Cutthroat
Cutthroat Campground lies at an elevation of 9,000 feet in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona. It sits on the shoreline of Big Lake and affords visitors many recreational opportunities in a quiet, scenic setting. Popular activities include trout fishing and hiking.
More like this: reservable in Arizona · tent only in Arizona · pets allowed in Arizona
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Tent-only | 18 |
Site guide
18 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Surface | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| 001 | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
| 002 | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
| 003 | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
| 004 | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
| 005 | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
| 006 | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
| 007 | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
| 008 | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
| 009 | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
| 010 | Gravel | 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 |
Sites for tent camping only are scattered throughout this small facility and spaced a good distance apart. Some are directly on the waterfront. The basic amenities of restrooms, picnic tables and drinking water are provided, and anglers and boaters have the convenience of a boat ramp. An RV dump station is one 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 $16.00 Interagency/Senior Discount $8.00 EZ Camping Tent Sites Tent Package-Per night $55.00 Reservation Fee $10.00 Additional Camp Unit fees collected at the campground. |
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 to Cutthroat Campground.
| Coordinates | 33.8722° N, 109.4183° 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 ↗ | 0.2 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Sportsman's Warehouse ↗ | 41.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Cutthroat Campground - Big Lake Recreation Area, 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.
- 0.4 miBig Lake Marina Boating Site ↗Boat launch
- 1 miRailroad Cove Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 1.1 mi
- 1.3 miWest Fork Of Black River Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 1.3 miBig Lake Dam Parking Fishing Site ↗Fishing site
- 2.8 miCrescent Lake Point Area Fishing Site ↗Fishing site
Show all 7Hide
- 11.8 mi
Trails nearby
- 0.7 miBig Lake Nature0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1 miIndian Springs ↗7.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1 miRainbow Connector0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.1 miRailroad Grade ↗18.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.3 miIndian Springs Connector0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.3 miWest Fork (br)2.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 1 miRailroad Cove Trailhead ↗Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
- 1.3 miWest Fork Of Black River Trailhead ↗Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
- 2 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 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 · 8.2 mi
- Butterfly LodgeBuilding · Greer · 10.3 mi
Natural features
The campground is located in a very scenic area, forested with ponderosa pine, spruce, Douglas fir, and aspen trees, which provide ample shade. Summer temperatures are pleasant and cool, a nice respite from the heat of lower deserts. Visitors should come prepared for cool nighttime temperatures and occasional summer rain storms.
Recreation
Named after a species of trout, Cutthroat is adjacent to 450-acre Big Lake, one of Arizona's top fishing lakes. The lake is known for its trout fishing, with rainbow, cutthroat, brook and Apache being the most sought-after species. The recreation area is also popular for hiking, mountain biking, 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 Cutthroat?
Sites at Cutthroat 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 Cutthroat?
Per vehicle per night $16.00 *Additional Camp Unit $16.00 Interagency/Senior Discount $8.00 EZ Camping Tent Sites Tent Package-Per night $55.00 Reservation Fee $10.00 Additional Camp Unit fees collected at the campground.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Cutthroat?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Cutthroat open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Cutthroat have?
18 sites, including 18 tent-only sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Cutthroat?
Cutthroat is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Cutthroat?
An RV dump station is one mile away.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Cutthroat?
Yes, pets are allowed at Cutthroat. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Cutthroat?
Named after a species of trout, Cutthroat is adjacent to 450-acre Big Lake, one of Arizona's top fishing lakes. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Cutthroat is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Apache Trout Campground (0.2 mi), Grayling (0.3 mi), and Brookchar (0.4 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby