Anyone tried Camp Verde, AZ

[dsheets70]

We are wanting to try camping at or around Camp Verde. Because it is close to Sedona, Flagstaff, Prescott, and Jerome We are thinking that this might be a good place to camp. Any Ideas?

[Marv]

Dead Horse Ranch State Park is my favorite. It is in Cottonwood, on the Verde River. At night, you can see the lights from Jerome up on the hill.

Marv

[Greg A]

If ur coming now the season for Dead Horse and that area is fall, winter and spring. The summer is the off-season. The upper campgrounds at Dead Horse from now till end of Oct will be akin to frying an egg on the sidewalk.

I'd recommend looking for something around the Prescott area which is much cooler or Rancho Sedona in the heart of Sedona. Rancho is our favorite during the summer as it is completely under trees with full-hookups, right on Oak Creek and you can walk or free shuttle to the tourist stuff. They have a swimmin hole with a rope swing on the creek and it is pretty good trout fishing as well. You won't even know where it is unless you've been there as it is not visible due to the tree coverage. Cool place, even though it can still get over 100 in Sedona you'll be comfortable at this park.
Rancho Sedona

[Patrick M.]

Dead Horse Ranch State Park is my favorite.

I concur, although Greg makes a good point, and a very interesting alternative. The lower campground at DH does have some shaded sites.

[Marv]

Greg,
Usually I would agree completely: the Verde valley gets pretty warm. But this year? Temps in the 50s in the Arizona desert for Memorial Day weekend? Global warm..never mind. But if the OP is sightseeing during the day, Dead Horse should be okay for evenings. Like Patrick said, shade is available and if he has A/C he is good to go.

By the way, there is at least one USFS campground up the hill from Jerome (at or near the pass, in the pines). I don't recall the name but it should nice and cool up there.


Marv

[Harry Young]

Dear Doug,

I am a local (Mayer) the good spots near Sedona/Flag is Stoneman Lake...There is a spot there which is little used with restrooms and looks out over the lake, thought the road past that camp and before it is full of other pull outs with lots of pines and its free.

Next on the back way to to Prescott from Flag is Cherry Rd, take it from the I 17 side to Prescott and turn at the landfill entrance the opposite direction to the town (village) of Cherry, Ignore it looks like scub desert, in a few miles it goes into pine...There is a forrest camp site sign when it turns into pavement again... Powell Springs http://www.camparizona.com/Campsites/Flags...l%20Springs.htm thats where I would go...

Also: Mingus Mountain Canpgrounds on Mingus Mtn and it has been remodeled and expanded, the campgrounds right off the 89 N are easy to get too and the ones up the dirt road 7 mi to the new area are breath taking, you look out over the whole of the Cottonwood/Clarksdale valley at 8000 feet, they are new and modern.

STATE: Arizona

REGION: Southwestern

RANGER DISTRICT: Verde

NEAREST CITY/TOWN: Clarkdale

RESERVATIONS: No

DIRECTIONS:
From Clarkdale, AZ, take State Rt. 89A south 11.7 miles to Mingus
Recreation Area sign (and Summit Picnic Area sign). Turn left
onto dirt road (Summit Picnic Area on left) and go 2.5 miles to
campground. The latter road is rough and steep in places.

This route (State Rt. 89A) runs right through historic Jerome, AZ
(no gas station) and up Mingus Mtn. Scenic Byway.

GENERAL COMMENTS:
The elevation is 7,600 ft.

The campground is located in the pines on top of Mingus Mtn. There
are spectacular views of Verde Valley in and near the campground.
Historic Jerome, AZ is a nice day trip. There, one can also
visit the privately owned Gold King Mine and Ghost Town. It's
lots of fun for the young and "old" alike. For old
car/truck/machinery enthusiasts, it is truly a "gold mine."
There is even a very old, working saw mill. The drive up the
Mingus Mtn. Scenic Byway offers some spectacular vistas.

SEASONS
Open Seasonal: Yes
Open All Year: No

Seasonal Comment:
Open May 1 through November 1.

Also do not forget Lynx Lake...NAME: Hilltop camp grounds, with two of them...upper and lower camps...great hiking.

VISIT DATE: 06/17/1998

UPDATE DATE: 2/17/2008

STATE: Arizona

REGION: Southwestern

RANGER DISTRICT: <a href="http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/southwst/presinfo.htm#bradshaw" target="_blank">Bradshaw

NEAREST CITY/TOWN: Prescott

RESERVATIONS: No

DIRECTIONS:
Just east of Prescott, AZ, off State Rt. 69, turn south on Walker
Rd. (Lynx Lake Recreation Area sign) and go 3.2 miles to
campground sign. Turn left at sign and go 0.3 miles to
campground.

GENERAL COMMENTS:
The elevation is 6,000 ft.

The campground is composed of three loops (A through C) and is
one of two in the Lynx Lake Recreation Area. It is thickly
wooded with Ponderosa pines, some Junipers and Live oak. The
understory is dirt and pine needles with Manzanita scattered
around. Lynx Lake is about a mile from the campground. The
campground is general location of gold find; recreational gold
panning is permitted. There is a store on Lynx Lake where
limited groceries are available.

The Lynx Lake Recreation Area is part of the Fee Demonstration
Project. There is a $2 charge for parking at any day-use area to
include the boat ramp.

SEASONS
Open Seasonal: Yes
Open All Year: No

Seasonal Comment:
Open May 1 through October 31.

RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED
Rate: $10 per day
Maximum Stay Permitted (days): 7

CAMPGROUND SITE CONFIGURATION
No. RV Sites: 0
No. Tent Sites: 17
No. Combined Sites (Tent or RV): 20

Total Sites: 37

Tent Pads: No
Group Tent Sites: Yes
Open Sites: No
Wooded Sites: Yes

No. Tables on Sites: 37
No. Grilles on Sites: 37

RV INFORMATION
Hookups: None
Group RV Sites: No
No. RV Pull Throughs: 9
Waste Station: No
Average Parking Apron Size: 12' X 38'

Comments:
The parking aprons are paved. Most pull throughs are parallel to
road. Some back-in aprons are in need of repair. There are two
waste stations in the Prescott area. There are two RV waste
stations in the Prescott area. One, for a fee with potable water,
is Many Trails RV Sales in Prescott Valley, AZ on State Rt. 69.
The other is public, with no fee or potable water, is located about
1 mile down Sundog Ranch Rd. in Prescott off State Rt. 89.

FACILITIES
Vaults: Yes
Flush Toilets: No
Hot Showers: No
Wheelchair Friendly Toilets: Yes

Public Phone: No
Playground: No
No. Water Spigots: 7
No. Threaded: 1

WATER SPORTS
Lake: Yes
Swimming (provided): No
Sailing: No
Boat Ramp: Yes
Boat Carry Down Access: No
Power Boating: Yes
Boating (no power): Yes
Water Skiing: No
Rafting (whitewater): No
Kayaking (whitewater): No

Comments:
Lynx Lake is 55 acres. Electric motors only for power boats.
The store on the lake has bait, rents row boats, canoes and
paddle boats. Electric motors are also available for rent.

HIKING
Lakeshore Trail (loop - foot) - 3 miles

FISHING
Trout





My Favorite of Favorites is Lower Wolf Creek</a> this an older one too a ccc camp or the rosevelt era.

VISIT DATE: 06/16/1998

UPDATE DATE: 2/17/2008

STATE: Arizona

REGION: Southwestern

RANGER DISTRICT: <A href="http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/southwst/presinfo.htm#bradshaw">Bradshaw

NEAREST CITY/TOWN: Prescott

RESERVATIONS: No

DIRECTIONS:
In Prescott, AZ, at the intersection of Gurley Rd. and Mt. Vernon
Ave., turn south onto S. Mt. Vernon Ave. In 1 mile S. Mt. Vernon
Ave. becomes Senator Hwy. Continue straight on Senator Hwy. for
6.3 miles to Lower Wolf Creek campground sign (Indian Creek Rd.).
Turn right onto Indian Creek Rd. (single-lane dirt road with
turnouts) and go 1.2 miles to campground sign. Turn left at sign
into RV-friendly section or right into tent-friendly section.

GENERAL COMMENTS:
The elevation is 6,000 ft.

The campground was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps
(CCC) in the 1930s. CCC stonework is obvious in the retaining
walls and picnic tables. The campground is located among Arizona
Walnut, Ponderosa pines and Live oaks. The understory is grassy
and pine needles.

SEASONS
Open Seasonal: Yes
Open All Year: No

Seasonal Comment:
Open May 1 through October 31.

RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED
Rate: $6 per day
Maximum Stay Permitted (days): 14

CAMPGROUND SITE CONFIGURATION
No. RV Sites: 0
No. Tent Sites: 8
No. Combined Sites (Tent or RV): 11

Total Sites: 19

Tent Pads: No
Group Tent Sites: No
Open Sites: No
Wooded Sites: Yes

No. Tables on Sites: 19
No. Grilles on Sites: 19

RV INFORMATION
Hookups: None
Group RV Sites: No
No. RV Pull Throughs: 1
Waste Station: No
Average Parking Apron Size: 14' X 36'

Comments:
The parking aprons are paved.

FACILITIES
Vaults: Yes
Flush Toilets: No
Hot Showers: No
Wheelchair Friendly Toilets: No

Public Phone: No
Playground: No
No. Water Spigots: 0
No. Threaded: 0

WATER SPORTS - None

HIKING - No

FISHING - No

Good Camping....Harry

[dsheets70]

Dear Doug,

I am a local (Mayer) the good spots near Sedona/Flag is Stoneman Lake...There is a spot there which is little used with restrooms and looks out over the lake, thought the road past that camp and before it is full of other pull outs with lots of pines and its free.

Next on the back way to to Prescott from Flag is Cherry Rd, take it from the I 17 side to Prescott and turn at the landfill entrance the opposite direction to the town (village) of Cherry, Ignore it looks like scub desert, in a few miles it goes into pine...There is a forrest camp site sign when it turns into pavement again... Powell Springs http://www.camparizona.com/Campsites/Flags...l%20Springs.htm thats where I would go...

Also: Mingus Mountain Canpgrounds on Mingus Mtn and it has been remodeled and expanded, the campgrounds right off the 89 N are easy to get too and the ones up the dirt road 7 mi to the new area are breath taking, you look out over the whole of the Cottonwood/Clarksdale valley at 8000 feet, they are new and modern.

[b]STATE: Arizona

[b]REGION: Southwestern

[b]RANGER DISTRICT: Verde

[b]NEAREST CITY/TOWN: Clarkdale

[b]RESERVATIONS: No

[b]DIRECTIONS:
From Clarkdale, AZ, take State Rt. 89A south 11.7 miles to Mingus
Recreation Area sign (and Summit Picnic Area sign). Turn left
onto dirt road (Summit Picnic Area on left) and go 2.5 miles to
campground. The latter road is rough and steep in places.

This route (State Rt. 89A) runs right through historic Jerome, AZ
(no gas station) and up Mingus Mtn. Scenic Byway.

[b]GENERAL COMMENTS:
The elevation is 7,600 ft.

The campground is located in the pines on top of Mingus Mtn. There
are spectacular views of Verde Valley in and near the campground.
Historic Jerome, AZ is a nice day trip. There, one can also
visit the privately owned Gold King Mine and Ghost Town. It's
lots of fun for the young and "old" alike. For old
car/truck/machinery enthusiasts, it is truly a "gold mine."
There is even a very old, working saw mill. The drive up the
Mingus Mtn. Scenic Byway offers some spectacular vistas.

[b]SEASONS
Open Seasonal: Yes
Open All Year: No

Seasonal Comment:
Open May 1 through November 1.

Also do not forget Lynx Lake...[b]NAME: Hilltop camp grounds, with two of them...upper and lower camps...great hiking.

[b]VISIT DATE: 06/17/1998

[b]UPDATE DATE: 2/17/2008

[b]STATE: Arizona

[b]REGION: Southwestern

[b]RANGER DISTRICT: <a href="http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/southwst/presinfo.htm#bradshaw" target="_blank">Bradshaw

[b]NEAREST CITY/TOWN: Prescott

[b]RESERVATIONS: No

[b]DIRECTIONS:
Just east of Prescott, AZ, off State Rt. 69, turn south on Walker
Rd. (Lynx Lake Recreation Area sign) and go 3.2 miles to
campground sign. Turn left at sign and go 0.3 miles to
campground.

[b]GENERAL COMMENTS:
The elevation is 6,000 ft.

The campground is composed of three loops (A through C) and is
one of two in the Lynx Lake Recreation Area. It is thickly
wooded with Ponderosa pines, some Junipers and Live oak. The
understory is dirt and pine needles with Manzanita scattered
around. Lynx Lake is about a mile from the campground. The
campground is general location of gold find; recreational gold
panning is permitted. There is a store on Lynx Lake where
limited groceries are available.

The Lynx Lake Recreation Area is part of the Fee Demonstration
Project. There is a $2 charge for parking at any day-use area to
include the boat ramp.

[b]SEASONS
Open Seasonal: Yes
Open All Year: No

Seasonal Comment:
Open May 1 through October 31.

[b]RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED
Rate: $10 per day
Maximum Stay Permitted (days): 7

[b]CAMPGROUND SITE CONFIGURATION
No. RV Sites: 0
No. Tent Sites: 17
No. Combined Sites (Tent or RV): 20

Total Sites: 37

Tent Pads: No
Group Tent Sites: Yes
Open Sites: No
Wooded Sites: Yes

No. Tables on Sites: 37
No. Grilles on Sites: 37

[b]RV INFORMATION
Hookups: None
Group RV Sites: No
No. RV Pull Throughs: 9
Waste Station: No
Average Parking Apron Size: 12' X 38'

Comments:
The parking aprons are paved. Most pull throughs are parallel to
road. Some back-in aprons are in need of repair. There are two
waste stations in the Prescott area. There are two RV waste
stations in the Prescott area. One, for a fee with potable water,
is Many Trails RV Sales in Prescott Valley, AZ on State Rt. 69.
The other is public, with no fee or potable water, is located about
1 mile down Sundog Ranch Rd. in Prescott off State Rt. 89.

[b]FACILITIES
Vaults: Yes
Flush Toilets: No
Hot Showers: No
Wheelchair Friendly Toilets: Yes

Public Phone: No
Playground: No
No. Water Spigots: 7
No. Threaded: 1

[b]WATER SPORTS
Lake: Yes
Swimming (provided): No
Sailing: No
Boat Ramp: Yes
Boat Carry Down Access: No
Power Boating: Yes
Boating (no power): Yes
Water Skiing: No
Rafting (whitewater): No
Kayaking (whitewater): No

Comments:
Lynx Lake is 55 acres. Electric motors only for power boats.
The store on the lake has bait, rents row boats, canoes and
paddle boats. Electric motors are also available for rent.

[b]HIKING
Lakeshore Trail (loop - foot) - 3 miles

[b]FISHING
Trout





My Favorite of Favorites is Lower Wolf Creek</a> this an older one too a ccc camp or the rosevelt era.

[b]VISIT DATE: 06/16/1998

[b]UPDATE DATE: 2/17/2008

[b]STATE: Arizona

[b]REGION: Southwestern

[b]RANGER DISTRICT: <A href="http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/southwst/presinfo.htm#bradshaw">Bradshaw

[b]NEAREST CITY/TOWN: Prescott

[b]RESERVATIONS: No

[b]DIRECTIONS:
In Prescott, AZ, at the intersection of Gurley Rd. and Mt. Vernon
Ave., turn south onto S. Mt. Vernon Ave. In 1 mile S. Mt. Vernon
Ave. becomes Senator Hwy. Continue straight on Senator Hwy. for
6.3 miles to Lower Wolf Creek campground sign (Indian Creek Rd.).
Turn right onto Indian Creek Rd. (single-lane dirt road with
turnouts) and go 1.2 miles to campground sign. Turn left at sign
into RV-friendly section or right into tent-friendly section.

[b]GENERAL COMMENTS:
The elevation is 6,000 ft.

The campground was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps
(CCC) in the 1930s. CCC stonework is obvious in the retaining
walls and picnic tables. The campground is located among Arizona
Walnut, Ponderosa pines and Live oaks. The understory is grassy
and pine needles.

[b]SEASONS
Open Seasonal: Yes
Open All Year: No

Seasonal Comment:
Open May 1 through October 31.

[b]RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED
Rate: $6 per day
Maximum Stay Permitted (days): 14

[b]CAMPGROUND SITE CONFIGURATION
No. RV Sites: 0
No. Tent Sites: 8
No. Combined Sites (Tent or RV): 11

Total Sites: 19

Tent Pads: No
Group Tent Sites: No
Open Sites: No
Wooded Sites: Yes

No. Tables on Sites: 19
No. Grilles on Sites: 19

[b]RV INFORMATION
Hookups: None
Group RV Sites: No
No. RV Pull Throughs: 1
Waste Station: No
Average Parking Apron Size: 14' X 36'

Comments:
The parking aprons are paved.

[b]FACILITIES
Vaults: Yes
Flush Toilets: No
Hot Showers: No
Wheelchair Friendly Toilets: No

Public Phone: No
Playground: No
No. Water Spigots: 0
No. Threaded: 0

[b]WATER SPORTS - None

[b]HIKING - No

[b]FISHING - No

Good Camping....Harry

Thanks Harry,
I will be traveling up there more often due to the price of gas. I'm looking for more local opportunities. That sounds great. I will try that in a few weeks.