Knoll Lake Campground
This secluded forest camp offers easy access to two features of high visitor interest. The first is Knoll Lake, a medium-sized body of water tucked away in a picturesque setting. People come here to fish for trout and tour the lake in small boats. The second feature of interest near this campground is the spectacular Mogollon Rim, a two thousand foot escarpment that marks the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau. This picturesque plunge from cool highlands to low deserts extends across most of Arizona. The area around Knoll Lake, however, is the home of some of the Rim's most magnificent views.
More like this: first-come in Arizona
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | May to September 8 |
| Forest | Coconino National Forest Recreation |
| Booking | This is a first come, first served secluded forest campground offering easy access to both Knoll Lake and the majestic Mogollon Rim. |
| Fees | $20 per site for single family unit per night (up to 8 people and two vehicles). $40 per site for double sites (up to 16 people and four vehicles). Senior and Access Interagency passes are accepted for a 50% discount on single-site camping fees. |
| Rules | Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (running generators not permitted during quiet hours) |
Weather by month
Getting there
Location: About 80 miles southeast of Flagstaff. The elevation is 7,400 feet. GPS ( Map ): 34°25'53.4"N 111°05'09.8"W. Access: Drive 55 miles south of Flagstaff to Clints Well on Forest Highway 3 (Lake Mary Road).
| Coordinates | 34.4262° N, 111.0936° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedD2 Vincent Rx
7 mi from the campground · 2,258 acres
- PrescribedD2 Dye Rx
10 mi from the campground · 5,246 acres
- PrescribedTillman Rx
13 mi from the campground
- PrescribedD2 Sinkhole Rx
15 mi from the campground · 875 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 11 mi |
| Outdoor gear | The Hike House ↗ | 48.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 5.3 miMallard Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 5.4 miMerganser Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 10.3 miRocky Point Picnic Site ↗Day use
- 14.5 mi
- 14.8 miWillow Springs Lake Fishing And Boating Site ↗Fishing site
Trails nearby
- 0.6 miBabe Haught2.3 mi trail
- 1.6 miGeneral Crook ↗58.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike · national_recreation_or_other
- 1.8 miGeneral George Crook ↗51.7 mi trail · national_scenic_or_historic
- 2 miMogollon Rim Snowmobile C ↗5.1 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 2 miBabe Haught1.9 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 3 miBarbershop ↗4.7 mi trail
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
Tonto National Forest begins about 1.2 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 1.2 miTonto National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,966,417 acres
- 11.2 miCoconino National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,000,952 acres
- 11.7 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 · 6.1 mi
- Moqui Lookout CabinBuilding · Blue Ridge · 10.4 mi
- Diamond Point Lookout CabinBuilding · Tonto Village · 11.1 mi
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 Knoll Lake Campground?
No. Knoll Lake Campground is first-come, first-served. This is a first come, first served secluded forest campground offering easy access to both Knoll Lake and the majestic Mogollon Rim. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Knoll Lake Campground?
$20 per site for single family unit per night (up to 8 people and two vehicles). $40 per site for double sites (up to 16 people and four vehicles). Senior and Access Interagency passes are accepted for a 50% discount on single-site camping fees.
Source: Forest Service
Is Knoll Lake Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May to September 8.
Source: Forest Service status
What if Knoll Lake Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Bear Canyon Lake and Camping Area (5.3 mi, first-come), Upper Tonto Creek (6 mi), and Lower Tonto Creek (6.5 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby