Treasure Park - East

About

Treasure Park East sits along the scenic Swift Trail in southern Arizona's Coronado National Forest. The picturesque mountain meadow setting at 9,000 feet offers visitors an escape from the desert heat, with opportunities for viewing wildlife and wildflowers. Legend has it that a treasure of stolen gold and silver was buried here by outlaws in the 1850s, marked by a triangle of three colored granite stones, though no buried treasure was ever found. The campground lies along the Swift Trail Scenic Drive, which takes visitors from the Sonoran Desert at 2,900 feet to alpine meadows and forest on the ridges of the Pinaleño Range. Because of its diverse habitat, the area is well-known for birding and wildlife watching. The Swift Trail provides access to numerous hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking trails. Nearby attractions include Riggs Lake (stocked with trout), the Columbine Visitors Center, and the Mount Graham Wilderness Study Area featuring the 10,720-foot Mount Graham. This single group site accommodates up to 100 guests and features a group campfire ring with grill, picnic tables, vault toilets, and seasonal potable water. Campers must pack out all trash. Bears inhabit the area, so proper food and trash storage is required. Due to narrow switchbacks on AZ 366, total vehicle length must be under 40 feet and trailers are recommended to be under 22 feet.

Directions

From Safford, Arizona: Take State Route 191 south for 6 miles. Turn right onto State Route 366/Swift Trail and travel 23 miles to the Treasure Park Campground entrance (MM 137), following the loop road to the East campsite. From Tucson: Take I-10 east for 90 miles, take exit 352 for State Route 191, turn left toward Safford, drive 26.3 miles north, and turn left on State Route 366/Swift Trail. Continue for 23 miles to MM 137.