USDA Forest Service · Arizona

Upper Tonto Creek

USDA Forest Service · Arizona, United States

Open on the map Drive there Reserve Official page Directions

Sites: 13
Hookups: 10 with water, 6 no hookups
Season: April 1 to November 1
Drinking water: Yes
Restrooms: Yes
Pets: Yes
Elevation: 5,522 ft
Dark sky: Bortle class 1
Cell coverage: T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
Access road: TONTO CREEK (NFSR 289) · bituminous surface treatment · moderate degree of user comfort
Lake: Tonto National Forest
Nearest town: Payson
Address: 1009 E. Hwy 260, Payson, AZ, 85541
Phone: N/A

1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - the site map below shows each with its facts and pictures.

Site map

1 numbered sites are mapped one by one on the imagery, with the operator's own facts and pictures for each site where it publishes them. Tap a site to rate it, keep a note and add your own photos; press and hold the map for a pin of your own. Your ratings, notes, pins and photos are kept with the campground on your Saved list, the same list the camping map and the drive page keep.

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About

Overview

The Upper Tonto Creek is a small campground tucked away from the main highway where the Tonto and Horton Creeks merge. 6 Campsites are available for reservation only.

This location is available only through reservation May 1through November 3rd.

Campground map available here .

Recreation

Families may enjoy fishing at both Tonto and Horton Creeks or pass time hiking through nearby Horton Creek Trail or Derrick Trail. Both of these trails access the Highline National Recreation Trail (#31).

Facilities

This campground contains 6 campsites, 3 picnic sites, and a double vault toilet.

Natural Features

The union of Tonto and Horton Creeks is at the north end of the Upper Tonto Creek campground. Fishing in both creeks is a popular sport.

Contact Info

This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (928) 474-7900.

Weather, month by month

Month	Typical high	Typical low	Coldest night	Hottest day	Years with a night below 32°F
January	49°	32°	10°	64°	10 of 11
February	52°	32°	9°	70°	9 of 11
March	57°	36°	7°	83°	7 of 11
April	67°	43°	28°	81°	3 of 11
May	76°	51°	39°	89°	0 of 11
June	89°	62°	49°	102°	0 of 11
July	91°	67°	59°	101°	0 of 11
August	86°	63°	55°	100°	0 of 11
September	82°	60°	47°	91°	0 of 11
October	72°	47°	36°	86°	0 of 10
November	65°	41°	22°	75°	4 of 10
December	55°	33°	4°	70°	9 of 10

Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.

Trails nearby

Two-o-eight Trailhead · 6.3 mi as the crow flies
Two-O-Eight 0.2 mi Hike · Drive there
Drew Trailhead · 6.5 mi as the crow flies
Drew Canyon 0.6 mi Hike · Drive there
Merganser Trailhead · 6.7 mi as the crow flies
Bear Canyon Lake 1.6 mi Hike, Merganser 0.2 mi Hike · Drive there
Mallard Trailhead · 6.9 mi as the crow flies
Bear Canyon Lake 1.6 mi Hike, Mallard 0.1 mi Hike · Drive there
Carr Lake Trailhead · 7.0 mi as the crow flies
General Crook 58 mi Hike, Carr Lake 5.7 mi Hike · Drive there

All 190 trails in Tonto National Forest · All 324 trails in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests

Trailheads the Park Service and the Forest Service map, within 10 miles as the crow flies; each trail's page has its length, climbing and the Service's description.

Nearby campgrounds

Lower Tonto Creek · USDA Forest Service · 0 mi · 13 sites
Ponderosa (Az) · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 52 sites
Ponderosa Group Site · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi
Christopher Creek · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi · 44 sites
Knoll Lake Campground · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi

All public campgrounds in Arizona · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.