Forum Discussion

Padlin's avatar
Padlin
Explorer
Jan 11, 2016

Tucson area State Parks

Looking to check out the non commercial campground in the area of Tucson, Catalina, Gilbert Ray, Lost Dutchman, and some others Jan/Feb 2017 and am looking for info on getting reservations at them.

Reservations at the State Parks has a 12 month window. Are these parks like Yellowstone where I need to be online exactly 12 months before I want to get reservations or do they fill up a bit slower, if at all?

I know Gilbert Ray is first come first serve, is it usually full in the winter months?

I ask as I'll be going on the road shortly and will need to hunt around for wifi if I need to make them quickly.
Snowbirds

8 Replies

  • Executive45's avatar
    Executive45
    Explorer III
    Jan 20, 2016
    70 degrees in Mesa today with highs of 75/76 for the weekend....:B....Dennis
  • oldtrojan66's avatar
    oldtrojan66
    Explorer
    Jan 11, 2016
    I'm really glad to see this thread and the posts, therein. Without knowing much except we liked the Phoenix area, once, I reserved time at Picacho Peak and Lost Dutchman for our first snowbird experience. We will be there starting late Jan through late March. Hoping for milder weather than the 12 degrees we have here, currently. Hoping the trip down is uneventful. I'm about 92% eager and about 8% anxious about it. I think part of my anxiety comes from reading all the horror stories on this forum! I probably have more "extra" parts than I will ever use. And of course, nothing you prepare for ever happens! That's called Murphy's Law!
    Safe camping and travels everyone! Happy New Year!
  • crcr's avatar
    crcr
    Explorer
    Jan 11, 2016
    Padlin wrote:
    snip ...Looking to check out the non commercial campground in the area of Tucson, Catalina, Gilbert Ray, Lost Dutchman, and some others Jan/Feb 2017 and am looking for info on getting reservations at them.

    Reservations at the State Parks has a 12 month window ...


    Re AZ State Parks, RV reservations cannot be made until either 6 or 7 months ahead of the desired date -- I forget which -- check their reservation site.
  • Padlin's avatar
    Padlin
    Explorer
    Jan 11, 2016
    Executive wrote:
    Ummmm....you do know that Lost Dutchman is 2 hours north of Tucson, yes???:h....Dennis


    Yes, it's our first trip, we want to move around some and see the area. Looking for somewhere to snowbird in the future.
  • Executive45's avatar
    Executive45
    Explorer III
    Jan 11, 2016
    Ummmm....you do know that Lost Dutchman is 2 hours north of Tucson, yes???:h....Dennis
  • azdryheat's avatar
    azdryheat
    Explorer
    Jan 11, 2016
    Catalina State Park is our preference but we live in Tucson and are biased. I just did a query and you can reserve, as I write this, through Jan 15, 2017.

    ***Edit*** Thanks for bringing it up as I just booked a nice spot for New Years.
  • 2gypsies1's avatar
    2gypsies1
    Explorer III
    Jan 11, 2016
    Gilbert Ray does tend to fill..best chance is during the week. Catalina and Lost Dutchman have become very popular parks for a reason - they're gorgeous places to stay and the hiking is great.

    If you can't get into Lost Dutchman try for the Maricopa County park campgrounds - Usery is near Lost Dutchman. Also try for McDowell Mountain, Cave Creek or Lake Pleasant. They are all in beautiful surroundings with nice hikes and big sites.

    Good luck - they're all very popular and are favorites of ours.
  • Itchey_Feet's avatar
    Itchey_Feet
    Explorer
    Jan 11, 2016
    Not sure how close you need to be, but look up Catalina State Park, just around the hill from Tucson

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