Catfish Point Dispersed Camping Area
- Catfish Point Dispersed Camping Area
Campground Overview:
The Catfish Point Dispersed Camping Area is located just below Horseshoe Reservoir along the Verde River on the Tonto National Forest. This site offers beautiful vistas of the surrounding mountains. Horseshoe Reservoir and the Verde River provide numerous opportunities for water activities. Catfish Boating Site offers access boat for non-motorized boating only. The area includes numerous dispersed campsites located along the river. A vault toilet is available, but no other amenities. Be sure to come prepared and pack in, pack out all gear.
From Carefree, take Cave Creek Road to the junction of Bartlett Road/Forest Road (FR) 19. Turn right and travel 7 miles to the junction of FR 205. Turn left onto an unmaintained, unpaved road. Continue for 11 miles to Horseshoe Reservoir.
Campground at a Glance
Level: |
Dispersed |
Season: |
October – May |
Nearby City: |
Phoenix Valley |
Fishing: |
Horseshoe Reservoir/ Verde River |
Campground Website: |
Catfish Point Dispersed Camping Area |
Campground Map: |
Click Here |
Reservations: |
First-come, first-served basis |
Location: |
Nearby Attractions and Activities:
Horseshoe Reservoir is one of the most remote lakes in the area — ideal for anglers looking for a quiet lake. Horseshoe is one of the best fish nurseries in Arizona, with the refilling of the reservoir. Below the Horseshoe Dam, the Verde River flows all the way to Bartlett Lake. This is a great area for river fishing and kayaking.
Pictures courtesy of the Tonto National Forest -Horseshoe Lake Recreation Area.
Cave Creek Ranger District is the first district on Tonto National Forest. It is located in the farthest left hand corner of the forest, and is notable for the water, hiking, and horseback riding recreation. It consists of over 570,000 acres (approximately 230,000 hectares) of Desert, Semi-Desert Grassland, Chaparral, and Pinyon-Juniper types of vegetation. The Verde River flows through this entire district; Horseshoe and Bartlett Reservoirs are located here.
Watershed protection was one of the most important reasons that the Tonto National Forest was established. Since then, the Salt and Verde rivers have had six dams constructed. While the dammed water is of great value for irrigating fields and for domestic use, it is also very popular with thousands of people who recreate in its waters every year.
Nearby Campgrounds:
Campground full or want to see what’s around? Try one of these campgrounds located nearby
