HikeArizona.COM

Does anyone have any ideas for tent camping near Payson this weekend? I've camped at Ponderosa a couple times but would like to get up on the rim this time. Will monsoons be a problem? Any good sites? Any good day hikes in the area?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks so much.

Krause86 wrote:I've camped at Ponderosa a couple times but would like to get up on the rim this time. Will monsoons be a problem?

not if your tent can withstand a little wind. i dont see how monsoons would affect you however, being that they occur thousands of feet off the ground.

There are limitless places to camp. If you prefer campgrounds, check websites for Sitgreaves NF (Starts 25 miles east of Payson on Hwy 260) or Coconino NF (25 miles north of Payson on Hwy 87). If you don't need an organized campsite, pick a dirt road, drive until you see something you like and camp there.

It is almost a certainty that you will be blessed with a monsoon storm or two over the weekend. Enjoy it!

Note: As of today, campfires are prohibited up on the rim and below it on the Tonto NF. Daily rain is helping, but restrictions may still be in effect over the weekend.

here's the local hikes
http://hikearizona.com/location_g.php?I ... ID=7&ZL=10

Monsoon is a season. Probably not to much to worry about unless you camp in Indian Bend Wash.

Beware I recently read Possible vocalizations heard at Woods Canyon Lake.

That whole area is great for camping. I've stayed at two. Christopher Creek, 21 miles east of Payson on hwy 260 and Canyon Point. Canyon Point is the only one of the Federal campgounds in the area that has showers, so if you need that, it's your only choice. It's 4.5 miles east or past the visitors center on 260 as you head toward heber. For a hike I like Horton Creek and See Canyon. This website and give you the info you need on both of these hikes. I almost always get some light to heavy rain in the afternoon between 3 and 6 PM. I usually just watch the sky and head for my tent or truck for a few minutes and ride it out.
Have fun!

joe bartels wrote:Monsoon is a season. :

Nope. Look it up. Any dictionary, online or otherwise will tell you a Monsoon is any wind system (such as the Jet Stream) that changes direction, seasonally
a thundershower is called a thundershower, believe it or not!

well Im just trying to start some lively discussion here, we all know the forum needs it.
Oh, to be back on original topic, yes there is a myriad of choices above the rim for car camping. Take the rim road #300 from the west side about 12.5 miles north of the 260 and drive immediatly straight, this will be 218A and will take you to Milk Ranch Point. a dozen of very nice, RV (and usually quad) free campsites await you.

I don't know what I'm doing cause I can't describe it as a process.

Still haven't heard of a monsoon warning.

That pretty much sucks if you can't have a fire. Are they not allowed in campsites, either?

When I was camping at Canyon Point in early June the Heber Fire was going on and the campfire Go-No Go was a day to day call determined by the weather. Often when the forest service says 'no campfires' it does not apply to the fire rings in the pay campgrounds. You'll see a sign posted when you check in.

On Sunday and on Monday up on the rim above the Strawberry and Pine area it was raining so hard and hailing that you couldn't see the ground from all the hail and there was also so much water running across the road that it looked like a river. There are more predictions for the chance of Monsoon storms to hit the most this weekend. It was that way all the way from Clints Well to just above Strawberry. You are taking a chance with the rain right now.

Krause86 wrote:That pretty much sucks if you can't have a fire. Are they not allowed in campsites, either?

I was camping at Woods Canyon Lake on the rim over the July 4th holiday. My buddy insisted on bringing a huge box of firewood even though I told him fires were not permitted right now. "No, it's a campground with fire rings. Of course you can have a fire.", he said. Sure enough when we got there, a big sign informed us that in fact NO FIRES were allowed because of the dry conditions. "Told you so!"

Krause86 wrote:That pretty much sucks if you can't have a fire. Are they not allowed in campsites, either?

According to Coconino National forest.

Restrictions are in effect: [Forest Order 04-07-04-TF with Map]

Currently

No campfires
No charcoal fires
No tiki torches and
No smoking (even in developed campgrounds and recreation areas).
No operating chainsaws
No motor vehicles operating off of system roads (numbered roads), and no welding, explosives or fireworks. See [news release] for details.
The use of gas stoves, lanterns and heating devices are allowed, providing they meet the fire underwriter's safety specifications (the device must have an on-off valve).

This is for all campgrounds too..... Unless it changes with the rain they are getting in the next week.

Tonto says:
Payson Ranger District
NO campfires; no exeptions.

Apache/Sitgreaves forest says:
Entire Apache-Sitgreaves in Campfire Restrictions
Springerville, AZ….Effective Thursday, June 28, 2007, at 8:00 am campfires and charcoal fires will only be allowed in certain developed campgrounds on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. No campfires will be permitted on the entire Black Mesa Ranger District including Woods Canyon Lake. These restrictions also prohibit:

the use of an internal combustion engine (except vehicles),
welding,
the use of charcoal or wood in a campfire outside of certain developed campgrounds,
the use of explosives,
operating a chainsaw,
smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area that is at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material,
operating any internal or external combustion engine without a properly installed spark arrestor.
Fireworks are always prohibited on the national forests. Violations of these restrictions are punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations or imprisonment for up to six months, or both.

Campfires and charcoal fires are allowed at the following recreation areas:

Alpine Ranger District – Alpine Divide, Diamond Rock, Aspen, Horse Spring, Buffalo Crossing, Hannagan, KP Cienega, and Luna Lake;
Black Mesa Ranger District – no campfires anywhere;
Clifton Ranger District – Coal Creek, Black Jack, Upper and Lower Juan Miller, Strayhorse, Honeymoon, and Granville;
Springerville Ranger District – Hoyer, Benny Creek, Rainbow, Cutthroat, Grayling, Brookchar, and Winn;
Lakeside Ranger District – Scott Reservoir.
Gas stoves, heaters, and lanterns are permitted provided such devices meet the fire underwriter’s specifications for safety.

Coconino and Apache-Sitgreaves are lifting fire restrictions beginning Friday 7/20.

Restrictions on Tonto will continue, so if you want to have a campfire this weekend, you will have to go above the rim as Ponderosa and Christopher Creek CGs are on Tonto.

Canyon Point, Woods Canyon and other rim lakes CGs are on A-S, so those are ok for fires this weekend.

At least according to: http://ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=544812