Aspen Campground

Campground Overview:

Aspen Campground is one of seven in the Rim Lakes Recreation Area located in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. It is large and rambling and offers several camping experiences and environments from grassy meadows to a rocky forest. For viewing there are many birds, squirrels, deer, and elk. Most sites are well separated for privacy. Firewood is available. Aspen Campground has paved roads

The large and rambling campground offers several camping experiences and environments from marshy meadows to a rocky forest. Wildlife viewing includes birds, squirrels, deer and elk. Deer, skunks and bears are common campground visitors. Summer temperatures can be very pleasant because of the elevation. However, the rainy season often brings afternoon thunderstorms from late June through August. Visitors should come prepared for rain and cool nighttime temperature

The Rim Lakes Recreation Area is one the most popular recreational areas in Arizona. During the summer months these campgrounds will fill up very early, especially over weekends. Reservations are highly recommend. If you cannot find a campsite, please use the map to locate the dispersed forest road campsites around the area.

Campsites:

Aspen Campground is a large facility with 148 campsites. It is composed of four loops in alternating meadow and wooded areas, and campsites are spaced well apart from each other. A marina with a full service store with groceries, boat rentals and firewood is available at the lake. Gas, phone and groceries are also available in nearby Forest Lakes.

From Payson, travel east on Hwy 260, turn left on Rim Rd (Fr 300) across from the Mogollon Rim Visitor Center. Turn right on Woods Canyon Rd and head towards the lake, follow the signs to the campground.

Campground at a Glance

Nearby Attractions and Activities:

Rim Lakes Recreation Area is one of our favorite summertime locations in Arizona located in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. Perched atop the Mogollon Rim at an elevation of 7,700 ft and located just two hours from the Phoenix Valley, this recreational area is a great location where you can “beat the heat” and take part in a host of low-cost recreational activities that everyone in the family can enjoy.

The Rim Lakes Area enjoys magnificent weather during the summertime. From June to August, daytime temperatures typically range between 68 and 80 degrees with nighttime temperatures falling to between 45 and 59 degrees. Temperatures drop quite a bit in late September with nighttime temperatures often dropping to below freezing. July through early September marks the monsoon season in Arizona with the Mogollon Rim getting more than its fair share of rainfall.

The area is covered with thick forests of Douglas-fir and Ponderosa pine and features three man-made lakes: Woods Canyon, Willow Springs, and Bear Canyon Lakes. The lakes provide much of the area’s appeal. All three are open to boating, swimming, and fishing. Woods Canyon is the most popular and can get quite busy during the summer, especially on weekends. A well-stocked general store and boat rentals are available at Woods Canyon Lake

The Rim Lakes Recreation Area is connected with numerous trails that bring hikers around the campgrounds, lakes, and also along the Mogollon Rim. Some of the more popular routes include: Woods Canyon Lake Trail, Meadow Trail, Rim Lake Vista Trail #622, and the famed General Crook Trail #130.

The Mogollon Rim (pronounced muggy-own) is a massive escarpment marking the southwestern edge of the Colorado Plateau. It’s named after Don Juan Ignacio Flores Mogollon, the Spanish governor of New Mexico from 1712 to 1715. The escarpment rises up to 7,700 feet in some locations with much of the land south of the rim lying around 4000 and 5000 feet. The rim was formed by erosion and faulting and is comprised mostly of limestone and sandstone. A few large canyons have been carved into the feature with the most notable being Fossil Creek Canyon and Pine Canyon.

Nearby Campgrounds:

Campground full or want to see what’s around? Try one of these campgrounds located nearby