A very special campground in AZ.......

Ron3rd wrote:

Acampingwewillgo wrote:
During New Year's we spent a week at Catalina State Park in the Tucson area.....without a doubt, this was the nicest State Park we've been to. Lots of space between sites, great walking/hiking trails, and even though your within minutes to shopping, eating places, you feel very isolated in the Park. 50 amp electrical for those hot days and water but no sewer(dump station only)

One last thing and because of having no sewer, we used the campground showers(free)...their restroom, by far, were the cleanest, the showers were beautiful, large and tiled...I can't say enough about them, the best of any campground, public or private! All this for 25 a night. Have Fun

X2, we were there over New Year's too! Great place!

I remember you saying you were going to be there, I was suppose to be on the lookout for ya but I guess it slipped my mind with all there was to do around the Park. We really Loved it but I must say from the looks of Lost Dutchman State Park, I'm gonna have to make it over that way soon.

Noel wrote:
We settled on Lost Dutchman near Apache Junction.

Thanks to all who replied and especially: Executive.....us out west....and soricobob.

You made a good choice. It really pays off to ask questions on this forum.

We stayed in the overflow of Lost Dutchmen SP last March and the sites were bigger than the serviced lots and it was so quiet. Lots to do around the area no matter what your interests are. We were only going to stay for a few nights but ended up renewing our site every night because of the fun we were having.

Good luck.

Dave



Superstition Mountain traverse. Flat Iron to the Peralta Road.





Classic desert scene at Lost Dutchmen SP overflow.

Three of our favorites no mentioned so far
Canyon Point Campground would recommend reservations they stay booked through the summer
Rose Canyon Campground no reservations taken
Picacho Peak State Park

FYI the Cholla cactus also known as jumping cactus. It does not jump but it does drop it spines on the ground. Even if a dog does not come in contact with a Cholla but just walks on the ground in the vicinity of a Cholla it will get the spines imbedded in them.

Lost Dutchman State Park is a beautiful park but has a large number of Cholla Cactus

Usery Mountain Regional Park doesn't have as much as Lost Dutchman but it still has a good quantity

McDowell Mountain Regional Park has the least amount of Cholla and that is one of big reasons we prefer that park over the other two.

We settled on Lost Dutchman near Apache Junction.

Thanks to all who replied and especially: Executive.....us out west....and soricobob.

We settled on Lost Dutchman near Apache Junction.

Thanks to all who replied and especially: Executive.....us out west....and soricobob.

Acampingwewillgo wrote:
During New Year's we spent a week at Catalina State Park in the Tucson area.....without a doubt, this was the nicest State Park we've been to. Lots of space between sites, great walking/hiking trails, and even though your within minutes to shopping, eating places, you feel very isolated in the Park. 50 amp electrical for those hot days and water but no sewer(dump station only)

One last thing and because of having no sewer, we used the campground showers(free)...their restroom, by far, were the cleanest, the showers were beautiful, large and tiled...I can't say enough about them, the best of any campground, public or private! All this for 25 a night. Have Fun

X2, we were there over New Year's too! Great place!

Usery Mountain is one of our favorite parks anywhere. True Sonoran desert atmosphere right in Mesa

All good suggestions so far. We have not stayed at all of them but those that we haven't stayed at we have at least driven thru. We prefer state and county parks by far- because of the room between the parking spaces. They are also cheaper than commercial parks. That being said - there are also downsides. One is that you will probably have water and power- but no sewer hook up. So depending on your ability to conserve you will probably have to go to the dump station every so often. Another downfall is the 14 day stay limit. But it's worth it in our opinion. Our all time favorite park is Gilbert Ray, outside of Tucson. Followed closely by Cave Creek and the White Tanks, both outside Phoenix. The last 2 can be reserved on line thru Maricopa Counties excellent web site. Have fun!

Catalina, Lost Dutchman, or any of the Maricopa County Parks (McDowell Mtn, Usery, Cave Creek, etc.).

The Yavapa Co. Fairgrounds RV Park near Prescott Valley may fit your wishes and personality too well. The fairgrounds and horse race track are abandoned as well as all the horse stalls. LOTS of open space where the dog can just run. Very few occupants so you'd have acres of room to park where you want. NO amenities, but it's FHU with wifi. It's pretty much an open space with no trees. You won't hear traffic or the neighbors...only the wind. It's in the valley, backside of the Jerome mountain off 89A.
Wow, from the aerial, it looks like they've paved the roads. The sites are gravel, but not dusty. We were told a year ago they were planing improvements.