Upper Hospital Flat Group Site
Upper Hospital Flat is a great place for groups to escape the summer heat of surrounding deserts and retreat to a scenic meadow in the Pinaleño Mountains of southeastern Arizona. The area is known for camping, scenic driving, picnicking, birding, wildlife viewing, hiking, mountain biking and history. In the 1880s, the campground served as the site for a field hospital for ailing soldiers from nearby Fort Grant, hence its name. The restorative powers of this cool, high-elevation location also attracted officers and their families seeking a summer refuge from desert heat. Today, Hospital Flat serves as popular getaway for outdoor enthusiasts and campers.
More like this: reservable in Arizona · free in Arizona · big rigs in Arizona · pets allowed in Arizona · group sites in Arizona
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| group standard area nonelectric | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Hospital Flat Group Site | Pull-through | Full | 50 / 8 | Yes | Prime |
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 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Max vehicle length | 40 ft |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | This site is now first come, first serve and is fee-free. |
Upper Hospital Flat can accommodate a group of up to 50 people. Several first-come, first-served individual sites are located nearby in the Hospital Flat Campground (must pay separately). The group site is equipped with a picnic table, parking area and campfire ring with a grill. Dead-and-down firewood may be collected in and around the campsite. One portable/self-contained toilet is required for every 15 people. The road leading into the group site is mainly suitable for higher-clearance vehicles.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | April 15 to November 14 |
| Forest | Coronado National Forest |
| Booking | This is a first-come, first-served campground. Reservations are not accepted. |
| Fees | Single site: $15. With Golden Age/Access or Interagency Senior/Access pass $7.50. Payable with cash or check. |
| Rules | Vehicles (including trailers) longer than 22 feet are not recommended because of the difficulty of negotiating the switchbacks on AZ 366. This trailhead is not accessible by vehicle from November 15 to April 15 when the Swift Trail is closed for the winter. Early or late snow may extend the inaccessible season. Pack and saddle stock are not permitted in campground. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Safford, Arizona: Take State Route 191 south for 6 miles. Turn right onto State Route 366/Swift Trail and travel 23.3 miles to the Upper Hospital Group Site entrance on the right (MM 137.2). From Tucson, Arizona: Take I-10 east for 90 miles. Take exit 352 for State Route 191, and turn left toward Safford.
| Nearest town | Safford, Arizona |
| Coordinates | 32.6669° N, 109.8744° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- There are no toilets on site.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Gila Outdoor ↗ | 14.2 mi |
| RV sales & service | Trek RV ↗ | 15.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miBig Creek1.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miGrant Hill Loop A1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miGrant Hill Loop3.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.4 miGrant Hill Loop C0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.5 miCunningham Loop ↗5.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.5 miGrant Hill Loop B0.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.3 miGrant Hill Loop Trailhead ↗Coronado National Forest
- 0.5 miCunningham Loop Trailhead ↗Coronado 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.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Heliograph Lookout ComplexStructure · Old Columbine · 1.9 mi
- Columbine Work StationBuilding · Safford · 3.4 mi
- Webb Peak Lookout TowerStructure · Old Columbine · 4.2 mi
Natural features
The campground sits along Big Creek in a mixed conifer forest, adjacent to a meadow that comes to life with wildflower blooms in late summer. The 9,000-ft. elevation offers pleasant summer temperatures. 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
The campground lies along the Swift Trail Scenic Drive, which takes visitors from the Sonoran Desert at 2,900 feet to alpine meadows and forest on the 9,000+ foot ridges of the Pinaleño Range. Because of its diverse habitat, the area is well-known for birding and wildlife watching. Nearby Hospital Flat Campground includes a 0.75-mile nature trail that gives interpretive information about the meadow and its plant and animal inhabitants. The Swift Trail also provides access to a number of hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking trails, along with several other campgrounds that invite you for an afternoon picnic. A trip up to Rigg’s Lake, stocked with trout by Arizona Game & Fish, or to the Columbine Visitors Center could make a worth-while day trip as well.
Nearby
The Mount Graham Wilderness Study Area, which includes the 10,720-foot Mount Graham, the tallest mountain in southern Arizona. Columbine Visitors Center, Riggs Lake, and a variety of trails can be accessed along the Swift Trail Scenic Drive. The town of Safford is approximately a 1 hour drive from the Hospital Flat campground, heading north on SR 191. Safford is home to our Ranger Station, where you can go to find information about trails, camping, hunting and fishing, and other questions you may have about our district (open Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm).
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 Upper Hospital Flat Group Site?
Sites at Upper Hospital Flat Group Site are reservable on Recreation.gov. This is a first-come, first-served campground. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Upper Hospital Flat Group Site?
Nothing. Upper Hospital Flat Group Site is listed as free. This site is now first come, first serve and is fee-free.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Upper Hospital Flat Group Site?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Upper Hospital Flat Group Site open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season April 15 to November 14.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Upper Hospital Flat Group Site have?
1 site, including 1 group standard area nonelectric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Upper Hospital Flat Group Site?
The longest site here provides 40 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 pets allowed at Upper Hospital Flat Group Site?
Yes, pets are allowed at Upper Hospital Flat Group Site. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Upper Hospital Flat Group Site?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. Vehicles (including trailers) longer than 22 feet are not recommended because of the difficulty of negotiating the switchbacks on AZ 366.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Upper Hospital Flat Group Site?
FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Upper Hospital Flat Group Site?
The campground lies along the Swift Trail Scenic Drive, which takes visitors from the Sonoran Desert at 2,900 feet to alpine meadows and forest on the 9,000+ foot ridges of the Pinaleño Range. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Upper Hospital Flat Group Site?
Safford, Arizona. The Mount Graham Wilderness Study Area, which includes the 10,720-foot Mount Graham, the tallest mountain in southern Arizona.
Source: Getting there
What if Upper Hospital Flat Group Site is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Upper Hospital Flat Dispersed Camping Area (under 0.1 mi, first-come), Treasure Park - East (0.3 mi), and Treasure Park - North (0.3 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby