyone for the great tips. This is really helpful. I might need to start a separate thread for fishing tips out here in AZ with all of these cool lakes people are mentioning. Again, much appreciated.
Thanks for the link, I'll check out the forum. :thumbsup:
Kristina has been wanting to go here for a long time. Was it pretty busy there?
Some amazing shots there and thanks for the good directions. I'll have to print them out when we make our way up there. When is it too late (i.e., too cold) to go up there with summer/fall gear? I don't have the gear (or really the interest) to camp in the snow.
You're out of control. But, I'm going to take that as an invite to come over, hang by your pool, drink beer and talk reefing.
Thanks for the link, I'll check out the forum. :thumbsup:
Kristina has been wanting to go here for a long time. Was it pretty busy there?
Some amazing shots there and thanks for the good directions. I'll have to print them out when we make our way up there. When is it too late (i.e., too cold) to go up there with summer/fall gear? I don't have the gear (or really the interest) to camp in the snow.
You're out of control. But, I'm going to take that as an invite to come over, hang by your pool, drink beer and talk reefing.
dream54ing
New member
we were planning a trip there for years, again, things keep coming up preventing us from going. its probably going to be another year or so before we can consider it
a hidden treasure for sure!
AaronFC
New member
ive been told people enjoy cold camping in october with little to no snow. but ive never ventured to camp up there after mid september. tried to snow camp one year but after a certain date they just start locking gates.
coralreefjunkie
New member
I haven't been out camping the last two years due to poor health. But when I was healthy, I typically camp at Christopher Creek, next to the fish hatchery. I like it because it there because it's not too far to get to, especially since I don't have a truck, and you can get cell reception (LOL...you know what I mean...in case of emergencies).
You can camp in the campground, or risk it and tent up on the forest side, away from everyone and the sound of civilization. Every time I was up there, it reminded me of my roots in the Pacific Northwest...
Also, you can go fishing in the creek.
If your family doesn't want it rough, then they can camp at Ponderosa Pines, which has showers and is about 5 miles from the hatchery.
You can camp in the campground, or risk it and tent up on the forest side, away from everyone and the sound of civilization. Every time I was up there, it reminded me of my roots in the Pacific Northwest...
Also, you can go fishing in the creek.
If your family doesn't want it rough, then they can camp at Ponderosa Pines, which has showers and is about 5 miles from the hatchery.
Weyrman
New member
If you don't mind the heat at this time of year you can head up to Apache lake and camp in several different campgrounds and fish from shore.
Anyplace you go be sure to bring more water than you think you'll need!
If you are looking for cooler weather you can head south to Mount Lemon. There are campgrounds at different elevations along the Mount Lemon Hiway. The higher you go the cooler it gets. If you hike the Butterfly Trail that has a trailhead not too far from the Pallisades Ranger Station you run into some very lush growth that's close to rainforest density. Elevation is about 7,500 and the trail has some steep spots. There are numerous different trails in the area as well.
There are several campgrounds nearby:
Anyplace you go be sure to bring more water than you think you'll need!
If you are looking for cooler weather you can head south to Mount Lemon. There are campgrounds at different elevations along the Mount Lemon Hiway. The higher you go the cooler it gets. If you hike the Butterfly Trail that has a trailhead not too far from the Pallisades Ranger Station you run into some very lush growth that's close to rainforest density. Elevation is about 7,500 and the trail has some steep spots. There are numerous different trails in the area as well.
There are several campgrounds nearby:
Stolireef
Active member
Plus 1 on this. BTW I used to be really into camping but now prefer a cabin and day trips to hiking and fishing. Kohls ranch just outside of Payson is beautiful. Show Low is also beautiful.
zibba
New member
This is information overload and, it's awesome! I'm saving this thread and will update it as I visit them. I think we're dialed in for our first trip this Saturday. Might to a different spot on Sunday depending on the weather. I'll report back, hopefully with some good pictures!
