Grayling

About

Grayling Campground offers the most secluded sites in the Big Lake Recreation Area, nestled in a mixed conifer and aspen forest at 9,000 feet in Arizona's White Mountains. All 23 sites are arranged along a single loop, with some offering views of 450-acre Big Lake, though none sit directly on the waterfront. The high elevation provides cool summer temperatures and a welcome respite from lower desert heat. Big Lake is one of Arizona's top fishing destinations, supporting rainbow, cutthroat, brook, and Apache trout. Beyond fishing, the area is popular for hiking, mountain biking, birding, and wildlife viewing. A visitor center offers educational programs. Campers should be prepared for cool nighttime temperatures and occasional summer thunderstorms. Each site includes a fire ring, grill, and picnic table. Flush toilets are on-site, but no potable water is available. A dump station, showers, and camp store with gas, food, boat rentals, and firewood are located approximately one mile away. Bears frequent the area; food storage regulations are strictly enforced.

Directions

From Show Low, take Highway 260 east for 42 miles to Highway 273. Take Highway 273 south for 30 miles to the Big Lake Recreation Area on the west side. From Eagar, go 5 miles west on State Route 260, turn south on State Route 261 for 29 miles to State Route 273, then west about 3 miles to the Big Lake Recreation Area.