Cave Creek Group Site
Cave Creek Group Site is located 20 miles north of Cave Creek and Carefree, Arizona. It is a historic campground constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). This site is a short drive from the blistering heat of Phoenix offering cooler temps, a clear running creek, and plentiful shade to relax and enjoy nature. With food prep areas, grills and covered picnic tables, you're all set for a weekend with your loved ones you'll never forget!
More like this: reservable in Arizona · group sites in Arizona
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Group sites | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| 001 | Partial | 150 / 40 |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 10:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Fees | $75 per night for groups of 1-50 people $150 per night for groups of 51-150 people |
There are 12 picnic tables, three central grills, a covered food prep area and one serving table. The tables are stoneware consisting of deep crimson jasper interspersed with common fieldstone. There are also two large covered ramadas, four benches, a game area, campfire area, vault toilets, and trash service.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | Year round |
| Forest | Tonto National Forest |
| Booking | Reservations Only. Reservations must be made 1 day ahead of arrival and can be made up to 12 months in advance. |
| Rules | Use caution during rainy season. The area, like all desert creeks, is prone to flash flooding. Trailers over 16’ are not recommended. Quiet hours 10:00 pm to 6:00 am (running generators are not permitted during quiet hours). |
Weather by month
Getting there
Drive 19 miles north from Carefree, Arizona. From Carefree, take Cave Creek Road (Forest Road 24) to Seven Springs Day use area. Continue for less than 1/2 mile to the turn off to the group site. The last 9 miles of Forest Road 24 is an all-weather gravel road that is narrow with blind curves.
| Nearest town | Scottsdale, Arizona |
| Coordinates | 33.9753° N, 111.8658° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 13.6 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Best Barbeques & Islands ↗ | 23.7 mi |
| RV sales & service | Sun City RV ↗ | 34.7 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
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Video
Cave Creek Group Campground at Seven Springs
Worth a stop
Across the road, Cave Creek trailhead offers over 48 miles of hiking trails - great for overnight backpacking trips. Bronco Trailhead further south, offers parking for 40 vehicles plus trailers and six horse pens. Just seven miles south is Sears-Kay ruin. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, this site features the remains of an ancient Native American tribe's hilltop village. For spectacular scenic views take Forest Road 562 to Humboldt Mountain. Or, you can simply stay on site and observe nature and hunt for crawdads in the nearby creek.
- 9.1 miDesert Vista Ohv Area ↗OHV / range
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miCave Creek ↗10.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.9 miCottonwood Creek ↗10.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1 miSkunk Tank ↗4.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.3 miQuien Sabe2.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.4 miBronco3.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4 miSkull Mesa ↗5 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
This campground sits inside Tonto National Forest.
- inTonto National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,966,417 acres
- 8.7 miMazatzal Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 250,760 acres
- 14.9 miAgua Fria ↗National Conservation Lands unit · Bureau of Land Management · 72,510 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
- Dome HouseBuilding · Cave Creek · 10 mi
- Cave Creek Service StationBuilding · Cave Creek · 11 mi
- Tubercular CabinBuilding · Cave Creek · 11.1 mi
Natural features
This group campsite is nestled in a narrow valley of juniper and sycamore trees providing abundant shade. Water flowing through seven springs is minimal and only several inches in depth. The area has one large open camping area and a nearby trailhead offering access to over 48 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. Bring your camera during springtime to get photos of the desert wildflowers in bloom.
Recreation
At this site you'll enjoy camping, hiking, mountain biking, picnicking, sightseeing, exploring, bird and wildlife viewing, and there is even a game area for volleyball and horseshoes.
Guidebooks for Tonto National Forest and Arizona
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Cave Creek Group Site?
Sites at Cave Creek Group Site are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservations Only. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Cave Creek Group Site?
$75 per night for groups of 1-50 people $150 per night for groups of 51-150 people
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Cave Creek Group Site?
Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 10:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Cave Creek Group Site open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Year round.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Cave Creek Group Site have?
1 site, including 1 group site.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is the nearest town to Cave Creek Group Site?
Scottsdale, Arizona. Across the road, Cave Creek trailhead offers over 48 miles of hiking trails - great for overnight backpacking trips.
Source: Getting there
What if Cave Creek Group Site is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Civilian Conservation Corps Campground (0.3 mi, first-come), C C C Tonto NF (0.3 mi, first-come), and Mesquite (8.5 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby