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

Woods Canyon Lake Group

Woods Canyon Lake Group Area is located in north central Arizona near the community of Forest Lakes. The camp is adjacent to popular Woods Canyon Lake and situated in thick pine forests, providing a great getaway for large groups of up to 100 people. It offers plenty of activities for anglers, boaters, hikers, families and photographers.

Open nowReservable · Recreation.gov1 siteFrom $250 per night99 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 ↗
Group picnic area.Vault toilets.Meadow TrailMeadow Trail
Photos courtesy of Conservation Legacy, Richard N Horne (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Recreation.gov
4fires
active
D2 Sinkhole Rx (prescribed burn) · 4 mi away · 875 acres
3 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Site mix

Group sites1
This site is booked as a single unit on Recreation.gov. The booking page shows which dates are open and how far ahead they release. How the booking window works

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFires
1Pull-through40GravelFullNo / No96 / 30Yes

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.

The site record lists 96 people. The campground description says up to 100 people.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length99 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
FeesGroup site non-electric $250 per night, includes 120 people and 30 vehicles.

The group camping area is primitive but convenient to the lake. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. The facility can comfortably accommodate 70 people, though the maximum is 100.

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

Season & status

StatusOpen
SeasonApril 29
ForestApache-Sitgreaves National Forest
BookingReservations required. 1-877-444-6777 or at Recreation.gov
FeesGroup site non-electric $250 per night, includes 120 people and 30 vehicles.

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Woods Canyon Lake Group30°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 from Payson toward Heber. Turn left (west) onto Forest Road 300 and follow for 3 miles. Turn right at Woods Canyon Lake Road and travel 0.75 miles to the campground on the right side of the road.

Coordinates34.3286° N, 110.9392° 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 ↗0.1 mi

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

Explore

Worth a stop

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 →
  • 0.3 mi
    Woods Canyon Lake
    2.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.4 mi
    Meadow ↗
    2.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.5 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
  • 1.1 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

Woods Canyon Lake is surrounded by a dense forest of pine, fir, oak and aspen, and sits at an elevation of 7,000 feet. Hikers who venture onto nearby trails are afforded expansive views of the land beneath the Mogollon Rim. The Mogollon Rim, pronounced by locals as "muggy-own," is 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. Wildlife viewing includes birds, squirrels, deer and elk. Deer, skunks and bears are common campground visitors.

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 Woods Canyon Lake Group?

Sites at Woods Canyon Lake Group are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservations required. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Woods Canyon Lake Group?

Group site non-electric $250 per night, includes 120 people and 30 vehicles.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Woods Canyon Lake Group?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Woods Canyon Lake Group open right now?

Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season April 29.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Woods Canyon Lake Group have?

1 site, including 1 group site.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Woods Canyon Lake Group?

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 Woods Canyon Lake Group?

Yes, pets are allowed at Woods Canyon Lake Group. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Woods Canyon Lake Group?

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 Woods Canyon Lake Group?

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 Woods Canyon Lake Group is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Spillway (0.3 mi), Aspen (0.4 mi, partly first-come), and Crook Campground (0.9 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby