Camping & Cabins
Whether you are seeking a primitive camping experience or something with more amenities, Prescott National Forest will have a spot just right for you! Cool, pine-clad mountains and lakes attract summer visitors, while camping opportunities at lower elevations are available year-round. Two historic cabin rentals round out our offerings, each located near world class trails and opportunities for a wide variety of outdoor recreation experiences. If you’re planning to visit for the first time or are one of our many regular visitors, we look forward to seeing you!
The National Forests of Arizona’s Rooms with a View cabin rental program has facilities available, with locations ranging from the rim of the Grand Canyon, to the red rocks of Sedona, to the granite domes of Cochise Stronghold. Some are rustic; some are more modern; all are situated in beautiful settings in the forests of Arizona. Several of the cabins are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and all offer a fascinating view of local and regional history, as well as a diversity of wildlife. Some facilities are perfect for group gatherings such as family reunions and weddings. The program offers a unique opportunity for adventurous folks who enjoy spending time in Arizona’s wild places. Be prepared for changeable mountain weather, cold nights, thunderstorms, and snow from fall through spring.
The historic Groom Creek Schoolhouse is available for daytime group gatherings but has no overnight accommodations.
There are 11 family campgrounds on the Prescott National Forest, three of which are open year-round: White Spar, Powell Springs and Alto Pit.
Campgrounds near lakes include Lynx and Hilltop (Lynx Lake); Yavapai (Granite Basin Lake); Hazlett Hollow (Horsethief Lake vicinity); and Mingus Mountain Campground (Mingus Lake).
Potato Patch Campground is also located on Mingus Mountain. Powell Springs is in the Cherry area. Lower Wolf Creek Campground is in the Groom Creek area. White Spar Campground is just south of the City of Prescott.
Specialized Campgrounds:
- Groom Creek Horse Camp is an equestrian campground for people camping with horses only.
- Alto Pit OHV Campground is located within the Alto Pit OHV Area. (OHVs not required for camping.)
Camping on Holiday Weekends:
- Campsites in developed campgrounds and the designated dispersed campsites in the Prescott Basin are usually FULL by Thursday night preceding holiday weekends. but there are many places to dispersed camp elsewhere on the Forest.
- The only way to ensure that you'll find a place to camp on holiday weekends on Prescott National Forest is to make a reservation in advance at one of our campgrounds that has sites that can be reserved--which is most of them.
- Group campgrounds are available by reservation only. Lynx Campground is the only family campground with sites that are available by reservation only. Some of our other family campgrounds have many sites that can be reserved, but some sites held back that are available on a first-come, first-served basis including Hilltop, White Spar, Yavapai, Potato Patch, and Alto Pit OHV Campgrounds, and Groom Creek Horse Camp. Campgrounds with sites that are available only on a first-come, first-served basis include Powell Springs, Mingus Mountain, Lower Wolf Creek, and Hazlett Hollow.
Remember:
- Camping on Prescott National Forest is limited to 14-days in 30-day consecutive period which includes stays at dispersed sites. (See Dispersed Camping for more information, and Prescott Basin Designated Dispersed Camping for restrictions to dispersed camping in the area surrounding the City of Prescott.)
- Quiet hours between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- Dogs must be on a leash (6’ maximum)
- Fireworks and OHV/ATV use is prohibited in developed campgrounds.
- Camp Unit = An RV, a tow vehicle & trailer, or a single vehicle
- Number of Camp Units allowed: One per Single campsite; Two per Double campsite
- Extra Vehicle Fee (to be paid on-site upon arrival): $5/night/extra vehicle. Note: Some sites will not accommodate extra vehicles.
- Maximum number of extra vehicles: 1 at single campsites; 2 at double campsites
- Permits for non-reservation campsites are available at self-service fee stations. Exact change is required as we do not keep cash on-site.
Dispersed camping is camping outside of developed campgrounds. In contrast to camping in developed campsites, dispersed camping is more primitive, and generally has no amenities such as trash collection, water or toilets. Camping outside of campgrounds is allowed in many parts of the Prescott National Forest, but camping on the forest near the City of Prescott is limited to designated dispersed sites and has a 7-day stay limit per 30-day period. Camping outside of the Prescott Basin is limited to 14-days in a 30-day period.
Prescott Basin Designated Dispersed Camping Brochure
Remember:
- Recreational camping is allowed in developed and designated dispersed campsites; however, residing on National Forest Lands is not allowed.
- Do not put cans, bottles, or aluminum foil into fire rings.
- Use only dead and down wood for campfires.
- Be safe in the forest. Make sure your campfire is dead out!
- If/when Prescott National Forest implements fire restrictions, due to safety concerns of escaped or abandoned campfires, designated dispersed campsites, even those with metal fire rings, will not be permitted to have campfires. Please plan accordingly.
Camping on Holiday Weekends
Designated dispersed campsites in the Prescott Basin are usually FULL by Thursday night preceding holiday weekends. but there are many places to dispersed camp elsewhere on the Forest.
Prescott Basin Designated Dispersed Camping
The Prescott Basin is an area immediately south and west of Prescott, Arizona and encompasses approximately 59,000 acres (about 4% of the Prescott National Forest).
Prescott Basin has a high percentage of wildland-urban interface, a mixture of undeveloped and developed land. The popularity of the Prescott Basin has contributed to resource impacts such as accelerated soil erosion, damage or loss of vegetation, displaced wildlife, increased fire risk, and accumulation of trash and human waste.
To help prevent unacceptable resource damage from dispersed camping, Forest Service resource managers have designated sites, established stay limits, and limits on building and maintaining campfires. Closure Order #09-233 covers Prescott Basin Dispersed Camping Regulations.
Camping and campfires are allowed only at Designated Campsites, and in developed campgrounds, within the Prescott Basin. During fire restrictions, campfires are not allowed in these designated dispersed camp sites.
Prescott Basin Designated Dispersed Camping Brochure
Dispersed camping outside of the Prescott Basin has a 14 day stay limit in a 30-day period.
To see a map of designated dispersed sites, download the Prescott Basin Designated Dispersed Camping Brochure, or visit the Bradshaw Ranger district at 344 South Cortez Street in Prescott.
The Prescott National Forest has four group campgrounds that are available by reservation.
- Eagle Ridge (Lynx Lake Recreation Area)
- Playground (Mingus Mountain)
- Turney Gulch (Horsethief Basin Recreation Area)
- Upper Wolf Creek (Groom Creek area)
RVs are allowed in all Prescott National Forest campgrounds; however, some sites are designed for tent campers and may not have room to park an RV. Maximum RV/trailer lengths are noted on each campground's webpage.
Potato Patch Campground
Potato Patch is the only campground on the Prescott National Forest with a section just for people camping in RVs or trailers. B-Loop has 12 sites with 40-foot paved parking spots and electrical hook-ups. Campers may fill water jugs with water at the hydrants for use on site but are asked not to fill RV water tanks.
A-Loop has 28 sites that each have a tent pad, many of which can accommodate RVs and trailers.