Brookchar
Brookchar Campground is tucked on the banks of Big Lake in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona. The campground is a small, tent-only facility comprised entirely of walk-in sites. Of the lake's five campgrounds, Brookchar is nearest to the water. The stocked lake draws anglers, and boat rentals and a boat ramp make it easy for campers to enjoy the lake's blue waters.
More like this: reservable in Arizona · tent only in Arizona · pets allowed in Arizona
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Walk-in | 12 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
12 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 002 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 |
| 003 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 |
| 004 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 |
| 005 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 |
| 006 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 |
| 007 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 |
| 008 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 |
| 009 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 |
| 010 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 |
| 011 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 |
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 1:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
The facility is small, with 12 tent-only, walk-to campsites. Campfire rings and restrooms are provided. A campground host resides on-site for visitor assistance. A dump station, store, firewood, gas, food and boat rentals are located a short, half-mile drive away, and showers are just 1 mile away.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Forest | Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest |
| Fees | Per vehicle per night $16.00 Additional Camp Unit fees collected at the campground. *Additional Camp Unit $16.00 Interagency/Senior Discount $8.00 EZ Camping Tent Sites Per night $55.00 Reservation Fee $10.00 |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Pinetop, Arizona, take Highway 260 east 25 miles to Highway 273 south. Follow Highway 273 south 19 miles to Forest Road 8115 (Big Lake Entrance). Turn right and travel 2 miles.
| Coordinates | 33.8756° N, 109.4131° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedD6 Wallow West Unit 6 Rx
5 mi from the campground · 7,605 acres
- PrescribedD6 - Heifer Rx
9 mi from the campground · 3,116 acres
- PrescribedD6 - Luna Rx
20 mi from the campground · 2,156 acres
- PrescribedFta Hawley Lake Rx
20 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 station | Dump station ↗ | 0.5 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Sportsman's Warehouse ↗ | 42 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Brookchar Campground - Apache Sitgreaves National Forest, AZ
Worth a stop
Several other lakes can be found in the surrounding area. Visitors can also 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.
- 0.1 miBig Lake Marina Boating Site ↗Boat launch
- 0.9 mi
- 1 miRailroad Cove Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 1.1 miBig Lake Dam Parking Fishing Site ↗Fishing site
- 1.6 miWest Fork Of Black River Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 2.6 miCrescent Lake Point Area Fishing Site ↗Fishing site
Show all 7Hide
- 11.7 mi
Trails nearby
- 0.3 miBig Lake Nature0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.8 miRainbow Connector0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.8 miIndian Springs ↗7.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.1 miRailroad Grade ↗18.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.1 miSunrise Snowmobile ↗14.3 mi trail · ATV, e-bike, snowshoe, ski
- 1.1 miSunrise Snowmobile 249 ↗8.4 mi trail · ATV, e-bike, snowshoe, ski
Trailheads within three miles
- 1 miRailroad Cove Trailhead ↗Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
- 1.6 miWest Fork Of Black River Trailhead ↗Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
- 1.8 miCrescent Lake Trailhead ↗Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
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
This campground sits inside Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.
- inApache-Sitgreaves National Forests ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,110,688 acres
- 6.1 miMount Baldy Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 6,819 acres
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.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Ps Knoll Lookout ComplexStructure · Maverick · 8.4 mi
- Butterfly LodgeBuilding · Greer · 10.1 mi
- Water Canyon Administrative SiteBuilding · Springerville · 14.8 mi
Natural features
The campground sits in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest at an elevation of 9,100 feet. The area is scenic, forested with ponderosa pine, fir, spruce and aspen, interspersed with high elevation meadows. Summer temperatures are pleasant and cool, a nice respite from the heat of lower deserts. Visitors should come prepared for afternoon thunderstorms and cool nighttime temperatures.
Recreation
Big Lake is one of Arizona's top trout fishing lakes, with rainbow, cutthroat, brook and Apache trout being the most sought-after species. The recreation area is also popular for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, birding and wildlife viewing.
Guidebooks for Arizona
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Best Backpacking Trips in Utah, Arizona, and New MexicoMike White and Douglas Lorain, 2016Find 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 Brookchar?
Sites at Brookchar are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Brookchar?
Per vehicle per night $16.00 Additional Camp Unit fees collected at the campground. *Additional Camp Unit $16.00 Interagency/Senior Discount $8.00 EZ Camping Tent Sites Per night $55.00 Reservation Fee $10.00
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Brookchar?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Brookchar open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Brookchar have?
13 sites, including 12 walk-in sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Brookchar?
Brookchar is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Brookchar?
A dump station, store, firewood, gas, food and boat rentals are located a short, half-mile drive away, and showers are just 1 mile away.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Brookchar?
Yes, pets are allowed at Brookchar. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Brookchar?
Big Lake is one of Arizona's top trout fishing lakes, with rainbow, cutthroat, brook and Apache trout being the most sought-after species. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Brookchar is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Grayling (0.2 mi), Cutthroat (0.4 mi), and Apache Trout Campground (0.5 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby