Sharp Creek
Sharp Creek is a small campground located in an area of central Arizona known for its pleasant temperatures, spectacular scenery and outdoor recreation. There are tent-only, family and group sites to accommodate a wide range of visitors.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in Arizona · reservable in Arizona · big rigs in Arizona · pets allowed in Arizona · group sites in Arizona
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 14 |
| Group sites | 3 |
| Tent-only | 3 |
Site guide
20 sites in 4 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 019 | Juniper | Standard | Back-in | Paved | 10 / 1 | Yes | |||
| 020 | Juniper | Standard | Back-in | 69 | Paved | 10 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 021 | Juniper | Standard | Back-in | 60 | Paved | 10 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 024 | Juniper | Standard | Pull-through | 105 | Paved | 10 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 027 | Juniper | Standard | Pull-through | 90 | Paved | 10 / 1 | Yes | Yes | |
| 028 | Juniper | Standard | Back-in | Paved | 10 / 1 | Yes | |||
| 1 | MANZ | Group | Pull-through | Paved | Full | 75 / 15 | Yes | ||
| 2 | MANZ | Group | Pull-through | Paved | Full | 75 / 15 | Yes | Yes | |
| 3 | MANZ | Group | Pull-through | Paved | Full | 75 / 15 | Yes | ||
| 007 | Oak | Standard | Back-in | 81 | Paved | 10 / 1 | Yes |
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 | 120 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Sites 027, 2, 013 are listed accessible |
Sharp Creek is a small campground with 28 campsites conveniently spread out into 3 loops. Campsites are spacious, comfortable and well-maintained, with some shade. Each has a picnic table, grill, campfire ring and lantern holder. One additional loop contains three group campsites that can each accommodate 75 people. 19 Sites are reservable and 9 sites are first-come, first-serve. Payment for first-come, first-serve sites is completed using the on-site fee machine. No cash is accepted.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | April to October |
| Forest | Tonto National Forest |
| Booking | Reservations must be made 3 days ahead of arrival and can be made up to 6 months in advance for standard sites and 12 months in advance for group… |
| Fees | Automatic fee machine is available on site at campground entrance, please follow the instructions. $29 per night for standard sites. $150 per night for Group Sites. |
| Rules | 14-day stay limit. No OHV recreational riding within the campground. No firewood sales and no dump station. Dogs are allowed and must be kept on a leash. Please use trash receptacles or pack it in, pack it out. Quiet hours 10:00 pm to 6:00 am (running generators are not permitted during quiet hours). |
Weather by month
Getting there
This facility is located 23 miles northeast of Payson, Arizona, approximately 1.5 miles east of Christopher Creek. From Payson, take Highway 260 east for 23 miles. The campground is on the south side of Highway 260.
| Nearest town | Payson, Arizona |
| Coordinates | 34.2997° N, 110.9981° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedD2 Sinkhole Rx
7 mi from the campground · 875 acres
- PrescribedD2 Vincent Rx
10 mi from the campground · 2,258 acres
- PrescribedD2 Dye Rx
11 mi from the campground · 5,246 acres
- PrescribedTillman Rx
13 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 station | Woods Canyon Dump Station ↗ | 3.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
A Photographic Tour of Sharp Creek Campground in Tonto National Forest Near Mogollon Rim.
Worth a stop
The small town of Christopher Creek is less than a mile away and has a few restaurant and shopping options for basic conveniences. Woods Canyon and Willow Springs Lakes sit above the Mogollon Rim, only a 10-minute drive away, and offer boating and fishing. The National Recreation Highline Trail is just a few miles east on Highway 260.
- 2.9 miDrew Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 2.9 miMogollon Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 3.8 miRocky Point Picnic Site ↗Day use
- 5.9 mi
- 6.6 miWillow Springs Lake Fishing And Boating Site ↗Fishing site
Trails nearby
- 2.3 miDrew1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.5 miBig Ridge ↗5 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2.7 miHighline ↗50.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike · national_scenic_or_historic
- 2.7 miMilitary Sink Hole2.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.8 miSee Canyon2.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.8 miRim Lakes Vista ↗4.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 2.9 miDrew Trailhead ↗Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
- 2.9 miMogollon Trailhead ↗Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest · Season May 29
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 Tonto National Forest.
- inTonto National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,966,417 acres
- 3.6 miHellsgate Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 37,457 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
On the National Register nearby
- Promontory Butte Lookout ComplexStructure · Beaver Park · 4.8 mi
- Diamond Point Lookout CabinBuilding · Tonto Village · 11.1 mi
- Pleasant Valley Ranger StationBuilding · Young · 13.2 mi
Natural features
Sharp Creek sits at a cool 6,000 feet elevation, perfect for escaping the desert heat of southern Arizona and getting away to shaded forests and refreshing creeks and lakes. It is surrounded by a thick ponderosa pine forest below the Mogollon Rim. The clear waters of Christopher Creek are less than a mile away. 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. The unique landscape was created by extreme erosion and faulting that has sculpted spectacular canyons and buttes. The rim serves as the geographical dividing line between the cool high country above and the hot, dry desert below.
Recreation
The campground is in a central location for hiking, fishing, boating and picnicking. Anglers can try for trout in nearby Christopher Creek. Hikers and Mountain Bikers can access the National Recreation Highline Trail, which spans 63 miles along the base of the Mogollon Rim, from the 260 Trail three miles east of the campground. Two lakes nearby offer additional fishing and boating options.
Guidebooks for Tonto National Forest and Arizona
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Sharp Creek?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Sharp Creek?
Automatic fee machine is available on site at campground entrance, please follow the instructions. $29 per night for standard sites. $150 per night for Group Sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Sharp Creek?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Sharp Creek open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season April to October.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Sharp Creek have?
20 sites, including 14 standard sites without power, 3 group sites, and 3 tent-only sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Sharp Creek?
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 Sharp Creek?
Yes, pets are allowed at Sharp Creek. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Sharp Creek?
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. 14-day stay limit.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Sharp Creek?
Sites 027, 2, and 013 are 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
Is there cell service at Sharp Creek?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Sharp Creek?
The campground is in a central location for hiking, fishing, boating and picnicking. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Sharp Creek?
Payson, Arizona. The small town of Christopher Creek is less than a mile away and has a few restaurant and shopping options for basic conveniences.
Source: Getting there