U.S. Forest Service · Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest · Arizona

Aspen

Aspen Campground is a scenic hideaway for anglers, boaters, families and photographers, located in north central Arizona near Heber and Payson. It sits in a dense pine and aspen area forest near the shore of Woods Canyon Lake at an elevation of 7,000 ft. With spacious campsites, calm and scenic lake waters, a marina, boat ramp and many amenities, Aspen is one of the most popular camping spots in Arizona.

Open nowPartly reservable136 sites69 ft maxNo hookupsPets okFires ok

Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.

More like this: first-come in Arizona · reservable in Arizona · big rigs in Arizona · pets allowed in Arizona

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Tent under treesTrees at aspenCampsite trees and tableAspen
Photos courtesy of Conservation Legacy · Recreation.gov
4fires
active
D2 Sinkhole Rx (prescribed burn) · 4 mi away · 875 acres
3 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Site mix

Standard, no hookups132
Host/management4
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served. For the first-come sites, arrive early on a weekday and take what is open. The booking page shows which of the reservable sites are open. The first-come playbook

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 69 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

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

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFires
003Back-in45PavedFullNo / –8 / 2Yes
004Back-in43PavedFullNo / –8 / 2Yes
005Back-in45PavedFullNo / –8 / 2Yes
006Back-in45PavedFullNo / –8 / 2Yes
007Back-in39PavedFullNo / –8 / 2Yes
008Back-in45PavedFullNo / –8 / 2Yes
009Back-in45PavedFullNo / –8 / 2Yes
010Back-in40PavedFullNo / –8 / 2Yes
011Back-in41PavedFullNo / –8 / 2Yes
012Back-in20PavedFullNo / –8 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length69 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

Aspen Campground is a large facility with 136 campsites. It is composed of four loops in alternating meadow and wooded areas, and campsites are spaced well apart from each other. The nearest showers are 10 miles away at Canyon Point Campground. A marina with a full service store with groceries, boat rentals and firewood is available at the lake. Gas, phone and groceries are also available in nearby Forest Lakes.

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

Season & status

StatusOpen
SeasonApril 29 to Closes October 31 Annually
ForestApache-Sitgreaves National Forest
Booking27 first come first serve sites. Reservations available 1-877-444-6777 or at Recreation.gov
FeesNon-electrical site $34.00 per night. $12.00 extra vehicle charge payable upon arrival. Each site fee accommodates one vehicle and eight people. This site does not accept credit cards. Cash or check only.

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Aspen30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 2.25 inches of precipitation, 1.2 inches of snowFebruary: 2.24 inches of precipitation, 4.2 inches of snowMarch: 1.85 inches of precipitation, 2.0 inches of snowApril: 0.69 inches of precipitation, 0.7 inches of snowMay: 0.58 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 0.24 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 3.44 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 3.02 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.70 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 1.13 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 1.44 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowDecember: 1.85 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 39.0°F averageFebruary: 41.3°F averageMarch: 46.2°F averageApril: 51.7°F averageMay: 58.9°F averageJune: 67.8°F averageJuly: 73.8°F averageAugust: 72.8°F averageSeptember: 66.8°F averageOctober: 56.2°F averageNovember: 45.9°F averageDecember: 38.7°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 in5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Pleasant Valley, 16 miles from the campground at 5,183 feet, station USC00026653 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 20 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 8 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Payson, take Highway 260 northeast toward Heber. Take a left at the sign for Woods Canyon Lake (Rim Road/Forest Road 300). Follow for about 5 miles and turn right onto the paved road at the sign toward Woods Canyon Lake (there is no road sign). Aspen Campground is about 1 mile down the road on the left.

Coordinates34.3267° N, 110.9458° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    D2 Sinkhole Rx

    4 mi from the campground · 875 acres

  • Prescribed
    D2 Vincent Rx

    8 mi from the campground · 2,258 acres

  • Prescribed
    D2 Dye Rx

    8 mi from the campground · 5,246 acres

  • Prescribed
    Tillman Rx

    9 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 stationDump station ↗0.3 mi

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

Explore

Video

Aspen Campground - Woods Canyon Lake, AZ

Worth a stop

Visitors can explore endless vistas and take part in many outdoor activities in the surrounding Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, which encompasses 2 million acres of magnificent mountain country in east-central Arizona and New Mexico. The Mogollon Rim Visitor Center, open weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day, is only a short drive from Aspen Campground. Visitors can find an informative staff as well as books and gifts related to the local area. The nearest towns are Heber and Payson.

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.4 mi
    Woods Canyon Nature
    0.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.5 mi
    Meadow ↗
    2.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.6 mi
    Woods Canyon Lake
    2.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.7 mi
    Woods Canyon Lake Connector
    under 0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.7 mi
    Rim Lakes Vista ↗
    4.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.8 mi
    Woods Canyon Nature Trail Conn
    0.06 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike

Trailheads within three miles

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

The large and rambling campground offers several camping experiences and environments from marshy meadows to a rocky forest. Wildlife viewing includes birds, squirrels, deer and elk. Deer, skunks and bears are common campground visitors. Summer temperatures can be very pleasant because of the elevation. However, the rainy season often brings afternoon thunderstorms from late June through August. Visitors should come prepared for rain and cool nighttime temperatures.

Recreation

Popular activities include trout fishing, hiking, boating and photography. Woods Canyon Lake is one of seven lakes in the Rim Lakes Recreation Area, and one of the most visited. Two other lakes are within a short drive. Woods Canyon Lake only allows electric boat motors. An easy hiking trail meanders around the lake, and the campground's paved roads make for great bike rides. Families might also enjoy attending educational programs given by Forest Service rangers on the weekends.

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 Aspen?

For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Aspen?

Non-electrical site $34.00 per night. $12.00 extra vehicle charge payable upon arrival. Each site fee accommodates one vehicle and eight people.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Aspen?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Aspen open right now?

Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season April 29 to Closes October 31 Annually.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Aspen have?

136 sites, including 132 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Aspen?

The longest site here provides 69 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are there showers or a dump station at Aspen?

The nearest showers are 10 miles away at Canyon Point Campground.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Aspen?

Yes, pets are allowed at Aspen. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Aspen?

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.

Source: Fire nearby

What is there to do at Aspen?

Popular activities include trout fishing, hiking, boating and photography. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What if Aspen is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Woods Canyon Lake Group (0.4 mi), Spillway (0.6 mi), and Mogollon Campground (0.7 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby