Winter Snow camping December

[Dimples]

I am looking for somewhere to do some show camping early-mid December. Anywhere within 3 or so hours drive Phoenix is good. I know the FS likes to close a lot of the roads to keep out the riff raff and reduce the number of rescues. Any recommendations?

 

[peacesells63]

I am looking for somewhere to do some show camping early-mid December. Anywhere within 3 or so hours drive Phoenix is good. I know the FS likes to close a lot of the roads to keep out the riff raff and reduce the number of rescues. Any recommendations?

There are a few roads north of the flagstaff Nordic center off of 180 that I noticed were open all of last year. Generally there is a good bit more snow up there than the rim areas since its around 8200ft elevation.

You can check hunting regulations and find an area with a late hunt, usually the roads will be open until the last draw hunt is over.

The cinders OHV area is open in the winter too, and there usually aren't many people up there when its cold. I like camping there, but I always go out by the east boundary where there aren't any people.

Last year I went and camped by the south rim in mid January and the roads were all still open. that was FR310 near the grandview lookout tower.

Most of the roads off of the young road are open as well. The generally don't close anything below the rim.

 

[Dimples]

There are a few roads north of the flagstaff Nordic center off of 180 that I noticed were open all of last year. Generally there is a good bit more snow up there than the rim areas since its around 8200ft elevation.

You can check hunting regulations and find an area with a late hunt, usually the roads will be open until the last draw hunt is over.

The cinders OHV area is open in the winter too, and there usually aren't many people up there when its cold. I like camping there, but I always go out by the east boundary where there aren't any people.

Last year I went and camped by the south rim in mid January and the roads were all still open. that was FR310 near the grandview lookout tower.

Most of the roads off of the young road are open as well. The generally don't close anything below the rim.

Good call on the late hunts. Didn't even think of that. I have been wanting to go to the cinders anyways. Might just wind up there

 

[LongDuck]

Diamond Point over NE of Payson also has some roads that are open through the winter and several campsites are likely accessible, but check with rangers in that area. We drove through one many years ago while planning to dig Herkemer diamonds (surface quartz crystals) and there was too much snow, so we went over to Scout Cave and the Observation point instead. Still a lot of fun.

 

[ARJMN]

It is a good bit further than you specified, but the North Rim area is amazing anytime of year. You have to snake around outside the park boundaries, but there are some fantastic sites up there that definitely receive some great snow.

 

[Living in the Past]

This is kind of a loaded question. Mid December possible to not have any snow at elevations under 8,000' south of the North Rim. Last year was a very light snow. 2017/2018 there wasn't a winter. The FS roads in Coconino National Forest in the rim district didn't close at all. Prodictions for this winter are cold and dry. Maybe a member in Flagstaff can give an update on the current status of the Peaks?

 

[TWILLY]

This is kind of a loaded question. Mid December possible to not have any snow at elevations under 8,000' south of the North Rim. Last year was a very light snow. 2017/2018 there wasn't a winter. The FS roads in Coconino National Forest in the rim district didn't close at all. Prodictions for this winter are cold and dry. Maybe a member in Flagstaff can give an update on the current status of the Peaks?

Warm and dry here. There's no snow on the peaks except for north aspects generally over 10,000 feet. None of the long range weather models advertise any precipitation through the end of the month. Of course, all of that will change quickly when the pattern eventually changes, but at this point I'd wager that'll happen in December.

 

[Dimples]

Warm and dry here. There's no snow on the peaks except for north aspects generally over 10,000 feet. None of the long range weather models advertise any precipitation through the end of the month. Of course, all of that will change quickly when the pattern eventually changes, but at this point I'd wager that'll happen in December.

I was leaning towards mid December anyways. Best chance of snow over a longer stretch of time. If I don’t get snow it is not the end of the world. Also, waiting until December will give me time to get my winter gear in order. Hastily packed and planned winter camping trips are rarely fun.

 

[Living in the Past]

Snow Bowl has delayed their opening date. Reason it's not even cold enough to make snow.

 

[Somebodyelse5]

I generally avoid snow at all costs... it's too cold. i live in phx for a reason

 

[Living in the Past]

I generally avoid snow at all costs... it's too cold. i live in phx for a reason

I have fond memories of snow camping and wheeling. One of the best was in 1981 elk hunting and camping at 8,000'+ at the base of Hendrick Mountain. Sub zero every morning. Chains on all four wheels. This picture is in the Hart Prairie area around 1983. Forest Service closed the forest in the winter after it started to snow.

This one was 2011 off SR87 just north of the winter snow closure.

If it weren't for circumstances beyond our control would still be up north.

 

[TWILLY]

I have fond memories of snow camping and wheeling. One of the best was in 1981 elk hunting and camping at 8,000'+ at the base of Hendrick Mountain. Sub zero every morning. Chains on all four wheels. This picture is in the Hart Prairie area around 1983. Forest Service closed the forest in the winter after it started to snow.View attachment 2841774
This one was 2011 off SR87 just north of the winter snow closure.View attachment 2841773
If it weren't for circumstances beyond our control would still be up north.

That, my friend, is some fine vintage northern Arizona Land Cruising footage. The Hart Prairie of my childhood. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Dimples]

I have fond memories of snow camping and wheeling. One of the best was in 1981 elk hunting and camping at 8,000'+ at the base of Hendrick Mountain. Sub zero every morning. Chains on all four wheels. This picture is in the Hart Prairie area around 1983. Forest Service closed the forest in the winter after it started to snow.View attachment 2841774
This one was 2011 off SR87 just north of the winter snow closure.View attachment 2841773
If it weren't for circumstances beyond our control would still be up north.

Those are some great pics. Ah the 80s, when you could literally get a 40 for a song and a dance.

 

[Living in the Past]

Paid $1,700 for my 68 back in 1974. Literally had to buy it again in the eighties when I went thru a divorce.

Soft top picture shows what the front end looked like at that time. Had the factory wheels and hub caps. Second shows the hard top and doors it had on it. Cost me $1,600 to keep. That was actually the full value at the time. I got the Volvo she had to have. It had payments.

Remember at the time jeep hard tops were gold. Fj40 hard tops almost had to give them away. Paid $225 for the top (put the 40 on its side), $100 apiece for 79 doors and $50 for the parts to add vent windows in the hard top. Everything was in like new condition, zero rust. Late nineties bought two hard tops with ambulance doors for $200 apiece. Was really around 2005 the FJ40 was getting popular. The FJ Cruiser really a big reason why. Sales didn't start.until March 2006 but Toyota was hyping for a few years by then.

 

[DSRTRDR]

we felt like freezing to death when we camped at White Pocket over Thanksgiving with some freak but light snowfall . . .

this was the afternoon before the snowfall, just setting up camp

 

[Dimples]

Wow that looks very exposed and cold. Was the wind bad as well?

The wife and I went up to the cinders Sunday and saw snow on the back of Humphrey's, so here's hoping.

 

[tls3601]

Another option might be Prescott area somewhere off Senator Hwy just South of town. No snow up there yet from what I hear. Tom

 

[tls3601]

we felt like freezing to death when we camped at White Pocket over Thanksgiving with some freak but light snowfall . . .

View attachment 2851944

this was the afternoon before the snowfall, just setting up camp

Thanks for sharing this Claudia. The wind or lack of wind is everything.

 

[tls3601]

I have fond memories of snow camping and wheeling. One of the best was in 1981 elk hunting and camping at 8,000'+ at the base of Hendrick Mountain. Sub zero every morning. Chains on all four wheels. This picture is in the Hart Prairie area around 1983. Forest Service closed the forest in the winter after it started to snow.View attachment 2841774
This one was 2011 off SR87 just north of the winter snow closure.View attachment 2841773
If it weren't for circumstances beyond our control would still be up north.

Thanks for this John, very nice!

 

[DSRTRDR]

Wow that looks very exposed and cold. Was the wind bad as well?

The wife and I went up to the cinders Sunday and saw snow on the back of Humphrey's, so here's hoping.

back then, it was only windy for a while in late afternoon, like it can be in the desert