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I'm looking to go camping around the Payson/Clints Well area next weekend. Just looking for some suggestions on what some of your favorite spots are.
I have a car so no high clearance roads.
Close to water would be nice.
Just looking to park and willing to hike a little to get to a camping area. Anything under 1/2 mile. I don't plan on bringing tons of gear.
Also free is good too. Oh and I'm only staying for 2 nights.
Having some hiking trails would be great also.

There is basically no water to camp near in that area once you get above the rim. The only half option would be potato lake but it's not good for fishing and is generally just a small pond. And there's no vehicles allowed within about a mile so you wouldn't be camped near it anyway. There's a nice aspen grove around the lake though so in a couple of weeks it will be a scenic spot with the golden leaves.

Otherwise there are endless possibilities for camping. Just head down the rim road (FR300) and make yourself comfortable somewhere.

Closer to Payson (below the rim) you may find some water and dispersed camping along the control road. Webber creek near the boyscout camp has a handful of spots. Or you can head to Washington park and the east verde.

payson/clints well

do you mean the entire area between these two places? that could be up to 50 square miles.. go up to Tom's creek near Pivot Rock campground. wander around in the water and take it all the way to W. Clear creek if you wish. wherever your car cannot go, your legs can.

Forest Roads 141, 142 and 300 all have good camping and are usually in good condition. You can download a copy of the Coconino NF motor vehicle use map here: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino/ ... rdb5356224

It will show you which roads are more likely drive-able in a standard car (typically the ones with a 3-digit number) and where there are some restrictions on how far off the road you can go for camping.

Kinder Crossing - to the creek is about 3/4 mile - it's a bit steep, but short. http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=426

hikeaz wrote:Kinder Crossing

I'm pretty sure he knows about that one... http://hikearizona.com/trip=94056 ;)

Thank you for all the suggestions. At this time I think I'll be taking the advice of just driving down rim road(FR300) and finding a spot. After looking at some photos from that road I think it will be perfect.

hikeaz wrote:Kinder Crossing - to the creek is about 3/4 mile - it's a bit steep, but short. http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=426

Kinder Crossing looked like an awesome place to setup camp when I went there however the steep parts might be to much for some of the people I am going with. I'll be camping there sometime in the near future though!

chumley wrote:

hikeaz wrote:Kinder Crossing

I'm pretty sure he knows about that one... http://hikearizona.com/trip=94056 ;)

Chum-
Maybe I should run my posts by you BEFORE I post them - it may save space in the long run - You game?