Campgrounds near the little colorado

[JakeKelley]

This August I am going to be car camping with my family. We have been to Mount baldy before but would like a little more of a luxurious (as luxurious as camping can be) way of being out in the wilderness. I was wondering if anyone knew a good camping spot near the little colorado for car camping.

[azbackpackr]

Winn campground is very near Baldy trailhead, and is nice, but doesn't have showers. If you want at-large camping, just drive around up there until you find a spot. Some areas they don't allow it, though, so watch the signs for Lee Valley and Big lake rec areas. Lots of campgrounds at Big Lake, too.

South Fork Campground near Eagar, (off 260, west of 261 junction, also no showers) you can put your tent literally within spittin' distance of the LCR, South Fork, since it runs right through the middle of the campground. Great trail there, too, but make sure you start at the actual trailhead on the far side of the campground. If you start on the left side and go upstream along a trail, it will end. The actual trail is on r. hand side of stream, and there is a TH kiosk there. Not good for dogs because of poison ivy.

Why not check out the Black River as well?

[JakeKelley]

Thanks AZbackpacker! My dad and I really like Winn campground. We do like to observe all of the mule deer; do you know if there are any mule deer in the area?

[azbackpackr]

Yes, there are some deer, but elk are much more common up around Winn. It is very easy to observe elk just by driving around up there at dusk and dawn. If you want to see deer, go to Wenima Wildlife Area, (AZ Game and Fish Dept. park) just a couple miles west of Springerville, off 180/191. That area is all along the Little Colorado River. There is no camping there, though. There are a couple of nice little hiking trails.

There is a big RV campground near there called Casa Malpais Campground, just on the western outskirts of Springerville. They have tent sites and camping cabins as well, but it is not up in the forest, it is on the outskirts of town. And it's luxurious, since they have SHOWERS! But it's right there by the little river, and there are a lot of deer. It is very pleasant. My father in law used to live there all summer in his trailer. Also in Springerville, lots of deer along the river in the Becker Wildlife Area, also just west of town. Also, out in those grasslands areas watch for the pronghorn antelope that are very common.

[JakeKelley]

Thanks again! My dad and I are going to stick with winn campground and hopefully we will see some mule deer (who knows we might see a giant buck) Thanks for the help az backpacker

[JakeKelley]

OH NO!!!!!! All of the sites for winn campground have been reserved! My back up plan was to go off on a FR road and just car camp there. But the Alpine fire shut down the mt baldy wilderness!

[azbackpackr]

But I thought you said your trip is in August? The forest will be open again by then. There will be closures for a long time in the actual burned-out areas, but the areas that didn't burn will re-open after the fire is out (after monsoon starts, in other words.)

So, don't worry about it for the time being.

[JakeKelley]

Well hopefully the fire doesn't go up to the mt baldy area. Thanks

[JakeKelley]

Wallow fire update

As of this morning, about 1,000 people have been displaced as a result of the evacuation of Alpine, Nuntrioso, Hannagan Meadow Lodge, Sprucedale Guest Ranch, Brentwood Church Camp, Hannagan campground, KP campground, West Fork Black River campground and East Fork Black River campground. About 200 people in the Greer area are on evacuation notice. The fire is less than 10 miles from there at this time.

It seems it might be headed for winn campground oh NOOOOOOOOOO