Open
— Open year-round for backcountry camping with advance reservations required through Recreation.gov. Maximum stay is 10 days total, with no more than 5 consecutive nights at this campground. Water is virtually always available from the spring except in extremely dry years; call the visitor center at (520) 733-5153 for current water reports.
About
Manning Camp sits at 7,920 feet elevation in the heart of the Saguaro Wilderness, making it the highest and most remote campground in Saguaro National Park's Rincon Mountains. Named for the historic Manning Cabin built in 1905 by Levi H. Manning as a summer retreat, the camp now serves as a base for park research and fire management activities. A ranger is typically stationed here from April through September.
The six primitive campsites are nestled among ponderosa pines, offering cool respite from the desert heat below. Each site includes a fire ring and grill, with campfires permitted using only dead and downed wood. The camp features a vault toilet and, critically, a spring-fed water source that provides reliable year-round water except in the very driest years. This makes Manning Camp unique among the park's backcountry campgrounds, most of which have only seasonal water.
Reaching Manning Camp requires serious commitment. Depending on your starting trailhead, expect a one-way hike of 10-18 miles with 5,500-6,500 feet of elevation gain. The journey passes through a remarkable ecological transition, beginning in the saguaro cactus forests of the Sonoran Desert and ascending through desert grasslands, oak woodlands, and mixed conifer forests before reaching the ponderosa pine zone. Temperatures at Manning Camp are typically 20 degrees cooler than at the visitor center below. Winter brings snow to this elevation, while summer offers a cool escape from triple-digit desert heat.
Directions
Manning Camp is accessible only by foot, requiring a strenuous backpacking trip of 10-18 miles one-way depending on starting trailhead. The easiest access is from Tanque Verde Ridge Trailhead (within the park) or Miller Creek/Turkey Creek Trailheads (via Coronado National Forest). Italian Spring Trailhead offers the shortest route but requires 4WD high-clearance vehicle access. From desert floor at 2,750-4,800 feet, trails climb through multiple biomes to reach the camp at 7,920 feet. Summer hikers should start before sunrise to avoid extreme heat at lower elevations.
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