Campground Overview:
The Diversion Dam Recreation Area located on the Tonto National National Forest includes five primitive, dispersed camping areas: Rafter Take-Out, HZ Wash, Diversion Dam and Eucalyptus Access Points, and EADS Wash. Potable water, toilets, and other amenities are not generally available. If you choose to camp outside developed areas, be sure to bring adequate water or be prepared to purify any water source before drinking. This area is generally used to get access to the Upper Salt River and mouth of Roosevelt Lake and has exceptionally incredible landscapes. Organ Pipe cactus stand guard against backdrops of rugged mountains.
While the majority of the forest roads in the area are well maintained and used frequently, during snow or heavy rain, a high clearance vehicle may be required. Always use common sense and be prepared.
Campground at a Glance
Level: |
Dispersed |
Season: |
Year-Round |
Nearby City: |
Globe |
Fishing: |
Upper Salt River |
Campground Website: |
EADS Wash |
Campground Map: |
Click Here |
Reservations: |
First-come, first-served basis |
Location: |
Nearby Attractions and Activities:
Salt River Canyon Wilderness often referred to as Arizona’s other Grand Canyon. While it lacks the size of the Grand Canyon, it certainly measures up in terms of outstanding, rugged geology and sheer scenic beauty. It is one of a few rivers to flow through the saguaro cactus forests of the Sonoran Desert, a truly exotic landscape.
A Tonto National Forest Upper Salt River boater permit is required to float the Salt River Canyon Wilderness from March 1st to May 15th annually. The Upper Salt River is a solid Class III-IV river and requires whitewater boating skills. There are no trails in the Salt River Canyon Wilderness, but many of the side canyons are great hikes. The wildflowers in the Sonoran Desert can be magical in the spring, and just walking out into the desert from any of the camps can lead to fabulous scenic hiking. Numerous outdoor companies provide white-water rafting expeditions into the wilderness including: Mild to Wild Rafting and Jeep Tours, Salt River Rafting, and Wild Awareness Rafting.
Theodore Roosevelt Lake was formed by the construction of the Theodore Roosevelt Dam on the Salt River in 1911, making it the oldest artificial reservoir in Arizona. Although not as popular as other lakes located near Phoenix, the reservoir and surrounding area is now a major center for fishing, boating, camping, hiking, and general vacationing.
The recreation area is apart of the Tonto National Forest- Tonto Basin Ranger District and encompasses over 500,000 acres and includes numerous recreational opportunities located along the shores of Roosevelt Lake. Bermuda Flat Shoreline Area contains miles of sandy shoreline accessible to most vehicles including RVs, and is one of the main locations for primitive camping. Cholla Campground is the largest official site, with paved roads and full hookups, and it benefits from a scenic setting on a low mesa, projecting out into the lake. Vineyard Canyon, a day use area, has picnic facilities and short trails to the lakeshore, here lined by stony slopes rather than sandy beaches. A pull-out just west of Theodore Roosevelt Dam is the start point for the Vineyard Trail, the only maintained hiking path along the lake, climbing the cactus-covered hills for fine views over the Salt River Valley and the Apache Trail.
East of the dam are various facilities including the Roosevelt Lake Visitors Center, day use areas, and Roosevelt Lake Marina. The visitor center is worth a stop; exhibits display many interesting artifacts from the early 1900’s. Across the street, the Cemetery Trail takes visitors to the Roosevelt Cemetery, the final resting place of some of the local settlers and also workers who built the Theodore Roosevelt Dam. Further southeast, the highway moves away from the shoreline though the side roads lead to more lakeside recreation areas: Windy Hill, Grapevine Point, and Schoolhouse Campground.
Tonto National Monument protects two well-preserved prehistoric cliff dwellings and diverse artifacts. Located within the Tonto Basin of the Upper Sonoran Desert, this National Park Service site provides opportunities to experience a thriving culture deeply rooted in its natural setting, while encouraging our own connections to our environment. For nearly 10 millennia, the Tonto Basin has provided, and continues to provide, a home to many diverse people. Archaeological evidence suggests that Ancient peoples traveled extensively throughout this and aurrounding areas. Several American Indian tribes such as White Mountain, Chiricauhua, and Tonto Apaches, Yavapais, Pima-Maricopas and more call this area home today. Many of these tribes feel strong spiritual ties to the cliff dwellings, deeming them to be an ancestral home.
Nearby Campgrounds:
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