USDA Forest Service · Arizona
Apache Trout Campground
USDA Forest Service · Arizona, United States
- Sites
- 64
- Hookups
- 31 electric, 31 with water, 33 no hookups
- Season
- May 1 to October 31
- Max RV length
- 80 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Dump station
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 9,088 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
- ENT, TO ASPEN LOOP (NFSR 8115T) · asphalt · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
- Nearest town
- Springerville
- Address
- Apache Sitgreaves National Forest, Springerville, AZ, 85938
- Phone
- 928-537-8888
- Activities
- Camping, Picnic Tables
63 numbered sites are mapped one by one - the site map below shows each with its facts and pictures.
Site map
63 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
Apache Trout Campground is one of five campgrounds at the Big Lake Recreation Area in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, and is especially popular for group camping.
With boating and fishing facilities and a variety of amenities, Apache Trout is a convenient and comfortable place to stay. Plenty of open space, shaded forests and mountain scenery make for a pleasant outdoor experience.
Recreation
The Apache Trout facility is a short walk away from the 450-acre Big Lake, one of Arizona's top fishing lakes. Big Lake is known for its trout fishing, with rainbow, cutthroat, brook and Apache trout being the most sought-after species. The recreation area is also popular for hiking, mountain biking, bird watching and wildlife viewing.
Facilities
The campground is especially convenient for small to medium sized groups. Campsites are diverse and offer a wide range of options. There are 22 double sites, one group site that can accommodate 50 people, another that can hold 100 and more than 20 individual sites.
This is the only campground in the lake recreation area that has sites with full hookups. Flush toilets and showers offer additional convenience.
Natural Features
The campground sits at an elevation of 9,100 ft. in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona. It is a very scenic area, forested with ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, spruce and aspen interspersed with high elevation meadows.
Some campsites have shade, while others are mostly sunny. Summer temperatures are pleasant and cool, a nice respite from the heat of lower deserts.
Nearby Attractions
Visitors can explore endless vistas and take part in many outdoor activities in the surrounding Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, which encompasses 2 million acres of magnificent mountain country in east-central Arizona and New Mexico.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 38° | 20° | 0° | 51° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 39° | 20° | -6° | 55° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 44° | 25° | 3° | 70° | 10 of 11 |
| April | 55° | 32° | 19° | 67° | 10 of 11 |
| May | 63° | 39° | 27° | 77° | 3 of 11 |
| June | 76° | 50° | 37° | 86° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 77° | 54° | 47° | 84° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 72° | 51° | 46° | 82° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 68° | 48° | 40° | 75° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 59° | 38° | 25° | 72° | 5 of 10 |
| November | 53° | 30° | 18° | 63° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 44° | 25° | -2° | 57° | 10 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
- West Fork Of Black River Trailhead · 1.1 mi as the crow flies
West Fork (br) 2.3 mi Hike, Indian Springs Connector 0.5 mi Hike · Drive there - Railroad Cove Trailhead · 1.2 mi as the crow flies · Drive there
- Crescent Lake Trailhead · 2.2 mi as the crow flies · Drive there
- Lightning Ridge Trailhead · 4.0 mi as the crow flies
Railroad Grade 19 mi Hike · Drive there
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
- Cutthroat · USDA Forest Service · 0 mi · 18 sites
- Grayling · USDA Forest Service · 0 mi · 24 sites
- Brookchar · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 13 sites
- Rainbow (Az) · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 166 sites
- Buffalo Crossing 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.