Canyon Point Campground
- Canyon Point Campground
Campground Overview:
Located in the heart of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, Canyon Point Campground offers a spacious and well-equipped camping experience just outside Forest Lakes, Arizona. Surrounded by towering pines and aspen, the campground sits only 5 miles from Willow Springs Lake, making it a great base for trout fishing, boating, hiking, and photography.
Canyon Point is part of the Rim Lakes Recreation Area, one of the most popular summer destinations in Arizona. Campgrounds often fill quickly—especially on weekends—so advance reservations are strongly recommended. If the campground is full, nearby dispersed forest road camping is available.
Campsites:
Canyon Point is the largest campground in the Rim Lakes area, offering 113 campsites, including:
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32 sites with electric hookups
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5 double sites (up to 16 people each)
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2 large group sites (up to 25 and 55 people)
All sites include a picnic table and campfire ring with grill. Amenities also include:
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Drinking water
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Showers
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Flush restrooms
The campground accommodates tents, trailers, and RVs up to 75 feet.
Getting There:
From Payson, head east on Highway 260 for approximately 30 miles. Just before reaching Forest Lakes, look for signs on the right side of the highway directing you into the campground.
Campground at a Glance
Level: |
Developed |
Season: |
April – October |
Nearby City: |
Payson |
Fishing: |
Willow Springs Lake |
Campground Website: |
Canyon Point Campground |
Campground Map: |
Click Here/ Rim Lake Recreation Area |
Reservations: |
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Location: |
Nearby Attractions and Activities:
Willow Springs Lake was created in 1966 by the Arizona Game and Fish Department as a trout fishing lake. The lake is set in the tall pines at 7,600 foot elevation. Willow Springs Lake has a surface area of 150 acres and is stocked with trout regularly from Spring through Fall. Boats with motors up to 10 hp are permitted on this lake. There is no fee for day use or to launch a boat. An Arizona State fishing license is required to fish this lake.
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.
- Rim Lakes Recreation Area
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
