Mogollon Rim camping

[DPA200]

Does anybody have any suggestions for good routes around the Mogollon Rim for National Forest camping? I'm heading up there in a couple weeks for the 1st time. I have never explored that area at all. Ideally, something fun to get to, not too far from Phoenix, no neighbors, not too high elevation so we don't freeze. I'm in a lifted 200 and I'll be towing an off-road trailer (Moab Fort xl), so I don't want anything too technical that I will have issues towing the trailer up there. I'll also have the wife and lil kids along. Feel free to PM me if you have any great spots you don't want to share publicly.

 

[murf]

Anywhere up on the rim will be close to freezing for a low. How about a little lower elevation but still in the pines? The area around Payette draw might be attractive, rather easy to get to, nice open camping spots, not too far from Payson.

Temps are about 10-12 degrees warmer.

 

[Highway Romping]

If you do decide to camp up on the rim, make sure to check the Forest Service website for road closure. They tends to close a lot of the roads during the winter especially FR 300.

 

[DPA200]

Anywhere up on the rim will be close to freezing for a low. How about a little lower elevation but still in the pines? The area around Payette draw might be attractive, rather easy to get to, nice open camping spots, not too far from Payson.

Temps are about 10-12 degrees warmer.

Funny you mentioned Pyeatt Draw, look where I was already zoomed into on my Gai app. I think the club camped there on some previous run just off Ellison Creek. I had a pin on my map. Anyways, Sounds perfect. I’m not set on the Rim itself, just anywhere up in that area near Payson, so that fits the bill. I really never love being cold at night camping. Does this spot look like a good area for us? The navigation just has me take 87 to Payson, then 199 to 198. Let me know what you think of the route and any other cool things we might want to check out in the area. Thanks @murf

 

[FlightMedic178]

My favorite spot is this overlook at Chevelon Canyon lake. I’ve never seen anyone else camped at this spot. If interested let me know and I’ll send the super secret directions. Haha

 

[murf]

Funny you mentioned Pyeatt Draw, look where I was already zoomed into on my Gai app. I think the club camped there on some previous run just off Ellison Creek. I had a pin on my map. Anyways, Sounds perfect. I’m not set on the Rim itself, just anywhere up in that area near Payson, so that fits the bill. I really never love being cold at night camping. Does this spot look like a good area for us? The navigation just has me take 87 to Payson, then 199 to 198. Let me know what you think of the route and any other cool things we might want to check out in the area. Thanks @murf

View attachment 1815928

yes that looks right. at the pin point is the beginning of a road that parallels the creek. if that spot doesn't look good go another couple miles and there will be more camping spots - plenty to choose from.

 

[DPA200]

My favorite spot is this overlook at Chevelon Canyon lake. I’ve never seen anyone else camped at this spot. If interested let me know and I’ll send the super secret directions. Haha
View attachment 1815994

looks awesome! PM sent

 

[murf]

My favorite spot is this overlook at Chevelon Canyon lake. I’ve never seen anyone else camped at this spot. If interested let me know and I’ll send the super secret directions. Haha
View attachment 1815994

My Dad and I stood in that same spot while deer hunting many years ago (pre-fire) and remember him saying that was one of his favorite spots in AZ.

 

[samtoddlee]

My favorite spot is this overlook at Chevelon Canyon lake. I’ve never seen anyone else camped at this spot. If interested let me know and I’ll send the super secret directions. Haha
View attachment 1815994

that's some super secret spot. I've hiked down the goat path on the East side when the main road to the West side is closed but never saw a view like this!

 

[Living in the Past]

On top of the rim the forest service tries to keep the roads open until the end of the elk rifle season at the end of November. Last year with the lack of snow the roads never closed. Next few weeks the rim country will probably be open. One thing I do is check to see what hunts are going on in the area to know who to expect to see in the area.

 

[FlightMedic178]

looks awesome! PM sent

PM replied!

My Dad and I stood in that same spot while deer hunting many years ago (pre-fire) and remember him saying that was one of his favorite spots in AZ.

I had that exact feeling standing in that spot.

 

[zona]

Does anybody have any suggestions for good routes around the Mogollon Rim for National Forest camping? I'm heading up there in a couple weeks for the 1st time. I have never explored that area at all. Ideally, something fun to get to, not too far from Phoenix, no neighbors, not too high elevation so we don't freeze. I'm in a lifted 200 and I'll be towing an off-road trailer (Moab Fort xl), so I don't want anything too technical that I will have issues towing the trailer up there. I'll also have the wife and lil kids along. Feel free to PM me if you have any great spots you don't want to share publicly.

Christopher Creek, camp in See Canyon. That's a beautiful area about 6000' in elevation, yes it's cold but anything above 5000' is going to be cold. Lot's of elk, deer and Christopher Creek is beautiful.

Zona

 

[DPA200]

Christopher Creek, camp in See Canyon. That's a beautiful area about 6000' in elevation, yes it's cold but anything above 5000' is going to be cold. Lot's of elk, deer and Christopher Creek is beautiful.

Zona

Any particular good route you recommend to take down to the creek? Looks like a cool area.

 

[zona]

Any particular good route you recommend to take down to the creek? Looks like a cool area.

View attachment 1816692

Thera are lot of places to camp around Christopher Creek area. The one you've identified might be closed by Nov. 1. But if it's not, Christopher Creek is about a 100' walk from your camp ground (See map).

Now, a better spot would be for you to continue on the 260 past the Christopher Creek Campground until you get to the turnoff for the town of Christopher Creek. Only a couple hundred feet past the campground on your map (to the east). You can see the split off on your map. Go into town and look to the north for FR 284. FR 284 is past the church and past the Fire Station and when you see the MARKET you're there. Head North on FR 284 (is directly across the street from the MARKET). The FR 284 sign is clear as a bell to see, go North until it ends, it's a couple miles in length and all dirt road. Along the way towards the end you will see some areas to your right (east) where you can camp, scout these areas and continue to the end you'll see a big round-about and easily double back. This is See Canyon. You will hear Christopher Creek flowing and you can walk all around there, it's beautiful. Camp at one of the spots you scouted getting there. It's a safe place and the morning sunrise will be great to see, it will crest over the Rim. You will be at around 6,000' in elevation so it will get down to the 40'F. Even Payson (5,000' in elevation) is in the 40's for the low right now.

If you have any questions and want to make sure you're in the right spot feel free to call me and I'll walk you through it. This area is pristine!

Zona
602.692.6604

 

[DPA200]

Thera are lot of places to camp around Christopher Creek area. The one you've identified might be closed by Nov. 1. But if it's not, Christopher Creek is about a 100' walk from your camp ground (See map).

Now, a better spot would be for you to continue on the 260 past the Christopher Creek Campground until you get to the turnoff for the town of Christopher Creek. Only a couple hundred feet past the campground on your map (to the east). You can see the split off on your map. Go into town and look to the north for FR 284. FR 284 is past the church and past the Fire Station and when you see the MARKET you're there. Head North on FR 284 (is directly across the street from the MARKET). The FR 284 sign is clear as a bell to see, go North until it ends, it's a couple miles in length and all dirt road. Along the way towards the end you will see some areas to your right (east) where you can camp, scout these areas and continue to the end you'll see a big round-about and easily double back. This is See Canyon. You will hear Christopher Creek flowing and you can walk all around there, it's beautiful. Camp at one of the spots you scouted getting there. It's a safe place and the morning sunrise will be great to see, it will crest over the Rim. You will be at around 6,000' in elevation so it will get down to the 40'F. Even Payson (5,000' in elevation) is in the 40's for the low right now.

If you have any questions and want to make sure you're in the right spot feel free to call me and I'll walk you through it. This area is pristine!

Zona
602.692.6604

Perfecto! thank so much for the detailed instructions. Sounds like i might need to upgrade my cold weather gear, but it looks like a great place to camp with lots of trails to hike also. Thanks!

 

[zona]

Perfecto! thank so much for the detailed instructions. Sounds like i might need to upgrade my cold weather gear, but it looks like a great place to camp with lots of trails to hike also. Thanks!

No problem, it's beautiful place and yes, lot's of good hiking along the creek. You have to cross it and sometimes you get wet, but there are trails on the other side you'll like.

Zona

 

[tlin]

that's some super secret spot. I've hiked down the goat path on the East side when the main road to the West side is closed but never saw a view like this!

Ditto to both

 

[DPA200]

Thanks for all the tips. I ended up doing a hybrid of multiple suggestions. The forecast the day we left was down to 40 degrees at Payson, so i decided to wait til warmer weather before venturing out to @FlightMedic178 's epic Chevelon Canyon lake site, as that was up at almost 7000 ft. I followed @zona 's great suggestion to the Christopher Creek area. This looked like a beautiful area with quite a few campsites along the road to the hiking trailhead. It must have been peak hiking season when we were there as the trailhead was jammed packed with cars, and quite a bit of traffic on the road. We decided to venture on to find something more remote. I got back on Hwy 260 to Tonto Creek / Kohls ranch and saw a dirt road FR289 on the north side. Took that North for a bit. Then headed West on Robert's Mesa Road (FR29). Quite a few campsites along this road. Ended up finding the campsite shown tucked back about 500ft from the road behind the tree line. The most private out of anything we saw. only had 2 cars pass on this road all day also, so quiet area in general. Several fire pits, nice quiet, very large site if anybody else is looking in the area:

Lat: 34.34707
Lon: -111.12940

browsing on Gaia late that night i saw that Robert's Mesa FR29 actually could connect to the Pyeatt Draw Parallel trail which is where @murf had suggested camp. So I went West the next morning on FR29, then right on FR64, and a left onto the Pyeatt Draw Parallel trail from (https://www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/1886-pyeatt-draw-parallel-arizona) and did it backward. Nothing too challenging, but still enough to be fun, and quite a bit of mud to splash through that day. Anyways, fun weekend, thanks for the great tips.

 

[DPA200]

Followup question. I'm now looking for some good low elevation suggestions for winter. Close enough to Phoenix to get to after work, cutting out a little early on a Friday. I remember hearing the Gila River / Florence area was good to explore, but if anybody can point me down a good road or to a specific spot I'd appreciate it. I do have my State Land Trust permit. Again, feel free to DM me if you don't want to list publicly.

 

[Saddletramp]

There are some great spots out through 7 Springs. Going in to the various lake areas is also interesting like FR 393 but it may be a bit difficult with a trailer. Also look at the east side of Punkin center, lots of dirt trails.