Horse Riding and Camping

Find your new favorite camp spot or place to explore with your trusty steed. 

Horse Camping

The Tonto offers countless campsites at designated areas with facilities or as dispersed camping. 

Designated campsite reservations must be made in advance and can be booked through Recreation.gov. All remaining sites are only available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Pack-Out Everything You Pack In

Inspect your campsite and rest areas for forgotten items, trash or spilled foods.

• Pack out all trash, leftover food and litter.
• Remove all supplies and equipment.
• Geo-caching is limited to photo or virtual only.
• Take only pictures; leave no trace of your visit.

Campfire Safety

During times of high fire danger, the forest may be placed under temporary fires restrictions. Check our Alerts page for current restrictions. Campfires are a leading cause of human-caused wildfires on the Tonto National Forest, please visit our Fire page for wildfire prevention resources and campfire safety tips. 

For a full list of horse-riding trails, please click here or for more information, contact the appropriate Ranger Station on the forest. Visit our Safety and Outdoor Ethics page for more outdoor safety information.

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Recreation Opportunities

Horseback Riding (49)

Horse Camping (5)

Showing: 1 - 10 of 51 results

Abbey's Way 151

Site Open

The trail is surrounded by a beautiful mixed conifer forest. Edward Abbey (1927-1989) an environmental writer, worked for two seasons as a lookout at Aztec Peak and made reference to it in his…

Aloe Vera Staging Area

Site Open

Aloe Vera Staging Area provides parking for trailers and vehicles along 144th Street. This staging area is primarily for equestrian and non-motorized users. Motorized users should access the Desert…

Bob Bear (formerly Fossil Springs)

The Bob Bear Trail provides access to the headwaters of the Fossil Creek Wild and Scenic River and the Fossil Springs Wilderness on the Tonto and Coconino National Forests. The trail begins at an…

Bob Bear Trailhead

Site Open

The Bob Bear Trail provides access to the headwaters of the Fossil Creek Wild and Scenic River and the Fossil Springs Wilderness on the Tonto and Coconino National Forests. The trail begins at an…

Bronco Trailhead

Site Open

Bronco Trailhead is hard to miss with six horse pens in the open-spaced lot. It’s the first stop before heading to Seven Springs. Bronco Trailhead is a favorite among horse owners and leads along…

Campaign

Campaign trail is located almost entirely within the Superstition Wilderness. Campaign is very scenic with much less use than the trails in the Western Superstitions. It runs North/South connecting…

Cemetery

A short trail that can be utilized to access Roosevelt Cemetery as well as a passage 19 off the 800-Mile Arizona National Scenic Trail. 

Cienega Spring 145

Site Open

This was an old jeep road, which is outside the Wilderness, but provides access to the Wilderness.

Derrick Trail

The trail begins at the eastern end of the campground. Once on the trail, travel until you pass through a gate. When through the gate, make a sharp right turn. Follow this trail past the Derrick Spur…

Dutchman OHV Staging Area

Site Open

The Dutchman OHV Staging Area is the main access to the Bulldog Canyon OHV Permit Zone from SR-88 (Apache Trail). Although the turn-off is not easily seen from SR-88, this large staging area was…