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Tonight I asked my 7-year-old son where he wanted to go camping in a couple of weekends. He said, "Somewhere where there's water. But not too much water, like a lake, and not too little like a creek. I want to go swimming in some pools. Can you find something like that?"



Any ideas??!! Nothing's coming to mind! It would be just a one-night deal, with some swimming the following day before leaving. Hopefully not more than 3 hours away from Chandler, so we're not driving a really long time for just an overnight?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can figure this out for me! :worthy:

Phon d. Sutton on the Salt River? I cant think of anything that will be warm enough save for a hot spring..

I used to cook up specifications like that when I was seven. I didn't get my way very often.

How about the neighborhood swimming pool, camp in the backyard? j/k



Any water is going to be at least a little cold in winter. I've seen people swimming in the pools in Fish Creek above the bridge. There are also some kid sized swimming holes that form in December along Peter's Trail in the Superstitions. These options would depend on us getting a few good showers between now and your trip. There is one swimmer in White Canyon, subject to the same criteria as above (rain). Lower Peter's Canyon is also pretty nice in the winter after rain, I see people swimming occasionally by the tourist trap. How about taking an illegal dip in Geronimo's Pool? Perhaps find a way to access the east Verde? I can think of lots of other places that would be colder or don't meet your criteria...Fossil Creek, West Clear Creek, Potato "Lake", W Beaver Creek, Sycamore Canyon, Salt River, Canyon/Saguaro/Apache/Roosevelt/Bartlett Lake, Lake Pleasant, etc.

Keep in mind that pools will be warmest around 3PM and that any morning swims will be chilly indeed.

Good luck.

Haigler Creek is nice. Head down to either the pay-site at Haigler (Tonto Pass) or the non-pay site at Alderwood. There's swimming holes both above and below these camping areas. It will be chilly at night (about 5100 feet), but nice during the day. I personally wouldn't swim at this time of year, but I'm also not a 7-year old. I saw people swimming last weekend. There's also still fish in the creek even though it hasn't been stocked in more than a month. We caught two rainbows in about half an hour in one of the swimming (fishing?) holes.

Fossil Springs is 72 degrees all year, though you probably want to snug up close to the springs! It's exactly a 3 hour drive from Chandler. If you want warmer Puerto Vallarta is 3 hours by jet.

Are you talking a backpacking trip, or a car camping one? Below Fossil Springs at the Gila there's a cool camping area near Childs that has a hot spring about a mile away. I've heard reports that it's a little busy, but it's very nice - and the leaves should be changing on the Cottonwoods...

writelots wrote:Below Fossil Springs at the Gila

You need to cross the Verde to get to the hot springs. Not sure I'd take a kid with the naked bum factor.

I swam in Romero Pools, near Tucson, a couple years ago in Nov., while my friend looked on and said I was nuts. It was a little cold, but I did it anyway.

te-wa wrote:Phon d. Sutton on the Salt River? I cant think of anything that will be warm enough save for a hot spring..

I'll agree with TeWa about the lower Salt. The "water users" recreation area has some fun little cliffs to jump off of, too.

joe bartels wrote:

writelots wrote:Below Fossil Springs at the Gila

You need to cross the Verde to get to the hot springs. Not sure I'd take a kid with the naked bum factor.

Exactly...also gotta factor in getting there in a car. Would prefer car camping, but could do a backpack in if it's pretty short distance
Thanks everyone for the ideas so far...I'm really appreciating them!!

Wait, you want to car camp? What about driving out near sheep bridge?

nonot wrote:Wait, you want to car camp? What about driving out near sheep bridge?

That's interesting...you're talking about the campground 45 miles or so north of Carefree, right? From what I'm finding, FR269 is rarely maintained and high clearance would be needed

Yes, the last few miles down to sheep bridge require high clearance (or a rental car )