Good Desert Camping

[AndyB]

Looking for some good desert camping spots anywhere generally between Phoenix and Tucson. If anyone has a favorite they'd like to share, that' be nice. Thanks

[azcharlie]

Try 96 Ranch Rd just past Florence about 10 miles. Lots of places there to explore or camp

[Washington_XJ]

Looking for some good desert camping spots anywhere generally between Phoenix and Tucson. If anyone has a favorite they'd like to share, that' be nice. Thanks

x2 So are we.

[RandyT]

Is there such a thing as good desert camping? :rolleyes:

We go up on the rim a lot in the summer. Pines trees and forest area. Real nice.

Dunno why anyone would want to camp in the desert. If you do, keep your eyes open for scorpions, taurantulas, snakes and javalinas.

[michaelp]

Is there such a thing as good desert camping? :rolleyes:

We go up on the rim a lot in the summer. Pines trees and forest area. Real nice.

Dunno why anyone would want to camp in the desert. If you do, keep your eyes open for scorpions, taurantulas, snakes and javalinas.

...and meth lab technicians, illegal immigrants, traveling enclyopedia salesmen......:)

[CaptainMorgan]

Man I love desert camping. Grew up in Phx desert camping my whole life. Mesquite woods for gourmet cooking, moderate night temps, greater species diversity in the right spots. Backpacking the Verde River has got to be my favorite experience in life. Now I live in Flagstaff and for the most part hate forest camping except in summer. I do know of a spot up here where you go up Mt. Humphreys and at about 9,300ft you can watch the sunrise into the Grand Canyon about 70 miles away...but I think you all will have to find that place on your own;) I don't know of anywhere on the way to Tucson outside of a hidden valley in the superstitions, I usually went out the rolls and the verde area.

[mookee54]

I agree, the desert is in a class by itself - especially between September and May. The world just seems a lot bigger out there.
If you're on the Westside, there's a lot of space up north of the Lake Pleasant area.
Also, one of my favorites is out west around the Harquahala Peak area off of Eagle Eye Road. Lots of off road trails and old (mostly abandoned) mines too.
A little closer is out in the Buckeye Hills Recreation area. Very nice this time of year.
Might want to get to Borders or Barnes & Noble - they have a bunch of good books on this subject, as well as Wide World of Maps.
Enjoy!

[ryangibson]

Is there such a thing as good desert camping? :rolleyes:

We go up on the rim a lot in the summer. Pines trees and forest area. Real nice.

Dunno why anyone would want to camp in the desert. If you do, keep your eyes open for scorpions, taurantulas, snakes and javalinas.

Who would want to camp in the desert? Me! All those critters are part of one of the most diverse ecosystems above sea level. I could see wanting to go to higher ground in the summer time or if you have small children running around, but this place wasn’t always houses, trailers and grocery stores. Camping is about enjoying the outdoors and roughing it.

Sorry for the rant, but I love desert camping. Its another diverse part of our diminishing backcountry. The more you understand the desert the less dangerous and enjoyable it can become.

Ryan

[Fiveball]

Im from Virginia but last year i got to come out west for 7 months and desert camping is something so cool. Im not really used to being able to see very far and not being able to see many stars at night. So when i started camping in desert areas it was incredible!