Pictures courtesy of the Prescott National Forest -Groom Creek Horse Camp.
Campground Overview:
*Horse Camping Only- You must have at least one horse to camp at this facility*
Equestrian campers will find Groom Creek Horse Camp seven miles south of Prescott, Arizona at an elevation of 6,398 feet. The ponderosa pine setting, nearby trails and limited equestrian camping opportunities make this a popular destination. Each campsite has a steel corral enclosure and an overhead tether line that accommodates two to four horses. Two group picnic sites are also available for reservation for group gatherings within this campground.
Horse Camp occupies an area dominated by ponderosa pine mixed with alligator juniper, oak species, and a variety of forbs and native grasses. Colorful wildflowers bloom in the spring, and during the summer monsoon seasons. Visitors may see a variety of wildlife including deer, mountain lion, bobcat, coyotes, fox, rabbits, lizards, snakes, and birds
Campsites:
Groom Creek Horse Camp has two reservable loops (Loops B and C) and one first-come, first-serve loop (Loop A). Each of the 30 campsites in Loop B and C have a picnic table, steel fire ring, 16’x16′ steel corral, and an overhead tether line. Of the 30 campsites, 27 campsite driveways are pull-through, three driveways are back-in, and all have packed gravel surfacing. The internal access roads are also packed gravel. Four vault toilets, five trash dumpsters, and six water faucets service the campground. Nearly all water faucets are located at a vault toilet. Facilities are not accessible for persons with disabilities.
A reservable group site is located in Loop B and one in Loop C. The group site in Loop B has six picnic tables, five pedestal fire grills, one group fire ring, and limited parking for a maximum of two vehicles. Trailers cannot be accommodated. The group site in Loop C has a steel ramada with six picnic tables, a steel ramada-covered cooking area with two triple cooking surface fire pedestal grills, water faucet, one large and one small steel fire ring, overhead tether line, a 16’x16′ steel corral, and limited parking for a maximum of two vehicles.
Campground at a Glance
Level: |
Developed |
Season: |
May – October |
Nearby City: |
Prescott |
Fishing: |
None |
Campground Website: |
Groom Creek Horse Camp |
Campground Map: |
N/A |
Reservations: |
|
Location: |
Nearby Attractions and Activities:
Prescott National Forest is comprised of about 1.25 million acres, and borders three other National Forests in Arizona: Kaibab, Coconino, and Tonto. Roughly half of the forest lies west of the city of Prescott, Arizona, in the Juniper, Santa Maria, Sierra Prieta, and Bradshaw Mountains. The other half of the Forest lies east of Prescott and takes in the Black Hills, Mingus Mountain, Black Mesa, and the headwaters of the Verde River.
A few miles Northeast of Prescott sits the Granite Basin Recreation Area, which is nestled among pines and boulders of Prescott’s iconic Granite Mountain. The Area offers a variety of recreational opportunities year-round including: hiking, backpacking, horse riding, non-motorized boating, rock climbing, fishing, camping, and picnicking. Within the region are several day-use areas, and Granite Basin Lake, which is known for channel catfish, large-mouth bass, and sunfish. Rising prominently north of Granite Basin Lake is Granite Mountain at 6,874 feet. The Granite Mountain Wilderness Area is comprised of the mountain’s rugged topography and mixed vegetation suite. (Click Here for Map of Area)
Southeast of downtown Prescott is Lynx Lake Recreation Area. Lynx Lake is an immensely popular area in the Prescott National Forest that offers a variety of recreation opportunities for all age groups. Activities include fishing, boating, and hiking among others. West of Prescott, is the Thumb Butte Recreation Area. Its 6,515-foot prominence is quite visible in the Prescott Basin. The Thumb Butte area is one of the most popular destinations on the Prescott National Forest. Mild weather, cool ponderosa pine forest, a comfortable picnic area, and a variety of trails that offer hikers, horseback riders, and mountain bikers many routes to explore. (Click Here for Map)
The City of Prescott, nestled at an elevation of 5,200′ feet above sea level amongst the largest stand of ponderosa pine forests in the U.S., Prescott’s perfect weather provides an average temperature of 70 degrees, with four beautiful and distinct seasons, and breathtaking landscapes complete with granite mountains, lakes, streams, and rolling meadows filled with wildlife.
Once the territorial capital of the state, Prescott is rich with history embodied in its world famous Whiskey Row and abundant historical landmarks. Whether you’re seeking to relax in a natural environment filled with beauty and wildlife, or the history of Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and cowboy forays in the most famous saloons of the Old West, check out the True West and Real Adventure.
The city provides numerous recreational opportunities including three lakes: Watson, Willow, and Goldwater Lake. Each have unique qualities and recreation opportunities including boating, fishing, birdwatching and hiking. The city also manages numerous hiking trails around the city. The Granite Dells can be seen along the hiking trails around Watson Lake and are worth the trip. (Click here for more information about Prescott recreation)
Nearby Campgrounds:
Campground full or want to see what’s around? Try one of these campgrounds located nearby
