Fellas, need some ideas from y'all

[alia176]

My step sister is visiting PHX from the U.K. in May and staying with her mom in Gilbert. We'd like to drive up from ABQ and camp someplace near the area and hoping she can meet up with us for a day or two. She'll borrow her mom's Corolla and meet up with us so I don't want her do any wheeling in it, LOL!

Let me hear some ideas of places please! Tonto nat'l forest maybe a good possibility but I've never camped there.

Thanks.

 

[Cactuscrzr]

I like the hills outside of Ft. Thomas on the east side of the river or Dripping Springs south of Globe, AZ as in-between spots, might be a little warm.
Big Lake is a great option if the weather is warm enough and the roads are open.

 

[zona]

My step sister is visiting PHX from the U.K. in May and staying with her mom in Gilbert. We'd like to drive up from ABQ and camp someplace near the area and hoping she can meet up with us for a day or two. She'll borrow her mom's Corolla and meet up with us so I don't want her do any wheeling in it, LOL!

Let me hear some ideas of places please! Tonto nat'l forest maybe a good possibility but I've never camped there.

Thanks.

Suggestion: Have her drive to Payson (Gilbert Rd to the 87, total drive time is 1:15) From there you camp anywhere in the Tonto Nat'l Park (largest Ponderosa Pine Forest in the world, one of the clearest ozones, great camping spots). Pick her up in Payson. Go 9 miles north and visit the Natural Bridge...

Tonto Natural Bridge State Park (Payson, AZ): Top Tips Before You Go - TripAdvisor

...go another 6 miles north from the Natural Bridge and run into the cutest little town (Pine, AZ), buy some honey, antiques...

Pine, Arizona - Wikipedia

...go another 15 miles north and take a right onto General Crook trail (FR 300), camp anywhere once you turn on it...

Coconino National Forest - Rim Road/General Crook Trail Loop

...if you drive 6 miles onto General Crook Trail you'll be at 7500' and can camp near a cliff overlooking beautiful forest.

...it's easy...Good luck hombre.

Zona

 

[BrotherRob]

Suggestion: Have her drive to Payson (Gilbert Rd to the 87, total drive time is 1:15) From there you camp anywhere in the Tonto Nat'l Park (largest Ponderosa Pine Forest in the world, one of the clearest ozones, great camping spots). Pick her up in Payson. Go 9 miles north and visit the Natural Bridge...

Tonto Natural Bridge State Park (Payson, AZ): Top Tips Before You Go - TripAdvisor

...go another 6 miles north from the Natural Bridge and run into the cutest little town (Pine, AZ), buy some honey, antiques...

Pine, Arizona - Wikipedia

...go another 15 miles north and take a right onto General Crook trail (FR 300), camp anywhere once you turn on it...

Coconino National Forest - Rim Road/General Crook Trail Loop

...if you drive 6 miles onto General Crook Trail you'll be at 7500' and can camp near a cliff overlooking beautiful forest.

...it's easy...Good luck hombre.

Zona

This or the Globe area of you want to stay cool. If you want to stay closer, find somewhere near a creek or river so you have shade.

 

[alia176]

Great ideas, thank you fellas.

 

[alia176]

Was just informed that we maybe meeting in Tucson now so I'm guessing Mt Lemmon for camping?

 

[Saddletramp]

Mt. Lemmon is a good spot with some high elevation. I'll let the Tucson crowd chime in on that

 

[tucson_sailors]

Mt Lemmon is the best local to Tucson choice for cool camping. Pine forests and a lot of camping areas. There is other camping within about a 1 to 1 and 1/2 hour drive, but the most popular is up there. There is a back access road for off-roading, but not sure if thats open yet, or would be by the time y'all get here. As for just scenic desert drives, there's tons.

We also have a thriving tourism trade - Old Tucson movie studios (just west of town) the Arizona/Sonora Desert Museum (about 10 minutes from Old Tucson) Titan II missile museum (about 30 minutes south in Green Valley) as well as Colossal Cave on the East side of town. Tons of stuff to impress the UK visitor - I know, I've had family coming over for 40+ years visiting.

Glenn in Marana, AZ (just north of Tucson)

 

[Saddletramp]

Don't forget the Pima Air museum

 

[MaddBaggins]

Was just informed that we maybe meeting in Tucson now so I'm guessing Mt Lemmon for camping?

Hey man! Hit me up when you're here. Maybe we can meet up.

Lots of cool car camp areas on Lemmon. Check out some stuff on the Bigelow road turnoff.

 

[alia176]

Hey man! Hit me up when you're here. Maybe we can meet up.

Lots of cool car camp areas on Lemmon. Check out some stuff on the Bigelow road turnoff.

Will do, it's been a while brotha!!!

 

[alia176]

Just got off the phone with my sister and we're aiming for Tucson. We'll head for a camping spot on 5/5 and setup. She and her friend want to camp with us so we'll bring them up to our site on Sat sometimes.

I'd love to meet up with the Tucson Mud crew during this trip if possible so let's keep in touch.

On a side note, my sister says that she is a vegetarian due to the crappy food that is available in London. So, she asked me to bring TONS of meat so that she can get her fill. Apparently she is a vegetarian by country, LOL!!!

 

[tucson_sailors]

Grin. Lots of meat options down here. We do have one family run NM style mexican restaurant - Poco and Moms. Family is from ABQ so its just a little different than most. True hatch chilis, etc. not from a can. Otherwise we run the gamut from Tex-Mex to Sonoran. Lots of steak house if you get tired of grilling yer own. Down by the U of A there is a fairly wide selection of "ethnic" cuisine if she misses UK good with flavour - Indian, Paki, Ethiopian, and whatnot.