Pictures courtesy of the Coconino National Forest -Pumphouse Wash Dispersed Camping Area.
Campground Overview:
Pumphouse Wash (Forest Road 237) is a popular dispersed camping area in the Coconino National Forest along SR 89A, midway between Flagstaff and Sedona, Arizona. The area is conveniently located near Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona, Flagstaff, Woody Mountain Road, Lake Mary, and a variety of recreation sites. It is a popular alternative to traditional campgrounds for visitors to Oak Creek Canyon and the Flagstaff area.
Campsites:
There are four campsite loops, each containing between 11 and 26 signed and numbered sites. The site offers excellent camping opportunities for large groups as well as families and individuals. Most sites offer partial to full shade beneath towering ponderosa pine trees, and are generally flat, making it easy to set up tents or campers. Each site has parking and a campfire ring. There is no trash service, water, or restroom facilities. Be prepared to pack it in, pack it out. Oak Creek Canyon is a very crowded and popular recreation area, especially on weekends and holidays. Planning on locating a campsite early Friday morning or scheduling your trip during the week will help ensure your trip is a success.
From Flagstaff, take I-17 south to the SR 89A turnoff to Sedona. Head south (left) through the round-about. Drive approximately 8 miles to FR 237 on the left.
From Sedona, take SR 89A north approximately 18 miles to FR 237 on the right. FR 237 and the camping loop roads are well maintained and suitable for passenger cars.
Campground at a Glance
Level: |
Semi-Developed |
Season: |
April – October |
Nearby City: |
Flagstaff |
Fishing: |
Oak Creek |
Campground Website: |
Pumphouse Wash (FR 237) |
Campground Map: |
Click Here |
Reservations: |
First-come, first-served basis |
Location: |
Nearby Attractions and Activities:
Oak Creek Canyon and Red Rock Country is one of the most popular tourists’ sites in the United States. Home to some of the most photographed natural formations, like Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock, and featured in numerous movies, Red Rock Country is bound to leave you amazed and in awe. Numerous buttes and mesas dot the area.
Part of the Coconino National Forest, one of most popular recreational activities in Red Rock Country is Hiking. This collection of cliffs, buttes, and canyons has to rank as one of nature’s most magnificent masterpieces.
It certainly is one of the most colorful. Red is the predominant hue here among these 43,950 acres of wind and water sculpted pinnacles, windows, arches, and slot canyons. The area is criss-crossed with trails that take you everywhere from the deepest gorges to the most prominent panoramas. Along these pleasant paths you’ll discover wonders made both by nature and by some of the area’s earliest human inhabitants. The Honanki and Palatki Heritage Sites or the Tuzigoot or Montezuma Castle National Monuments to name a few. Explore the Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness right from your campsite. Watch the canyon walls and high cliffs for rock art and abandoned dwellings as diligently you keep an eye to the horizons for vistas and breathtaking overlooks. (Click here for Red Rock Country Recreation Maps)
Red Rock State Park is a 286 acre nature preserve and environmental education center with stunning scenery. Trails throughout the park wind through manzanita and juniper to reach the rich banks of Oak Creek. Green meadows are framed by native vegetation and hills of red rock. The creek meanders through the park, creating a diverse riparian habitat abounding with plants and wildlife. This riparian habitat provides the setting and the opportunity for the park to offer a focus on environmental education.
Slide Rock State Park, originally the Pendley Homestead, is a 43-acre historic apple farm located in Oak Creek Canyon. Frank L. Pendley, having arrived in the canyon in 1907, formally acquired the land under the Homestead Act in 1910. Due to his pioneering innovation, he succeeded where others failed by establishing a unique irrigation system still in use by the park today. This allowed Pendley to plant his first apple orchard in 1912, beginning the pattern of agricultural development that has dominated the site since that time. Pendley also grew garden produce and kept some livestock. Todays visitors can still enjoy the fruits of Pendley’s labor. Historic cabins are available for viewing, and the creek offers the park’s namesake slide for adventures seekers and those looking for a place to cool off.
Sedona, AZ once nicknamed “Arizona’s Little Hollywood”, was very popular among filmmakers in the golden era of western movies. The town was frequented by John Wayne, Errol Flynn, Joan Crawford and even Elvis Presley. Today, Sedona is a vibrant city offering all urban amenities in the midst of scenic wilderness that surrounds it, and is home to several annual cultural events. There are several art galleries with unique art pieces, ranging from Native American art to modern ones. All these combine with mild climate to make Sedona a very popular tourist destination.
Nearby Campgrounds:
Campground full or want to see what’s around? Try one of these campgrounds located nearby
