U.S. Forest Service · Coconino National Forest Recreation · Arizona

Canyon Vista

Canyon Vista Campground is located near Walnut Canyon and Lower Lake Mary. This area consists of ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, aspen and oak, which offer good photo opportunities, interesting geology and views of the San Francisco Peaks.

More like this: reservable in Arizona · pets allowed in Arizona · dark sky in Arizona

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
A photo of facility Canyon Vista with Picnic Table, Fire PitA photo of facility Canyon Vista with Picnic Table, Fire PitA photo of facility Canyon Vista with Picnic Table, Fire PitA photo of facility Canyon Vista with Picnic Table, Fire Pit
Photos courtesy of Cathy Bilger · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups14
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

13 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteEntryFits, ftWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFires
02Back-in44No / No8 / 1Yes
03Back-in32No / No8 / 1Yes
04Back-in44No / No8 / 1Yes
05Back-in37No / No8 / 1Yes
06Back-in33No / No8 / 1Yes
07Back-in45No / No8 / 1Yes
08Back-in36No / No8 / 1Yes
09Back-in32No / No8 / 1Yes
10Back-in45No / No8 / 1Yes
11Back-in45No / No8 / 1Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

5 campsite locations mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The site numbers are theirs and may not match the posts at the campground. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Dark sky6 miles from Flagstaff Area National Monuments, a certified International Dark Sky Park

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusTemporarily closed
SeasonEarly May to mid October
ForestCoconino National Forest Recreation
BookingNo reservations. This campground is on a first come, first serve basis.
FeesCamping: $26 per night, up to eight people with one vehicle. All 14 sites are first come sites. Second vehicle per night: $8 additional. Picnic/day use (10 a.m to 4 p.m.): for a fee of $8 up to 5 people.
RulesQuiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (running generators not permitted during quiet hours)

Coconino National Forest Recreation recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Canyon Vista30°40°50°60°70°January: 2.05 inches of precipitation, 20.9 inches of snowFebruary: 2.17 inches of precipitation, 19.3 inches of snowMarch: 1.88 inches of precipitation, 15.6 inches of snowApril: 0.89 inches of precipitation, 5.0 inches of snowMay: 0.77 inches of precipitation, 1.1 inches of snowJune: 0.30 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 2.61 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 3.04 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.84 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 1.52 inches of precipitation, 1.5 inches of snowNovember: 1.55 inches of precipitation, 8.2 inches of snowDecember: 1.90 inches of precipitation, 18.5 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 30.5°F averageFebruary: 32.6°F averageMarch: 38.0°F averageApril: 43.7°F averageMay: 51.3°F averageJune: 60.8°F averageJuly: 66.7°F averageAugust: 64.9°F averageSeptember: 58.3°F averageOctober: 47.6°F averageNovember: 37.5°F averageDecember: 30.0°F average0 in5 in10 in15 in20 in25 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Flagstaff Pulliam AP, 4 miles from the campground at 7,003 feet, station USW00003103 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 21 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 90 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Flagstaff, AZ. take Lake Mary Road 6 miles southeast. Campground is on your left.

Coordinates35.1232° N, 111.5988° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Newman Piles Rx

    8 mi from the campground · 751 acres

  • Prescribed
    Newman 2 Piles Rx

    8 mi from the campground · 723 acres

  • Prescribed
    Walker Hill 2 Piles Rx

    16 mi from the campground · 356 acres

  • Prescribed
    Walker Hill Piles Rx

    18 mi from the campground · 725 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearREI ↗5.4 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗6.8 mi
RV sales & serviceLittle Dealer Little Prices ↗55 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Canyon Vista Campground

  • 0.2 mi
    Canyon Vista
    0.4 mi trail
  • 0.2 mi
    Sandys Canyon
    1.3 mi trail
  • 1.2 mi
    Fay Canyon
    3.9 mi trail
  • 1.3 mi
    Marys Diner
    1.8 mi trail
  • 1.5 mi
    Airport ↗
    15.7 mi trail
  • 1.9 mi
    Arizona ↗
    149.3 mi trail · national_scenic_or_historic

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Coconino National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Recreation

Hiking opportunities on the Sandy Canyon and AZ trails

Guidebooks for Arizona

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Camping Arizona
    Bruce Grubbs, 2021
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Best Tent Camping: Arizona
    Kirstin Olmon Phillips and Kelly Phillips, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Best Backpacking Trips in Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico
    Mike White and Douglas Lorain, 2016
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Canyon Vista?

Sites at Canyon Vista are reservable on Recreation.gov. No reservations. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Canyon Vista?

Camping: $26 per night, up to eight people with one vehicle. All 14 sites are first come sites. Second vehicle per night: $8 additional.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Canyon Vista?

Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Canyon Vista open right now?

Temporarily closed as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Early May to mid October.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Canyon Vista have?

14 sites, including 14 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to Canyon Vista?

Canyon Vista is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Canyon Vista?

Yes, pets are allowed at Canyon Vista. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Canyon Vista?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 4 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Quiet hours: 10 p.m.

Source: Fire nearby

Is Canyon Vista good for stargazing?

Flagstaff Area National Monuments, a certified International Dark Sky Park, is 6 miles away. Skies that dark carry for miles; a moonless night here should show the Milky Way.

Source: DarkSky International

What if Canyon Vista is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Lakeview Campground (7.1 mi, partly first-come), Pinegrove (10 mi, partly first-come), and Pine Flat Campground West (11 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby