U.S. Forest Service · Coronado National Forest · Arizona

Showers Point Group Site

The cool shade of tall ponderosa pines and an overlook of Palisade Canyon from the campgrounds edge make Showers Point Group Site a popular place for groups to spend a weekend or an afternoon. Visitors can relax in shaded campsites, picnic at nearby Rose Canyon, hike and mountain bike on nearby trails or take a scenic drive on Catalina Highway.

More like this: reservable in Arizona · tent only in Arizona · pets allowed in Arizona · group sites in Arizona

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Showers Point Group SiteSHOWERS POINT GROUP SITEShowers Point Group SiteShowers Point Group Site
Photos courtesy of RRM · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Group tent areas3
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

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

SiteSurfacePeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
1GRPGravel25 / 5Yes
2GRPGravel25 / 5YesYes
3GRPGravel25 / 5Yes

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

EquipmentTents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
AccessibilitySite 2GRP is listed accessible

The three group campsites at Showers Point are well spread out over this spacious location and include large, leveled tent pads and picnic shelters. Each site is tent-only for up to 25 guests. The facility is equipped with water faucets and toilets.

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

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
SeasonApril to October
ForestCoronado National Forest
FeesShowers Point Group Sites #1, #2, #3 each rent for $103.00 each. Firewood is $8.00 per bundle/bag.
RulesNo trailers allowed, no spaces for RVs. Pack and saddle stock are not permitted in the campground. A large area of Pusch Ridge Wilderness is closed to dogs from January to April for the protection of desert bighorn sheep.

Coronado National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Showers Point Group Site40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 41.6°F averageFebruary: 41.6°F averageMarch: 45.7°F averageApril: 52.4°F averageMay: 60.6°F averageJune: 70.0°F averageJuly: 71.9°F averageAugust: 70.7°F averageSeptember: 66.9°F averageOctober: 58.4°F averageNovember: 49.7°F averageDecember: 41.0°F averageTemp °F
The line is the average temperature at Mt Lemmon Willow Canyon, 2 miles from the campground at 7,027 feet, station USC00025737 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020.

Getting there

From Tucson, Arizona, go northeast on Catalina Highway approximately 30 miles from Tucson until just before Milepost 20. Turn left on Organization Ridge Road and travel 1.2 miles to Showers Point.

Coordinates32.4083° N, 110.7206° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗13.9 mi
Outdoor gearREI ↗17 mi
RV sales & serviceFrost RV ↗17.8 mi

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

Explore

  • 0.1 mi
    Palisade ↗
    6.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.4 mi
    Bigelow
    0.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.7 mi
    Butterfly ↗
    4.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.7 mi
    Kellogg
    0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.9 mi
    Incinerator Ridge
    1.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1 mi
    Knagge
    4.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike

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 →

Pusch Ridge Wilderness begins about 1 mile away, and it is the closest of these.

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

Showers Point Group Campground sits high on the slopes of the Santa Catalina Mountains at 7,700 feet. Because of its elevation, it can be much cooler than the lower-elevation campgrounds in the area. The campsites are spacious and spread out among stands of big ponderosa pines and clusters of Gambel oak. The Coronado National Forest covers 1.78 million acres of southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Elevations range from 3,000 to 10,720 feet in 12 widely scattered mountain ranges, or "sky islands," that rise dramatically from the desert floor, supporting biologically diverse plant communities.

Recreation

Within easy walking distance from Showers Point is one of the most scenic overlooks in the Santa Catalinas. From this towering bluff visitors can see the lower slopes of the Santa Catalina Range and the Santa Cruz Valley stretching toward Mexico. Tall, pyramid-shaped Mt. Wrightson of the Santa Rita Mountains stands prominent on the horizon. Visitors enjoy hiking through the Santa Catalina backcountry, via the Palisade Trail that departs near the campground. The trail drops down the southwestern slopes of the mountain range to the popular Sabino Canyon Recreation Area. Fishing is also available at the nearby six-acre Rose Canyon Lake. A day-use fee is applicable at Rose Canyon

Nearby

Catalina Highway, also known as General Hitchcock Highway and Sky Island Scenic Byway, is the only paved road that leads to the upper reaches of Mt. Lemmon and the Santa Catalina Range. It is one of the most scenic highways in the southwest and provides a popular day trip. Other notable attractions include Saguaro National Park, Sabino Canyon and Colossal Cave.

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 Showers Point Group Site?

Sites at Showers Point Group Site 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 Showers Point Group Site?

Showers Point Group Sites #1, #2, #3 each rent for $103.00 each. Firewood is $8.00 per bundle/bag.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Showers Point Group Site?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Showers Point Group Site open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season April to October.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Showers Point Group Site have?

3 sites, including 3 group tent areas.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to Showers Point Group Site?

Showers Point Group Site is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at Showers Point Group Site?

The three group campsites at Showers Point are well spread out over this spacious location and include large, leveled tent pads and picnic shelters.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Showers Point Group Site?

Yes, pets are allowed at Showers Point Group Site. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Showers Point Group Site?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. No trailers allowed, no spaces for RVs.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at Showers Point Group Site?

Site 2GRP is 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 Showers Point Group Site?

Within easy walking distance from Showers Point is one of the most scenic overlooks in the Santa Catalinas. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What if Showers Point Group Site is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Whitetail Campground (0.7 mi), Spencer Canyon Campground (1.3 mi, first-come), and Rose Canyon (2 mi, partly first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby