Upper Canyon Creek Campground
Closed — Closed for the season. Opens April 1 and operates through November 1. Vault toilets serviced once weekly during the open season.
Fireworks, Explosives and Sparks Restrictions
To prevent fires and for public safety order 03-00-23-001 prohibits to 1) possess, discharge, or use any kind of firework or other pyrotechnic devices; 2) use explosives; or 3) operate an internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting devic
Motor Vehicle Order Road Restrictions
The purpose of this Order is for the protection of public health and safety and prohibits:
Lower Salt River Area Temporary Emergency Equestrian Closure for Public Health & Safety
Click to view closure order for details.
Granite Reef Developed Recreation Site Public Health and Safety Closure Order
See order for details.
TERMINATION ORDER: Stage II Fire Restrictions and Emergency Recreational Shooting Order
There are no fire restrictions on the Tonto National Forest as of Sept. 5, 2025, 8 a.m.
Box Bar Seasonal Eagle Closure
December 1, 2024, at 12 p.m. and will remain in effect seasonally each year from December 1 through June 30, until June 30, 2026, at 12 p.m.
About
Upper Canyon Creek Campground offers 10 designated dispersed campsites in a mature stand of Ponderosa pine mixed with white and Douglas fir at 6,600 feet elevation. The campground sits along Canyon Creek, which is popular among anglers fishing for rainbow trout using artificial flies and lures only, with a four-trout limit. The nearby Arizona Game and Fish Department Canyon Creek Fish Hatchery adds to the area's fishing appeal. This is a primitive camping experience with no fees and no services. There is no potable water, no trash collection, and campers must pack out everything they bring in. Vault toilets are serviced once weekly during the open season. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire pit. The campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis with a 14-day stay limit. Trailers are limited to under 16 feet due to the nature of the access roads and campsite configuration. Wildlife is abundant, including Abert squirrels and black bears, so proper food storage is essential. Both Forest Roads 512 and 33 are unpaved, and four-wheel-drive or chains are advised after heavy rains or snow. Winter temperatures can dip into the teens. Quiet hours are enforced from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., with no generator use permitted during those hours.
Directions
Access #1 (41 miles east of Payson): From Payson, travel 33 miles east on State Highway 260. Turn right on Young Road/Forest Road 512, and continue 3 miles to FR 33 (unpaved). Turn left on FR 33 and travel 1.5 miles to the campground. Access #2 (28 miles north of Young): From Young, take State Highway 288/FR 512 north for 23 miles to FR 33. Turn right onto FR 33 and travel about 5 miles to the campground. Both FR 512 and FR 33 are unpaved; four-wheel-drive or chains advised after heavy rains or snow.
Nearby Campgrounds
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $0 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | 16ft |
| Max Trailer Length | 16ft |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (928) 474-7900 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Community Posts
No posts yet. Be the first to share your experience!