Campground Overview:
SB Cove Shoreline Area is located along the shores of Bartlett Reservoir on the Tonto National Forest. This site offers beautiful vistas of the surrounding mountains. There are no designated campsites and the amount of space will vary with the reservoirs water levels. Bathrooms and water are located nearby. On holiday weekends, this area will fill up as campers and boater stake claims all along the shoreline. Some campers can become quite rowdy and play music late into the night. There is no campsite host or quite hours. A Tonto Daily Pass is required.
SB Cove Shoreline Area is 24 miles east of Carefree. Take Cave Creek Road 7 miles to the junction with Forest Road (FR) 205. Turn right and travel 6 miles to the junction of FR 205 and FR 19. At this junction take FR 19 for 7 miles to FR 459 and turn left. Continue on FR 459 (a paved, low-speed road) for 3 miles to the site.
Campground at a Glance
Level: |
Dispersed |
Season: |
Year-Round |
Nearby City: |
Phoenix Valley |
Fishing: |
Bartlett Lake |
Campground Website: |
SB Cove Shoreline Area |
Campground Map: |
Click Here |
Reservations: |
First-come, first-served basis |
Location: |
Nearby Attractions and Activities:
The Bartlett Reservoir Area is noted for the spectacular vistas of the Desert Mountains and the Sonoran plant life. Because of the proximity to the Phoenix Valley, Bartlett Reservoir is a very popular recreational area for fisherman and boaters.
The Bartlett Lake Mariana is located on the reservoir and can meet all of your boating needs. Be sure to also check out The Cove and Oar House for a bite to eat. The atmosphere and beautiful surroundings makes it a wonderful location for your friends and family to enjoy an unforgettable Arizona afternoon with a spectacular view!
A fair portion of the west side of the reservoir is devoted to camping and picnicking. Bartlett has been a favorite with anglers since Bartlett Dam was constructed in 1939. Several state-record fish have been caught there. The 1977 Small-mouth Bass state record tipped the scales at seven pounds. The carp state record still stands at 37 lbs. 5 oz. Flathead Catfish lurk in the depths. “Fish City” near Bartlett Flat is a fish-habitat improvement project.
Rattlesnake Cove Day Use Area is an accessible site with staircases that lead visitors straight to the shoreline of the Bartlett Lake. There are public grills and verandas for families to spend the day in the shade and enjoy meals and a respite from the sun. When water levels are low, people may also bring their canopies and coolers to the shoreline. The scenery of Bartlett Lake and surrounding mountains makes this site a favorite spot for regular visitors! The beach at Rattlesnake Cove is generally gently sloping with gradual change in water depths.
Pictures courtesy of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Arizona -Rattlesnake Cove Day Use 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:
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