Upper Hospital Flat Group Site
Closed — Closed for winter. The upper Swift Trail closes to vehicles November 15 through April 15. Reservations typically available during the operating 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:
Target Shooting Refuse Restriction
Possessing or storing any refuse for the purpose of target shooting with a firearm, air rifle, or gas gun. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(cc).
Bear Wallow Riparian Area Closure
No camping, parking, bicycle travel, or campfires allowed in Bear Wallow Riparian Area
Sabino and Bear Canyon Closure Order 03-05-03-25-002
The purpose of this Order is to protect public health and safety and forest resources from environmental degradation.
Alcohol Closure
The purpose of this Order is to comply with the Arizona and New Mexico state law and to restrict underage consumption of alcoholic beverages to provide for public health and safety.
14 Day Camping Closure 03-05-00-24-005
The purpose of this Order is to provide for public health and safety and to mitigate impacts on sensitive plant and wildlife species.
Tanque Verde Falls Camping Closure
The purpose of this Order is to protect public health and safety and forest resources in the Described Area.
Barfoot Snake Closure Order 03-05-01-24-004
The twin-spotted rattlesnake (Crotalus pricei) is a Regional Forester’s Sensitive Species and a State of Arizona protected reptile.
SVRD Rec Shooting Closure Order 03-05-03-23-010
Discharging a firearm, air rifle, or gas gun in the Restricted Area.The Order shall remain in effect indefinitely, unless rescinded.
Olson Cabin Closure 03-05-05-22-030
Olson Cabin Permit Area is located on the west side of Forest System Road 4458 and approximately 1,500 feet northwest of the junction of Forest System Road 4458 and Forest System Road 639.
About
Upper Hospital Flat Group Site occupies a historic location in the Pinaleño Mountains of southeastern Arizona, where it served as a field hospital for ailing soldiers from Fort Grant in the 1880s. Today, this group campground provides a scenic mountain retreat at 9,000 feet elevation, accommodating up to 50 people in a mixed conifer forest adjacent to a meadow that blooms with wildflowers in late summer. The site sits along Big Creek and the Swift Trail Scenic Drive, which climbs from Sonoran Desert at 2,900 feet to alpine ridges above 9,000 feet. The diverse habitat makes this area renowned for birding and wildlife viewing. The nearby Hospital Flat Campground features a 0.75-mile nature trail with interpretive information about the meadow ecosystem. The Swift Trail provides access to numerous hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails, plus destinations like Riggs Lake and the Columbine Visitors Center. The group site includes picnic tables, parking, and campfire rings with grills. Groups must bring portable toilets (one per 15 people), as no facilities are provided. The access road requires higher-clearance vehicles. Dead-and-down firewood may be collected around the site. Located in the Coronado National Forest's sky island ecosystem, the campground offers pleasant summer temperatures and diverse plant communities within reach of Mount Graham, southern Arizona's tallest peak at 10,720 feet.
Directions
From Safford: Take State Route 191 south for 6 miles. Turn right onto State Route 366/Swift Trail and travel 23.3 miles to the Upper Hospital Group Site entrance on the right (MM 137.2). 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 23.3 miles to the entrance on the right (MM 137.2).
Nearby Campgrounds
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | No |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | No |
| Water Hookups | No |
| Sewer Hookups | No |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $60 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | 22ft |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (928) 428-4150 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | Yes |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Availability
Photos
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