Groom Creek Horse Camp
Equestrian campers will find Groom Creek Horse Camp seven miles south of Prescott, Arizona at an elevation of 6,398 feet. The ponderosa pine setting, nearby trails and limited equestrian camping opportunities make this a popular destination. Each campsite has a steel corral enclosure and an overhead tether line that accommodates two to four horses. Two group picnic sites are also available for reservation for group gatherings within this campground.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in Arizona · reservable in Arizona · group sites in Arizona
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Equestrian | 35 |
| group shelter nonelectric | 1 |
| group picnic area | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 24 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
37 sites in 3 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | A | Equestrian | Pull-through | 86 | Gravel | Partial | 5 / 2 | Standard | |
| 02 | A | Equestrian | Pull-through | 154 | Gravel | Partial | 5 / 2 | Standard | |
| 03 | A | Equestrian | Back-in | 55 | Gravel | Partial | 5 / 2 | Prime | |
| 04 | A | Equestrian | Pull-through | 78 | Gravel | Partial | 5 / 2 | Preferred | |
| 05 | A | Equestrian | Pull-through | 75 | Gravel | Partial | 5 / 2 | Standard | |
| 06 | A | Equestrian | Pull-through | 101 | Gravel | Partial | 5 / 2 | Standard | |
| 08 | B | Equestrian | Back-in | 65 | Gravel | Partial | 5 / 2 | Standard | |
| 09 | B | Equestrian | Pull-through | 85 | Gravel | Partial | 5 / 2 | Preferred | |
| 10 | B | Equestrian | Pull-through | 66 | Gravel | Partial | 5 / 2 | Standard | |
| 11 | B | Equestrian | Pull-through | 75 | Gravel | Partial | 5 / 2 | Standard |
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
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 35 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers |
| Fees | Single Site: First Vehicle Free, Second Vehicle Fee is $5 |
Horse Camp has two reservable loops (Loops B and C) and one first-come, first-serve loop (Loop A). Each of the 30 campsites in Loop B and C have a picnic table, steel fire ring, 16'x16' steel corral, and an overhead tether line. Of the 30 campsites, 27 campsite driveways are pull-through, three driveways are back-in, and all have packed gravel surfacing. The internal access roads are also packed gravel. Four vault toilets, five trash dumpsters, and six water faucets service the campground. Nearly all water faucets are located at a vault toilet. Facilities are not accessible for persons with disabilities. Reservable group sites are located in Loop B and in Loop C. The group site in Loop B has six picnic tables, five pedestal fire grills, one group fire ring, and limited parking for a maximum of two vehicles. Trailers cannot be accommodated. The group site in Loop C has a steel ramada with six picnic tables, a steel ramada-covered cooking area with two triple cooking surface fire pedestal grills, water faucet, one large and one small steel fire ring, overhead tether line, a 16'x16' steel corral, and limited parking for a maximum of two vehicles.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Season | May 1 to October 31 |
| Forest | Prescott National Forest |
| Booking | Reservations: Campsites 8-37 are subject to reservations, with same day reservations possible. Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance at Recreation.gov or by calling 1 (877) 444-6777. |
| Fees | $18 for campsite. $5 for extra vehicle |
| Rules | Check-in 2:00 PM or later; Check-out 12 NOON or earlier. Early arrivals can park across the street at Trailhead 307 and enjoy equestrian trails until check-in time. Those who occupy a site early are expected to pay the site fee at the same rate as an overnight visit. Quiet hours between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Campfires in developed fire pits only. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Phoenix, Arizona, Take I-17 north for 61.8 miles. Take exit 262 toward Cordes Junction/Prescott. Merge onto State Route 69 west and follow for 33.8 miles. At the split, take the ramp for Route 89 south. Turn slight left onto East Gurley Street/89 and follow for about 0.8-mile. Turn left at Mt.
| Nearest town | Prescott, Arizona |
| Coordinates | 34.4650° N, 112.4414° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | REI ↗ | 5.7 mi |
| RV sales & service | Little Dealer Little Prices ↗ | 11 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 31.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Horse camp Groom Creek AZ 9/13/21
Worth a stop
Prescott is a 15 minute drive from Horse Camp. Many activities including arts, crafts and music festivals are scheduled throughout the summer. Goldwater Lake, located within minutes of Horse Camp, is managed by the City of Prescott. The City of Prescott's recreation pass and day-use fee should not be confused with the Prescott National Forest Day-Use Passes or day-use fee.
- 5 miLynx Lake Marina & Store Boating Site ↗Boat launch
- 5 mi
- 5.8 miRanch (62) Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 14 miWilliamson Valley Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- under 0.1 miHorsecamp Loop2.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.5 miGroom Creek Nature ↗0.3 mi trail · hiking
- 1.5 miSchoolhouse Gulch2.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, ATV and 1 more
- 1.6 miWolf Creek Loop ↗5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, ATV and 1 more
- 1.9 miWatershed3.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, ATV
- 1.9 miGroom Creek Loop ↗9.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.1 miGroom Creek Equestrian (307) Trailhead ↗Prescott National Forest · Season Spring
- 2.2 miSpruce Mountain Picnic Site ↗Prescott National Forest · Season Spring - Fall; Open only when the fire tower is staffed
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 Prescott National Forest.
- inPrescott National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,411,550 acres
- 12.3 miGranite Mountain Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 9,808 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
- Groom Creek SchoolBuilding · Prescott · 0.6 mi
- Rock HouseBuilding · Groom Creek · 1.7 mi
- Walker Charcoal KilnStructure · Prescott · 3.8 mi
Natural features
Horse Camp occupies an area dominated by ponderosa pine mixed with alligator juniper, oak species, and a variety of forbs and native grasses. Colorful wildflowers bloom in the spring, and during the summer monsoon seasons. Visitors may see a variety of wildlife including deer, mountain lion, bobcat, coyotes, fox, rabbits, lizards, snakes, and birds.
Recreation
Three trails are in close proximity to Groom Creek Horse Camp. Horse Camp Loop Trail 383 (2 miles) is accessed from Loop C, across from the group site or at the campground's entrance. Wolf Creek Loop Trail 384 (5 miles) is accessed from Horse Camp Loop Trail 383 and from Forest Service Road C101. Groom Creek Loop Trail 307 (9 miles) is accessed from the trailhead across from the entrance to Horse Camp. These trails are shared with other users including mountain bikers and hikers. Off-highway vehicle use occurs on designated roads and trails.
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 Groom Creek Horse Camp?
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 Groom Creek Horse Camp?
Single Site: First Vehicle Free, Second Vehicle Fee is $5
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Groom Creek Horse Camp?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Groom Creek Horse Camp have?
37 sites, including 35 equestrian sites, 1 group shelter nonelectric, and 1 group picnic area.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Groom Creek Horse Camp?
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 Groom Creek Horse Camp?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and 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 Groom Creek Horse Camp?
Three trails are in close proximity to Groom Creek Horse Camp. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Groom Creek Horse Camp?
Prescott, Arizona. Prescott is a 15 minute drive from Horse Camp.
Source: Getting there
What if Groom Creek Horse Camp is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Upper Wolf Creek Group (1 mi), Lower Wolf Creek Campground (1.3 mi, first-come), and White Spar Campground (3.5 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby