U.S. Forest Service · Tonto National Forest · Payson, AZ

Reynolds Creek Group Campground

The Reynolds Creek Group Campground is a rustic and secluded, creek side camp located on the Pleasant Valley Ranger District in the Tonto National Forest. The primitive group camping area is nestled between towering ponderosa pine at an elevation of 5,250 feet and provides a great base camp for a wide range of recreational activities including, hiking, fishing, hunting, and nature photography.

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

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Reynolds Creek Group CampgroundReynolds Creek Group CampgroundREYNOLDS CREEK GROUP CAMPGROUND1REYNOLDS CREEK GROUP CAMPGROUND11
Photos courtesy of Reynolds Creek Group Campground, USFS · Recreation.gov

Site mix

group standard area nonelectric1
This site is booked as a single unit on Recreation.gov. The booking page shows which dates are open and how far ahead they release. How the booking window works

Site guide

1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteEntrySurfaceShadeWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessibleRating
Reynolds Creek Group Campground/1Pull-throughGravelFullRiverfront75 / 40YesYesStandard

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

Max vehicle length21 ft
EquipmentTents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
AccessibilitySite Reynolds Creek Group Campground/1 is listed accessible

The site includes two large ramadas, eight picnic tables, group grill, one large metal campfire ring, and one vault toilet.

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

Season & status

StatusOpen
SeasonMarch 1
ForestTonto National Forest
BookingReservations must be made 3 days ahead of arrival and can be made up to 12 months in advance.
Fees$75 per night and extra vehicles $10 per day. More information can be found at Recreation.gov
Rules14-day stay limit. This site is very remote and is accessible only by dirt roads. Bears are present in the area. Please store food appropriately. A combination code is needed to access the facility. Please check your confirmation letter for the combination code. Fires are only allowed in the established steel fire rings of which there are four (4).

Tonto National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Reynolds Creek Group Campground30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 2.25 inches of precipitation, 1.2 inches of snowFebruary: 2.24 inches of precipitation, 4.2 inches of snowMarch: 1.85 inches of precipitation, 2.0 inches of snowApril: 0.69 inches of precipitation, 0.7 inches of snowMay: 0.58 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 0.24 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 3.44 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 3.02 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.70 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 1.13 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 1.44 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowDecember: 1.85 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 39.0°F averageFebruary: 41.3°F averageMarch: 46.2°F averageApril: 51.7°F averageMay: 58.9°F averageJune: 67.8°F averageJuly: 73.8°F averageAugust: 72.8°F averageSeptember: 66.8°F averageOctober: 56.2°F averageNovember: 45.9°F averageDecember: 38.7°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 in5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Pleasant Valley, 16 miles from the campground at 5,183 feet, station USC00026653 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 20 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 8 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Young, drive 20 miles south on State Hwy. 288 (unpaved). Site is on the right and is signed. From Hwy 188, drive 27 miles north on State Hwy. 288 (partially paved).

Nearest townPayson, Arizona
Coordinates33.8723° N, 110.9775° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    D2 Sinkhole Rx

    31 mi from the campground · 875 acres

  • Prescribed
    D2 Dye Rx

    39 mi from the campground · 5,246 acres

  • Prescribed
    D2 Vincent Rx

    40 mi from the campground · 2,258 acres

  • Prescribed
    Tillman Rx

    40 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 stationWoods Canyon Dump Station ↗31.1 mi
RV sales & serviceRV Park Model Traders ↗47.4 mi

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

Explore

  • 0.1 mi
    McFadden Park ↗
    5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.2 mi
    Hells Hole ↗
    5.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.3 mi
    McFadden Horse
    3.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.4 mi
    Cienega
    3.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.2 mi
    Boyer ↗
    5 mi trail · hiking, horse
  • 3.4 mi
    Reynolds Creek
    3.7 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 →

This campground sits inside Tonto National Forest.

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

The group site is located adjacent to Reynolds Creek, which runs year round. Opportunities for wading, fishing, and hiking abound. Berry picking is a popular activity in the fall. A thick stand of ponderosa pine covers the group area, offering pleasant shade. A large meadow provides the perfect place for group activities and games.

Recreation

The site is located between the Salome and Sierra Ancha Wilderness Areas and adjacent to the From the Desert to the Tall Pines National Scenic Byway. Two trailheads are located within a quarter mile of the campground and provide access to the Wilderness Areas as well as a lookout tower.

Nearby

Workman Creek is located two miles to the south and has cascading waterfalls and plenty of opportunities for berry picking in the fall. Hikers and equestrians can explore the area's majestic scenery on meandering trails.

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.

  • Day & overnight hikes, Arizona's Tonto National Forest
    Tony Padegimas, 2010
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Camping Arizona
    Bruce Grubbs, 2021
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Best Tent Camping: Arizona
    Kirstin Olmon Phillips and Kelly Phillips, 2019
    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 Reynolds Creek Group Campground?

Sites at Reynolds Creek Group Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservations must be made 3 days ahead of arrival and can be made up to 12 months in advance. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Reynolds Creek Group Campground?

$75 per night and extra vehicles $10 per day. More information can be found at Recreation.gov

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Reynolds Creek Group Campground?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Reynolds Creek Group Campground open right now?

Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season March 1.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Reynolds Creek Group Campground have?

1 site, including 1 group standard area nonelectric.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Reynolds Creek Group Campground?

The longest site here provides 21 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 Reynolds Creek Group Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Reynolds Creek Group Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Reynolds Creek Group 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. 14-day stay limit.

Source: Fire nearby

Are there accessible sites at Reynolds Creek Group Campground?

Site Reynolds Creek Group Campground/1 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 Reynolds Creek Group Campground?

The site is located between the Salome and Sierra Ancha Wilderness Areas and adjacent to the From the Desert to the Tall Pines National Scenic Byway. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Reynolds Creek Group Campground?

Payson, Arizona. Workman Creek is located two miles to the south and has cascading waterfalls and plenty of opportunities for berry picking in the fall.

Source: Getting there

What if Reynolds Creek Group Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Schoolhouse Campground (15.5 mi, partly first-come), Windy Hill Campground (15.6 mi, partly first-come), and Cholla Campground (16.2 mi, partly first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby