Recreation
If you are planning to visit the Tonto National Forest, please review the following:
- Stay clear of fire operations.
- Know how to prevent wildfires.
- Be a good steward of our shared public lands and natural resources. Please recreate responsibly.
- Avoid crowded areas and parking illegally. The Tonto National Forest is one of most visited National Forests in the country. Visitors to recreation sites frequently exceed capacity in some areas.
- Recreation passes may be required.
- Provide for your own hygiene and safety when using facilities.
- There is no restroom cleaning in closed areas due to safety concerns.
- Restroom cleaning may be limited in other areas; cleaning schedules will be posted at each site.
- This will also be the case for picnic tables and other areas that may be touched often by others.
- Use common courtesy and “Leave No Trace” at recreation sites to avoid creating a public health hazard for employees and other forest users.
- Take the precautions recommended by the CDC, such as practicing social distancing and limiting group sizes.
Current Recreation Conditions
Area Name | Status | Area Conditions |
---|---|---|
Acacia Day Use Area | Open | |
Airplane Flat Campground | Open | Restrooms will be serviced once a week. Please pack it in, pack it out! |
Apache Lake | Open | |
Apache Lake Marina & Resort | Open | |
Apache Lake Vista | Open | |
Bachelor Cove Shoreline Area | Closed | |
Bagley Flat Campground and Boat Dock | Open | Boat access only. |
Ballantine Trail 283 | Open | |
Bartlett Flat Shoreline Area | Open | Please check SRP Watershed for lake levels. |
Bartlett Marina | Open | PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY: Harmful algae bloom in Bartlett Reservoir Lake |
Bartlett Reservoir | Open | PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY: Harmful algae bloom in Bartlett Reservoir Lake |
Bermuda Flat Shoreline Area | Open | |
Blue Point Day Use Area | Open | Closure order is to protect public health and safety due to unsafe conditions posed by flash flooding and increased water levels. The closure order is in effect from March 28, 2023, at 6:00am through April 19, 2023, at 8:00am, unless rescinded. |
Boulder Day Use Area | Open | |
Box Bar Shoreline Area and River Access Point | Open | |
Bronco Trailhead | Open | |
Brown's Trail 133 | Open | 21JUL22 - Trail is in good condition. |
Burnt Corral Campground and Day Use Area | Open | |
Butcher Jones Day Use Area | Open | |
Butcher Jones Trail 463 | Open | |
Canyon Lake | Open | |
Canyon Lake Marina | Open | |
Cave Creek Group Campground | Open | |
Cave Creek Trailhead | Open | |
Cholla Bay Shoreline Area | Closed | 26 July 2022 - Cholla Bay Shoreline is closed for camping, but remains open for walk-in or boat-in day use. No vehicles allowed. |
Cholla Campground | Open | |
Christopher Creek Campground and Group Site | Closed | |
Civilian Conservation Corps Campground | Open | |
Colcord Ridge Campground | Open | Restrooms will be serviced once a week. Please pack it in, pack it out! |
Cottonwood Cove Picnic Area | Open | |
Davis Wash Shoreline Area | Closed | This site is currently closed due to the Woodbury Closure Order and the Davis Wash Public Safety Closure Order. |
Desert Vista OHV Area | Open | |
Dutchman's Trail 104 | Open | |
East Verde Picnic | Open | Restrooms will be serviced once a week. Please pack it in, pack it out! |
First, Second, Third Crossings and Water Wheel | Open | Restrooms will be serviced daily. Please pack it in, pack it out! Note: These are fee areas for day-use only. America the Beautiful and annual Tonto Discovery passes are accepted at all four sites. |
Flowing Spring | Open | |
Four Peaks Trail 130 | Open | |
Frazier Group Campground | Open | |
Frazier Horse Camp | Open | |
Goldfield Day Use Area | Open | Closure order is to protect public health and safety due to unsafe conditions posed by flash flooding and increased water levels. The closure order is in effect from March 28, 2023, at 6:00am through April 19, 2023, at 8:00am, unless rescinded. |
Granite Reef Day Use Area | Open | |
Grapevine Bay | Closed | Grapevine Bay is closed, but the Grapevine Boat Ramp is open. For any questions please contact the Tonto Basin Ranger Station at (602) 225-5395. |
Grapevine Group Campground | Open | |
Haigler Canyon Campground and Day Use | Open | |
Haunted Canyon Trail 203 | Open | |
Hieroglyphic Trail 101 | Open | Please note: Parking at the Cloudview Trailhead is very limited. Spaces fill up quickly. Plan accordingly. Have an alternative option in mind if the lot is full. Please respect all posted no parking and no trespassing signs. If the trailhead parking is full, please try the Lost Goldmine East Trailhead. No buses or vehicles/trailers longer than 37 feet are allowed in the parking area. Illegally parked vehicles will be towed; before recreating at the owner's expense. |
Horseshoe Campground | Open | |
Horton | Open | |
Houston Mesa Campground and Equestrian Sites | Open | No firewood sales, no dump station and no shower building. On-site automatic fee machine (no cash or checks accepted). |
Icehouse CCC | Open | This area is currently closed due to the Telegraph Fire Closure. |
Jacob's Trail 58 | Open | |
Jojoba Day Use and Motorized Boat Launch | Open | |
Jojoba Trail 511 | Open | Hiking Trail between Jojoba Day Use & Boat Launch Area and Rattlesnake Cove Day Use Area. |
Jones Water Primitive Campground | Open | |
Kellner Group Site | Open | |
LOST Trail | Open | |
Laguna Day Use and Motorized Boat Launch | Open | |
Lower Burnt Corral Shoreline Area | Closed | Closed 03-12-06-22-14 Apache Lake Temporary Area Closure for Public Health and Safety |
Lower Soldier Camp Trail 84 | Open | |
Lower Tonto Creek Campground | Closed | No Firewood Sales. Walk-in tent sites only. Recreation.gov Scan & Pay only accepted (no cash or checks accepted) |
Mesquite Campground | Open | |
Myrtle Trail 30 | Open | |
Needle Rock Day Use Area and Non-Motorized Beach | Open | In accordance with closure 03-12-01-23-11, the Needle Rock Beach Area is temporarily closed due to the impacts of recent flooding. The neighboring Box Bar recreation area is open. For further information please contact the Cave Creek Ranger Station at 480-595-3300. |
Oak Flat Campground | Open | |
Oak Flat Trail 123 | Open | |
Oak Trail 16 | Open | |
Palo Verde Day Use and Motorized Boat Launch | Open | |
Palo Verde Trail 512 | Open | |
Park Trail 66 | Open | |
Pass Mountain Loop Trail 282 | Open | |
Pebble Beach Day Use Area | Open | Closure order is to protect public health and safety due to unsafe conditions posed by flash flooding and increased water levels. The closure order is in effect from March 28, 2023, at 6:00am through April 19, 2023, at 8:00am, unless rescinded. |
Peralta Trail 102 | Open | |
Phon D Sutton Day Use Area | Open | |
Picket Post Trailhead | Open | |
Pigeon Trail 134 | Open | |
Pinal & Upper Pinal Campgrounds | Open | |
Pine Canyon Trail 26 | Open | |
Pioneer Pass Camping Area | Open | |
Ponderosa Campground and Group Sites | Closed | No firewood sales and no dump station. On-site automatic fee machine (no cash or checks accepted). |
Prospector's Trail 57 | Open | |
Pump Station Trail 296 | Open | |
Raccoon Bluff Day-Use Area | Open | Open. No overnight camping. Day use only per Order Number 03-12-03-23-39. |
Rattlesnake Cove Day Use Area | Open | Rattlesnake Cove Recreation fishing dock and associated ramp walkway are closed due to construction through October 1, 2024. Review the closure order and map 03-12-01-22-26. |
Reavis Valley Trail 109 | Open | |
Red Rock Trail 294 | Open | |
Riverside Campground | Open | |
Roosevelt Lake Day Use and Camping Areas | Open | |
Roosevelt Lake Visitors Center | Open | |
Roosevelt Marina | Open | |
SB Cove Shoreline Area | Open | Please check SRP Watershed for lake levels. |
Saguaro Del Norte Day Use & Motorized Boat Launch | Open | |
Saguaro Lake | Open | Once Boat Parking is at capacity, vehicles towing boats will be turned away at the entrance. |
Saguaro Lake Marina | Open | |
Saguaro Lake Ranch | Open | |
Salt River Canyon Wilderness Permit | Open | |
Schoolhouse Campground | Open | 13JUL22 - Water is currently unavailable at Schoolhouse. Vault toilets are accessible on site. Restroom cleaning and trash collection services will only be provided once per week. Please pack it in, pack it out. |
Second Water Trail 236 | Open | |
See Canyon Trail 184 & See Spring Trail 185 | Open | |
Sharp Creek Campground and Group Sites | Closed | No firewood sales and no dump station. On-site automatic fee machine (no cash or checks accepted). |
Sheeps Crossing Day Use Area | Open | Closure order is to protect public health and safety due to unsafe conditions posed by flash flooding and increased water levels. The closure order is in effect from March 28, 2023, at 6:00am through April 19, 2023, at 8:00am, unless rescinded. |
Sinkhole Trail 179 | Open | |
Siphon Draw Trail 53 | Open | |
Sulphide Del Rey Campground | Open | |
Sycamore Trail 68 | Open | |
The Point Boat Dock, Campground and Picnic Area | Open | Boat access only. |
The Rolls OHV Area | Open | Pobrecito OHV Staging Area is closed from November 7th through November 18th, 2022 in accordance with Forest Order 03-12-03-22-30. |
Thompson Trail 121 | Open | |
Three Mile Wash Shoreline Area | Closed | Closed 03-12-06-22-27 Three Mile Wash Campground Closure |
Timber Camp Recreation Area and Group Campgrounds | Open | |
Tortilla Campground | Open | |
Tortilla Flat Resort | Open | |
Treasure Loop Trail 56 | Open | |
Turkey Trail 217 | Open | |
Upper Burnt Corral Shoreline Area | Open | |
Upper Canyon Creek Campground | Open | Restrooms will be serviced once a week. Please pack it in, pack it out! |
Upper Tonto Creek Campground | Closed | Closed for the season. No firewood fales. Recreation.gov Scan & Pay only accepted (no cash or checks accepted). |
Valentine Trail 551 | Open | |
Vineyard Canyon Picnic Area | Open | The bathrooms are closed. |
Vineyard Trail 131 | Open | |
Water Users Day Use Area | Open | Closure order is to protect public health and safety due to unsafe conditions posed by flash flooding and increased water levels. The closure order is in effect from March 28, 2023, at 6:00am through April 19, 2023, at 8:00am, unless rescinded. |
West Webber Trail 228 | Open | |
Wind Cave Trail 281 | Open | |
Windy Hill Boating Site | Open | |
Windy Hill Campground | Open | |
Yellow Cliffs Day Use and Motorized Boat Launch | Open | Due to a large collection of debris, Yellow Cliffs Motorized Boat Launch is unsuitable for launching boats. Please utilize the Jojoba Boat Launch. |
Alerts & Warnings
- 03-12-04-24-02_Poco_Pino_RA7 _Area_Roads_Trails_Closure
- Rattlesnake Cove Recreation Fishing Dock Closure 03-12-01-22-26
- Amended - Apache Lake Closure - Lower Burnt Corral Campground remains closed
- Bald Eagle Seasonal Closures
- Occupancy and Use Restrictions
- Update on State Route 88 (Apache Trail) - August 18, 2021
- Redmond Fire Road Closure