Campground Overview:
Kehl Springs Camp is located on the Tonto National Forest in a stand of ponderosa pines right at the brink of one of Arizona’s most awesome geologic features, the Mogollon Rim. Just a short distance from these shady campsites the rim brings the Colorado Plateau to an end with a precipitous drop-off that plunges two thousand feet from forested highland to Sonoran desert.
Campsites:
The campground includes 8 single unit sites with tables, fire rings, and toilets. No drinking water or trash service is available.
Drive 50 miles south of Flagstaff on FH3 to Clints Well, then 9 miles southwest on AZ 87 to Fr 300 (the General Crook Trail). Turn left (east) on Fr 300 and drive 6 miles to the campground.
From Payson, travel north on AZ-260 W/AZ-87 N for approximately 28 miles. Turn left on Fr 300 (Rim Rd) and travel for 6 miles. Campground will be on the right hand side.
Campground at a Glance
Level: |
Semi-Developed |
Season: |
May – September |
Nearby City: |
Payson |
Fishing: |
None |
Campground Website: |
Kehl Springs Campground |
Campground Map: |
Click Here |
Reservations: |
First-come, first-served basis |
Location: |
Nearby Attractions and Activities:
From this high perspective you can enjoy spectacular views of Four Peaks, the Sierra Anchas, and the Mazatzals. At night, the lights of Payson wink up from 2,000 feet down and 15 miles away. Other recreation activities to enjoy nearby include hiking, mountain biking, fishing and boating. The General Crook Historic Trail and the Rim Country Scenic Drive pass right by the campground.
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.
Tonto Natural Bridge State Park is located in central Arizona near Payson. It is believed to be the largest natural travertine bridge in the world. The bridge stands 183 feet high over a 400-foot long tunnel that measures 150 feet at its widest point. There are three hiking trails, a picnic area, and a group use area. Goodfellow Lodge at Tonto Natural Bridge State Park is a one-of-a-kind rustic hideaway in the middle of some of the most picturesque scenery in Arizona’s Rim Country. Nestled deep within Pine Canyon, this three-story cabin-style lodge was built in the 1920’s and has kept much of its early 20th-century charm. The lodge has 10 furnished bedrooms with private and communal restrooms, as well as a furnished basement suite with a private kitchenette with sink and refrigerator.
The Payson Area Trails System is an in-progress, interconnecting trail system utilizing detached pathways, existing sidewalks, and bike lanes in Payson to form an interior trail network. These interior trails will connect to specific Forest Service roads and trails on Payson’s periphery providing a more rustic trail-user experience. If you enjoy hiking and want to see more of Payson these trails are great way to see the surrounding area. (Click Here for a Map)
Campers who make the quick trip to the town of Payson, one mile south, will find restaurants, shopping and other conveniences. Scenic driving and outdoor recreation abound in the surrounding Tonto National Forest, which embraces almost 3 million acres of rugged and spectacularly beautiful country, ranging from saguaro cactus-studded desert to pine-forested mountains beneath the Mogollon Rim.
Nearby Campgrounds:
Campground full or want to see what’s around? Try one of these campgrounds located nearby
