U.S. Forest Service · Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest · Overgaard, AZ

Black Canyon Rim Campground

Black Canyon Rim Campground has 20 sites of varying sizes. All sites can accommodate tents and pop-up campers. Some sites are suitable for pull trailers, 5th-wheel trailers, and motorhomes up to 40 feet.

More like this: reservable in Arizona · big rigs in Arizona · pets allowed in Arizona

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
view of entrance to Black Canyon Rim CampgroundBLACK CANYON RIM CAMPGROUNDBLACK CANYON RIM CAMPGROUNDBLACK CANYON RIM CAMPGROUND
Photos courtesy of USDA FS Black Mesa · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups19
Shelters1
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

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 45 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

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

SiteTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFires
01StandardBack-in45GravelNo / –8 / 2Yes
02StandardBack-in45GravelNo / –8 / 2Yes
03StandardBack-in45GravelNo / –8 / 2Yes
04ShelterBack-in45GravelNo / –8 / 2Yes
05StandardBack-in45GravelNo / –8 / 2Yes
06StandardBack-in45GravelNo / –8 / 2Yes
07StandardBack-in45GravelNo / –8 / –Yes
08StandardBack-in45GravelNo / –8 / –Yes
09StandardBack-in37GravelNo / –8 / 2Yes
10StandardBack-in21GravelNo / –8 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length60 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
FeesOnly cash and check can be accepted at the campground.

Each campsite offers a campfire ring with grill and picnic table. Additional amenities include accessible vault toilets, drinking water and trash service. Access is on both sand and gravel roads. A campground host is available at the site.

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

Season & status

StatusOpen
SeasonApril 29
ForestApache-Sitgreaves National Forest
BookingReservations available 1-877-444-6777. Or online at Recreation.gov
FeesNon-electrical site $20 a night, $12 extra vehicle charge. One vehicle and eight people.

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Black Canyon Rim Campground30°40°50°60°70°January: 1.74 inches of precipitationFebruary: 1.65 inches of precipitationMarch: 1.41 inches of precipitationApril: 0.67 inches of precipitationMay: 0.63 inches of precipitationJune: 0.45 inches of precipitationJuly: 2.67 inches of precipitationAugust: 2.98 inches of precipitationSeptember: 1.84 inches of precipitationOctober: 1.22 inches of precipitationNovember: 1.24 inches of precipitationDecember: 1.87 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 32.7°F averageFebruary: 36.2°F averageMarch: 42.1°F averageApril: 47.8°F averageMay: 54.9°F averageJune: 64.8°F averageJuly: 69.4°F averageAugust: 67.6°F averageSeptember: 61.5°F averageOctober: 51.5°F averageNovember: 41.0°F averageDecember: 32.7°F average0 in1 in2 in3 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Heber (Black Mesa) RS, 12 miles from the campground at 6,590 feet, station USC00023961 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 18 inches a year.

Getting there

Located 13 miles west of Heber, Arizona. From Forest Lakes, travel east on Highway 260 for approximately 1 mile. Turn south on Rim Road and travel approximately 2.4 miles. The campground is located at the intersection of Rim Road and Black Canyon Road.

Nearest townOvergaard, Arizona
Coordinates34.3044° N, 110.7454° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    D2 Sinkhole Rx

    8 mi from the campground · 875 acres

  • Prescribed
    Tillman Rx

    12 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    D2 Dye Rx

    13 mi from the campground · 5,246 acres

  • Prescribed
    D2 Vincent Rx

    16 mi from the campground · 2,258 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗4.9 mi
Outdoor gearSportsman's Warehouse ↗41.7 mi

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

Explore

Video

Black Canyon Rim Campground, Sitgreaves National Forest, Arizona

Worth a stop

Gas, phone, and groceries are available 8 miles west at Forest Lakes or 13 miles east at Heber.

  • 0.3 mi
    Hangman
    1.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.8 mi
    Rocky Bluff
    0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.9 mi
    Three Oaks
    0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 3.5 mi
    Dare Me
    0.7 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
  • 3.6 mi
    Rim Run ↗
    5.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, snowshoe and 1 more
  • 3.6 mi
    Feelin' Blue
    1.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, ski

Trailheads within three miles

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 →

Tonto National Forest begins about 4.2 miles 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.

Natural features

Black Canyon Rim Campground is sheltered among towering ponderosa pines and located in an area that is relatively flat and sandy. A herd of wild horses is often seen running through the area and stopping at Black Canyon Lake for water.

Recreation

Fishing and boating (electric motors) are available on Black Canyon Lake, approximately 2.5 miles northeast of the campground. The historic grave site of Stott, Scott, and Wilson, three young men lynched during the Pleasant Valley War is located within walking distance. This campground is a favorite stopping place for those traveling on the General Crook National Recreation Trail.

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 Black Canyon Rim Campground?

Sites at Black Canyon Rim Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservations available 1-877-444-6777. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Black Canyon Rim Campground?

Only cash and check can be accepted at the campground.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Black Canyon Rim Campground?

Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Black Canyon Rim Campground open right now?

Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season April 29.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Black Canyon Rim Campground have?

20 sites, including 19 standard sites without power and 1 shelter nonelectric.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Black Canyon Rim Campground?

The longest site here provides 60 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 Black Canyon Rim Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Black Canyon Rim Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Black Canyon Rim Campground?

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.

Source: Fire nearby

Is there cell service at Black Canyon Rim Campground?

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 Black Canyon Rim Campground?

Fishing and boating (electric motors) are available on Black Canyon Lake, approximately 2.5 miles northeast of the campground. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Black Canyon Rim Campground?

Overgaard, Arizona. Gas, phone, and groceries are available 8 miles west at Forest Lakes or 13 miles east at Heber.

Source: Getting there

What if Black Canyon Rim Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Gentry Campground (1.9 mi, partly first-come), Canyon Point (4.8 mi), and Valentine Ridge Dispersed Camping Area (5.1 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby