Alto Pit OHV Campground
Alto Pit OHV Campground is located at the foot of Granite Mountain Wilderness Area, at an elevation of 6,200 feet. The off-highway trail system within the recreation area draws enthusiasts of all ages with degrees of skills that prove challenging and enjoyable for everyone alike.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in Arizona · reservable in Arizona · pets allowed in Arizona
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 11 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 38 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
11 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Pull-through | 32 | Gravel | Partial | 5 / 2 | Yes | Prime | |
| 02 | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Partial | 5 / 2 | Yes | Preferred | |
| 03 | Pull-through | 38 | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 4 | Yes | Yes | Prime |
| 04 | Pull-through | 25 | Gravel | Partial | 5 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 05 | Pull-through | 25 | Gravel | Partial | 5 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 06 | Pull-through | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 5 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard |
| 07 | Pull-through | 35 | Gravel | Partial | 5 / 2 | Yes | Prime | |
| 08 | Pull-through | 28 | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 09 | Pull-through | 32 | Gravel | Partial | 5 / 2 | Yes | Preferred | |
| 10 | Pull-through | 35 | Gravel | Partial | 5 / 2 | Yes | 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 1:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 38 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Sites 03, 06 are listed accessible |
The campground has 10 single occupancy campsites and one double occupancy campsite. Each campsite has a picnic table, campfire ring, and space for a tent. Near the entrance to the facility is a large Ramada. This may be used for group gatherings of up to 50 people. Ten campsite driveways are pull-through, one campsite driveway is back-in, and all have gravel surfaces. Some campsite driveways allow a camp unit (RV or tow vehicle and trailer) and an extra vehicle quite easily, while others may be snug. Services include three vault restrooms and two trash dumpsters. There are no RV hook-ups or dump station in the campground. There is a $5 day-use fee for visitors not camping although day-use is free on Wednesdays.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Season | Year-round |
| Forest | Prescott National Forest |
| Booking | Campground reservations can be made on the day of arrival or up to six months in advance for May 1 - October 31 can be made through Recreation.gov. No reservations are required for day use. |
| Fees | Day-use: $5 per vehicle; Free every Wednesday! Campground: $14 for single campsite. $28 for double campsite. $5 for extra vehicle |
| Rules | Campground Check-in after 2:00 p.m./Check-out by 12:00 noon. Quiet hours between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Campfires in developed fire pits only. Fireworks are prohibited. Dogs must be on leash (6' maximum). OHV/ATV use prohibited in the campground. Maximum length of stay: 14 days in 30-day period on the Prescott National Forest including stays at dispersed recreation sites. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From the courthouse located in downtown City of Prescott, go northwest on Iron Spring Road. Continue 5 miles past the junction of Gale Gardner Way and Iron Springs Road. Alto Pit is on the right side of the road.
| Nearest town | Prescott, Arizona |
| Coordinates | 34.5900° N, 112.5592° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Manzanita's Outdoors ↗ | 5.9 mi |
| RV sales & service | Little Dealer Little Prices ↗ | 14.1 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 32.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Video of Alto Pit Ohv Campground, AZ from Taleah U.
Worth a stop
Granite Basin Recreation Area is located northeast of the Alto Pit OHV Area and just a 15 minute drive away. Granite Basin contains Yavapai Campground, Granite Basin Lake and several day use areas. Visitors enjoy fishing, bird-watching, backpacking, hiking, horseback riding, biking, picnicking, camping, and just plain relaxing. Immediately rising north of Granite Basin Lake is rugged Granite Mountain with a highest point of 6,874 feet within Granite Mountain Wilderness Area. Thumb Butte, at 6,515 feet, rises prominently southeast of Alto Pit OHV Area and can be seen from most anywhere in the Prescott Basin. It is one of the most popular destinations in the Prescott National Forest.
- 5.2 miWilliamson Valley Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 9.8 miRanch (62) Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 10.8 miLynx Lake Marina & Store Boating Site ↗Boat launch
- 10.8 mi
- 13 mi
Trails nearby
- under 0.1 miAlto Pit OHV 40.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, ATV and 1 more
- 0.1 miAlto Pit 160.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, ATV and 1 more
- 0.1 miAlto Pit OHV 50.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, ATV and 1 more
- 0.1 miAlto Pit OHV 20.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, ATV and 1 more
- 0.2 miAlto Pit OHV 60.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, ATV and 1 more
- 0.2 miAlto Pit 140.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, ATV and 1 more
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.8 miLittle Granite Trailhead / Day Use Area ↗Prescott National Forest · Season Year-round
- 1.8 miMetate Trailhead ↗Prescott National Forest · Season Year-round
- 1.9 miIron Springs Trailhead ↗Prescott National Forest
- 1.9 miSpence Springs Trailhead ↗Prescott 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.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Prescott National Forest.
- inPrescott National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,411,550 acres
- 1.7 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
On the National Register nearby
- Hassayampa Historic DistrictHistoric district · Prescott · 5.4 mi
- Brinkmeyer HouseBuilding · Prescott · 5.7 mi
- A. W. Robinson BuildingBuilding · Prescott · 5.7 mi
Natural features
The rugged landscape that encompasses and surrounds Alto Pit OHV Campground is a nearly perfect setting for off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts. Granite rock in various stages of degradation is evident and is more pronounced when viewing craggy and rugged Granite Mountain rising abruptly to the north. Predominate vegetation include ponderosa pine, limber pine, oak, manzanita, and a variety of shrubs and grasses.
Recreation
Once an active gravel pit, Alto Pit is now exclusively used for motorized off-road travel. Main Pit is the larger of two gravel pits within the recreation area. West Pit is located a short distance to the southwest of Main Pit. The 20-mile trail system offers challenging rides for advanced recreationists and thrilling rides for beginners.
Guidebooks for Arizona
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- 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 Alto Pit OHV Campground?
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 Alto Pit OHV Campground?
Day-use: $5 per vehicle; Free every Wednesday! Campground: $14 for single campsite. $28 for double campsite.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Alto Pit OHV Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Alto Pit OHV Campground have?
11 sites, including 11 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Alto Pit OHV Campground?
The longest site here provides 38 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 there showers or a dump station at Alto Pit OHV Campground?
There are no RV hook-ups or dump station in the campground.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Alto Pit OHV Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Alto Pit OHV Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Alto Pit OHV Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. Campground Check-in after 2:00 p.m./Check-out by 12:00 noon.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Alto Pit OHV Campground?
Sites 03 and 06 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 Alto Pit OHV Campground?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 4G LTE, 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 Alto Pit OHV Campground?
Once an active gravel pit, Alto Pit is now exclusively used for motorized off-road travel. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Alto Pit OHV Campground?
Prescott, Arizona. Granite Basin Recreation Area is located northeast of the Alto Pit OHV Area and just a 15 minute drive away.
Source: Getting there