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

Spillway

Spillway Campground is on the shores of popular Woods Canyon Lake near the town of Heber in north central Arizona. Situated in a pine forest with plenty of shade, the campground has individual campsites as well as one group campsite for small gatherings. Given its proximity to the lake, hiking trails and scenic areas, Spillway is a convenient getaway for anglers, boaters, hikers, families and photographers.

Open nowReservable · Recreation.gov28 sites45 ft maxNo hookupsPets okFires ok

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

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Woods Canyon Lake, AZ SpillwaySpillwaySmokey Bear oversees as children learn how to extinguish a campfireSite 9
Photos courtesy of FS Photo, Forest Service Photo, TTMSI Photo (kb), 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 hookups23
Group sites1
Host/management4
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 42 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

24 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessibleRating
1GRPGroupBack-in25GravelFull25 / 4Yes
003SPILStandardBack-in30GravelPartial8 / 2YesYes
004SPILStandardBack-in35GravelPartial8 / 2YesYes
005SPILStandardPull-through25GravelPartial8 / 1Yes
006SPILStandardBack-in42GravelPartial8 / 1YesYesStandard
007SPILStandardBack-in26GravelPartial8 / 1YesYesStandard
008SPILStandardBack-in26GravelPartial8 / 1YesYesStandard
009SPILStandardPull-through26GravelPartial8 / 2YesYesStandard
010SPILStandardBack-in26GravelPartial8 / 2YesYesStandard
011SPILStandardPull-through26GravelPartial8 / 1YesYesStandard

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length45 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
AccessibilitySites 003, 004, 006, 007 and 18 more are listed accessible

The campground is a relatively small facility with 26 individual campsites and one group site that can accommodate up to 25 people. Tents, trailers and small motorhomes are allowed - please read information on each individual spur size to determine if your RV will fit in the site. The main campground loop road has a fairly tight turning radius hedged by trees so no RV/trailer over 32' is recommended. Each shaded campsite offers a leveled spur, picnic table, fire ring, and charcoal grill. All campsites, loop road, vault restrooms, and water hydrants are compliant with the Architectural Barriers Act for accessibility. Some sites are directly on the lakeshore with a view of the water. Restrooms are provided. Boat rentals and basic camping supplies are available at the Woods Canyon Store, while the nearest showers are at Canyon Point Campground 10 miles away.

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
BookingReservations recommended. 1-877-444-6777 or at Recreation.gov
FeesSingle site non-electric $34 per night includes eight people and one vehicle. Extra vehicle in same site is $12 per night. Spillway day use area is $10. Spillway wedding rate is $125 a day.

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Spillway30°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, Arizona, take Highway 260 northeast toward Heber. Turn left (west) onto Forest Road 300 directly across from the Rim Visitor Information Station and follow for 5 miles. Turn right at Woods Canyon Lake Road. Spillway is on the right, another 0.75 miles further.

Coordinates34.3319° N, 110.9364° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    D2 Sinkhole Rx

    4 mi from the campground · 875 acres

  • Prescribed
    D2 Dye Rx

    7 mi from the campground · 5,246 acres

  • Prescribed
    D2 Vincent Rx

    8 mi from the campground · 2,258 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

Spillway Campground - Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, AZ

Worth a stop

Gas, phone and groceries are available 10 miles east at Forest Lakes. The nearest full service community is Payson, Arizona, 35 miles west on Highway 260. 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.

Trails nearby

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

Spillway is located in a thick forest of ponderosa pine, oak and Douglas fir at an elevation of 7,500 ft. The campground is situated on the lakeshore overlooking the calm blue waters of 52-acre Woods Canyon Lake, where visitors may see squirrels, deer, elk and a variety of birds. Nearby hiking trails offer views of the Mogollon Rim, a 200-mile long cliff in northern Arizona that ranges between 5,000 and 7,000 feet in elevation and serves as the geographical dividing line between the cool high country above and the hot, dry desert below. 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

Woods Canyon Lake is one of seven lakes in the Rim Lakes Recreation Area, and one of the most visited. Trout fishing (both lake and stream) is a favorite pastime. Woods Canyon Lake only allows electric boat motors. Two other lakes are within a short drive. The Rim Lakes Vista Trail, less than a mile from the campground, and others in the area lead to spectacular views of the Mogollon Rim. An easy hiking trail meanders around the lake, and the paved roads in the recreation area make for great afternoon 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 Spillway?

Sites at Spillway are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservations recommended. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Spillway?

Single site non-electric $34 per night includes eight people and one vehicle. Extra vehicle in same site is $12 per night. Spillway day use area is $10.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Spillway?

Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Spillway 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 Spillway have?

28 sites, including 23 standard sites without power and 1 group site.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Spillway?

The longest site here provides 45 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 Spillway?

Boat rentals and basic camping supplies are available at the Woods Canyon Store, while the nearest showers are at Canyon Point Campground 10 miles away.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Spillway?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Spillway?

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

Are there accessible sites at Spillway?

Sites 003, 004, 006, and 007 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 22 sites in all. 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 Spillway?

Woods Canyon Lake is one of seven lakes in the Rim Lakes Recreation Area, and one of the most visited. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What if Spillway is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Woods Canyon Lake Group (0.3 mi), Aspen (0.6 mi, partly first-come), and Crook Campground (1.1 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby