Turney Gulch Group
Turney Gulch is a remote, scenic location for groups of up to 100 people to rest under the stars and towering pines of Prescott National Forest. Site accomodates 30 vehicles or less. The site lies near Horse Thief Lake and is seven miles southeast of the small town of Crown King, Arizona, a former ghost town. Campers can enjoy hunting, fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing and visiting historic sites in the area.
More like this: reservable in Arizona · group sites in Arizona
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Group sites | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 35 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pull-through | 35 | Gravel | 100 / 30 |
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.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 35 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
Turney Gulch is the only group campground near Horse Thief Lake and is close to one family campground. The facility has a rustic mountain feel with a picnic shelter, 15 picnic tables, fire grills and an accessible vault toilet. Trash service is provided for your convenience. Water is available via standpipe in front of the Horesthief Cabin approximately 1 mile down the road at the junction of FSR52 and FSR 52G. The site lies on an unimproved dirt road and the drive can be challenging; campers should use high clearance 4 x4 vehicles to get there.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Forest | Prescott National Forest |
| Booking | Reservation Information: Recreation.gov or telephone 1-877-444-6777 Site must be reserved at least three days in advance. |
| Fees | $75 for group site (1-25 people). $100 for group site (26-50 people) |
| Rules | Quiet hours between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Campfires in developed fire pits only. Fireworks are prohibited. Dogs must be on leash (6' maximum). OHV/ATV use prohibited in the campground. Maximum length of stay: 14 days in 30-day period on the Prescott National Forest including stays at dispersed recreation sites. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Phoenix, Arizona: When traveling Northbound on I-17 take the Bumble Bee Exit 248 and continue North on the dirt road, taking Forest Road (FR) 259 to Crown King. From Crown King, take (FR) 259A south for 0.5 mile to the junction of 52. Take FR 52 southeast for about 6 miles to the Horse Thief Basin Recreation Area.
| Nearest town | Prescott, Arizona |
| Coordinates | 34.1739° N, 112.2850° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 21.6 mi |
| Outdoor gear | REI ↗ | 27.3 mi |
| RV sales & service | Little Dealer Little Prices ↗ | 28.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
The small town of Crown King has a general store with basic supplies.
- 11.3 mi
- 11.3 miBlack Canyon City Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.3 miTwin Peaks ↗6.8 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.5 miKentuck1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.6 miHorsethief Canyon2.5 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.7 miHorsethief Recreation3.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1 miHorsethief Lookout2.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.1 miCastle Creek ↗4.9 mi trail · hiking, horse
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.5 miKentuck Springs Trailhead ↗Prescott 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 Castle Creek Wilderness.
- inCastle Creek Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 25,457 acres
- 7.4 miAgua Fria ↗National Conservation Lands unit · Bureau of Land Management · 72,510 acres
- 12.9 miPrescott National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,411,550 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
- Crown King Ranger StationBuilding · Crown King · 3.9 mi
Natural features
The facility is situated in a ponderosa pine forest at an elevation of 6,000 feet in the Bradshaw Mountains of north-central Arizona. The forest is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including deer, mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, fox, rabbits, lizards, snakes, bald eagles and other species of birds. Summer temperatures offer a pleasant relief from the heat of nearby deserts, and winter is cool to cold with occasional snow. Afternoon thunderstorms are possible from late June through mid-September.
Recreation
Campers have no shortage of activities both in and around the campground. The shade of the ponderosas invites guests to picnic and relax at the facility, while the nearby Horsethief Lake allows fishing and boating (electric motors and oars only). Anglers cast for largemouth bass, channel catfish and sunfish. Hunting is available in the surrounding forest, and the nearby Castle Creek Wilderness provides numerous trails for hikers to explore.
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 Turney Gulch Group?
Sites at Turney Gulch Group are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservation Information: Recreation.gov or telephone 1-877-444-6777 Site must be reserved at least three days in advance. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Turney Gulch Group?
$75 for group site (1-25 people). $100 for group site (26-50 people)
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Turney Gulch Group?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Turney Gulch Group have?
1 site, including 1 group site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Turney Gulch Group?
The longest site here provides 35 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
Is there cell service at Turney Gulch Group?
FCC coverage maps show AT&T 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Turney Gulch Group?
Campers have no shortage of activities both in and around the campground. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Turney Gulch Group?
Prescott, Arizona. The small town of Crown King has a general store with basic supplies.
Source: Getting there
What if Turney Gulch Group is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Hazlett Hollow Campground (0.3 mi, first-come), Upper Wolf Creek Group (21.7 mi), and Lower Wolf Creek Campground (21.8 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby