U.S. Forest Service · Tonto National Forest · Arizona

Lower Tonto Creek

The Lower Tonto Creek Campground is tucked away right next to the main highway just south of where the Tonto and Horton Creeks merge. Families may enjoy fishing at both Tonto and Horton Creeks or pass time hiking through nearby Horton Creek Trail or Derrick Trail. The Lower Tonto Creek Campground has a large open-space parking lot and paved walkway makes it accessible with only a light hike to the creek. There is no adjacent parking spot to any camp site. Walk-in access only to all campsites (paved sidewalk is provided).

Open nowFirst-come, first-served13 sitesPets okFires okTents only

Sites are first-come, first-served. Recreation.gov lists this campground for paying on site, and you may be able to pay with the Scan and Pay feature of its app.

More like this: first-come in Arizona · tent only in Arizona · pets allowed in Arizona

Tonto Creek 2Parking lotTonto CreekExample of standard campsite.
Photos courtesy of Tonto National Forest · Recreation.gov
4fires
active
D2 Vincent Rx (prescribed burn) · 11 mi away · 2,258 acres
3 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Site mix

Walk-in9
Host/management4
No reservations, so arrive before checkout on a weekday, usually 11 a.m. to noon, and take what is open. In season, weekends fill by Thursday. The first-come playbook

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

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

Season & status

StatusOpen
SeasonApril to October
ForestTonto National Forest
FeesScan & Pay only accepted (No cash or checks accepted) Download Recreation.gov app (app information) and log into account before heading to campground. See instructions here. $20 per night for campsites.
Rules14-day stay limit. No OHV recreational riding within the campground. No firewood sales, no dump station and no shower building. Dogs are allowed and must be kept on a leash. Please use trash receptacles or pack it in, pack it out. All campgrounds have posted Rules & Regulations at entrance kiosks. Please read and observe all rules.

Tonto National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Lower Tonto Creek40°50°60°70°80°January: 2.27 inches of precipitation, 4.7 inches of snowFebruary: 2.33 inches of precipitation, 4.9 inches of snowMarch: 1.89 inches of precipitation, 2.0 inches of snowApril: 0.82 inches of precipitation, 2.0 inches of snowMay: 0.54 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 0.21 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 2.81 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 2.60 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.54 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 1.26 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 1.48 inches of precipitation, 1.3 inches of snowDecember: 2.09 inches of precipitation, 3.6 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 41.0°F averageFebruary: 43.1°F averageMarch: 48.4°F averageApril: 53.8°F averageMay: 61.4°F averageJune: 70.5°F averageJuly: 76.0°F averageAugust: 74.8°F averageSeptember: 68.9°F averageOctober: 58.3°F averageNovember: 47.7°F averageDecember: 40.2°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 in5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Payson, 16 miles from the campground at 4,850 feet, station USW00093139 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 20 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 19 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

This site is 15 miles northeast of Payson. From Payson, travel 15 miles east on State Hwy. 260. Just east of mile marker 269 at Kohl’s Ranch, turn left (north) on Forest Road (FR) 289.

Coordinates34.3325° N, 111.0973° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • This campground is right next to Hwy 260 and receives a considerable amount of traffic noise and light throughout the day & night.

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    D2 Vincent Rx

    11 mi from the campground · 2,258 acres

  • Prescribed
    D2 Sinkhole Rx

    13 mi from the campground · 875 acres

  • Prescribed
    D2 Dye Rx

    13 mi from the campground · 5,246 acres

  • Prescribed
    Tillman Rx

    15 mi from the campground

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

Supplies & services

Dump stationWoods Canyon Dump Station ↗8.8 mi

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

Explore

Video

SQUIRRELS gone NUTS 🐿️TONTO Creek and CHRISTOPHER Creek Campground - Mogollon Rim

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.4 mi
    Derrick Spur
    0.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.5 mi
    Derrick
    2.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.5 mi
    Horton Creek
    3.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 3.2 mi
    Babe Haught
    1.9 mi trail · hiking, horse
  • 3.4 mi
    Horton Spring
    1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 3.6 mi
    Promontory Snowmobile Loop ↗
    4.6 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski

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 Tonto 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 →

Natural features

Located just South of where the Tonto and Horton Creeks merge. Campsites are dotted along a paved sidewalk surrounded by tall Pines, situated just next to Tonto Creek.

Recreation

The union of Tonto and Horton Creeks is at the north end of the Upper Tonto Creek campground. Fishing in both creeks is a popular sport. The trailheads for Horton Creek Trail 285 and Derrick Trail 33 are located in the Upper Tonto Creek campground. Both of these trails access the Highline National Recreation Trail (#31

Guidebooks for Tonto National Forest and Arizona

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

  • Day & overnight hikes, Arizona's Tonto National Forest
    Tony Padegimas, 2010
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Camping Arizona
    Bruce Grubbs, 2021
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Best Tent Camping: Arizona
    Kirstin Olmon Phillips and Kelly Phillips, 2019
    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 Lower Tonto Creek?

No. Lower Tonto Creek is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.

Source: Forest Service

How much does it cost to camp at Lower Tonto Creek?

Scan & Pay only accepted (No cash or checks accepted) Download Recreation.gov app (app information) and log into account before heading to campground. See instructions here. $20 per night for campsites.

Source: Forest Service

What time is check-in at Lower Tonto Creek?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Source: Forest Service

Is Lower Tonto Creek open right now?

Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season April to October.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Lower Tonto Creek have?

13 sites, including 9 walk-in sites.

Source: Forest Service

Can I bring an RV to Lower Tonto Creek?

Lower Tonto Creek is listed for tents only.

Source: Forest Service

Are pets allowed at Lower Tonto Creek?

Yes, pets are allowed at Lower Tonto Creek. Leash rules apply.

Source: Forest Service

Can I have a campfire at Lower Tonto Creek?

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. 14-day stay limit.

Source: Fire nearby

What is there to do at Lower Tonto Creek?

The union of Tonto and Horton Creeks is at the north end of the Upper Tonto Creek campground. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What if Lower Tonto Creek is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Upper Tonto Creek (0.5 mi), Ponderosa (2.5 mi, partly first-come), and Christopher Creek (4 mi, partly first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby