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

Rainbow

Rainbow is the largest campground in the Big Lake Recreation Area in eastern Arizona. Because of its proximity to the lake, size and the many amenities it offers, Rainbow is a favorite for families. Popular activities include hiking, horseback riding and fishing.

Temporarily closedReservable · Recreation.gov166 sites180 ft maxNo hookupsPets ok

More like this: reservable in Arizona · big rigs in Arizona · pets allowed in Arizona · group sites in Arizona

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Rainbow Campground, Apache-Sitgreaves National ForestRainbow Campground Parking AreaRainbow Campground Water Source (one of multiple)RAINBOW (AZ)
Photos courtesy of Conservation Legacy · Recreation.gov
4fires
active
D6 Wallow West Unit 6 Rx (prescribed burn) · 6 mi away · 7,605 acres
3 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Site mix

Standard, no hookups116
Group sites5
Host/management45
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

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 99 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

121 sites in 3 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesAccessible
003PTHRStandardPull-through99PavedFull8 / 1
008PTHRStandardPull-through66PavedFull8 / 1
017PTHRStandardPull-through99PavedFull8 / 1
019PTHRStandardPull-through99PavedFull8 / 1
029PTHRStandardPull-through99PavedFull8 / 1
031PTHRStandardPull-through60PavedFull8 / 1
032PTHRStandardPull-through66PavedFull8 / 1
037PTHRStandardPull-through30PavedFull8 / 1
039PTHRStandardPull-through85PavedFull8 / 1
046PTHRStandardPull-through87PavedFull8 / 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

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length180 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
AccessibilitySites 052, 066 are listed accessible

The facility boasts 165 campsites organized into six loops. Four double sites are available for up to 16 people each, which is convenient for larger families, and two single unit accessible sites are also available. A small store nearby sells gas, food, boat rentals and firewood. A campground host is available on-site for visitor assistance.

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

Season & status

StatusTemporarily closed
SeasonMay 15
ForestApache-Sitgreaves National Forest
FeesStandard Family Sites per night $20 - $22 Group Sites are not eligible for Interagency/ Senior Pass Discounts Mini Group Sites (2, 47, 80) per night $22 - $80 (reservation fee not included) EZ Camping Tent Sites Tent Package per night $55.00 Reservation Fee $10.00

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Rainbow20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 1.22 inches of precipitationFebruary: 1.32 inches of precipitationMarch: 0.92 inches of precipitationApril: 0.50 inches of precipitationMay: 0.67 inches of precipitationJune: 0.49 inches of precipitationJuly: 4.05 inches of precipitationAugust: 4.79 inches of precipitationSeptember: 2.37 inches of precipitationOctober: 1.29 inches of precipitationNovember: 1.09 inches of precipitationDecember: 0.57 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 28.1°F averageFebruary: 30.2°F averageMarch: 35.9°F averageApril: 41.4°F averageMay: 49.5°F averageJune: 58.4°F averageJuly: 61.4°F averageAugust: 59.7°F averageSeptember: 55.3°F averageOctober: 45.6°F averageNovember: 36.3°F averageDecember: 28.4°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 in5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Greer, 10 miles from the campground at 8,275 feet, station USC00023683 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 19 inches a year.

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 1 mile to the campground.

Coordinates33.8764° N, 109.4039° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    D6 Wallow West Unit 6 Rx

    6 mi from the campground · 7,605 acres

  • Prescribed
    D6 - Heifer Rx

    8 mi from the campground · 3,116 acres

  • Prescribed
    D6 - Luna Rx

    20 mi from the campground · 2,156 acres

  • Prescribed
    Fta Hawley Lake Rx

    21 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
Outdoor gearSportsman's Warehouse ↗42.4 mi

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

Explore

Video

Rainbow Springs State Park, Florida - Campground Review

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. Springerville, Arizona is the closest town to the campground.

Show all 7

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.3 mi
    Big Lake Nature
    0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.3 mi
    Rainbow Connector
    0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.5 mi
    Indian Springs ↗
    7.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.6 mi
    Sunrise Snowmobile ↗
    14.3 mi trail · ATV, e-bike, snowshoe, ski
  • 0.6 mi
    Sunrise Snowmobile 249 ↗
    8.4 mi trail · ATV, e-bike, snowshoe, ski
  • 1 mi
    Big Lake Lookout
    0.4 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 Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.

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

Rainbow Campground sits at an elevation of 9,000 feet in the White Mountains. It is a very scenic area, forested with ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, spruce and aspen trees, which provide ample shade. Summer temperatures are pleasant and cool, a nice respite from the heat of the lower desert. Visitors should come prepared for cool nighttime temperatures and occasional summer thunderstorms.

Recreation

The campground 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. Curious campers can attend educational programs at the recreation area's visitor center.

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 Rainbow?

Sites at Rainbow 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 Rainbow?

Standard Family Sites per night $20 - $22 Group Sites are not eligible for Interagency/ Senior Pass Discounts Mini Group Sites (2, 47, 80) per night $22 - $80 (reservation fee not included) EZ Camping Tent Sites Tent Package per night $55.00 Reservation Fee $10.00

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Rainbow?

Check-in 0:00 AM, checkout 0:00 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Rainbow open right now?

Temporarily closed as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May 15.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Rainbow have?

166 sites, including 116 standard sites without power and 5 group sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Rainbow?

Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are pets allowed at Rainbow?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at Rainbow?

Sites 052 and 066 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Rainbow?

The campground 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 Rainbow is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Brookchar (0.5 mi), Grayling (0.6 mi), and Cutthroat (0.9 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby