Sinkhole Campground

• 
  Sinkhole Campground
• 
  Sinkhole Campground
• 
  Sinkhole Campground
• 
  Sinkhole Campground
• 
  Sinkhole Campground- bathrooms
• 
  Sinkhole Campground
• 
  Sinkhole Campground
• 
  Sinkhole Campground- Entrance
• 
  Sinkhole Campground
• 
  Sinkhole Campground
• 
  Sinkhole Campground
• 
  Sinkhole Campground
• 
  Sinkhole Campground
• 
  Sinkhole Campground- Willow Springs
• 
  Sinkhole Campground

Campground Overview:

Sinkhole Campground is located in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest within walking distance of Willow Springs Lake which provides boating and fishing opportunities. Hiking and mountain biking opportunities are nearby in the non-motorized Wildlife Area. The General Crook National Recreation Trail is also within a mile of the campground. Be prepared for rain, often heavy, through July and August. Expect cool to cold nighttime temperatures.

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:

Sinkhole Campground has 26 sites (sites 14 through 26 are available for advanced reservation). Sites 1 through 13 are first-come, first served. There are two accessible sites, two double sites and the rest are single sites. All sites are back-in. Each site offers a campfire ring with grill and picnic table. Additional amenities include accessible vault toilets, drinking water and trash service. A camp host is available at the site.

From Payson, travel east on Hwy 260, about a 1/2 mile past the Mogollon Rim Visitor Center, turn left on Willow Springs Lake Road. Campground will be on the left.

Campground at a Glance

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.

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