Christopher Creek

With an elevation of 5,640 ft, Christopher Creek Campground's crisp, fresh air and vibrant views are a joy to behold. The campground is tucked along the banks of the spring-fed Christopher Creek, which passes just below the Mogollon Rim. This campground is typically open April through November. The Mogollon Rim, pronounced by locals as "muggy-own," is a 200-mile long cliff in northern Arizona that ranges between 5,000 and 7,000 ft in elevation. The unique landscape was created by extreme erosion and faulting that has sculpted spectacular canyons and buttes. The rim serves as the geographical dividing line between the cool high country above and the hot, dry desert below. Christopher Creek is located in the desert portion, but is balanced by the cool waters of the creek and forested surroundings. After a day of exploring the natural beauty of Rim Country, sit back and relax in the shaded ponderosa pine forest. Each spring, the creek is stocked with rainbow trout, allowing anglers the opportunity to cast their hearts out for rainbows as well as brook and brown trout. The National Recreation Highline trail is close by. The family-friendly campground has 43 sites on both sides of the creek, plus a group site that accommodates a maximum of 25 people. There is a separate day use and picnic area within the campground; please note that if you park and use this area it is a separate fee, covered under the Tonto Pass program. Sites are surrounded by ponderosa pines, junipers, oaks and manzanita evergreen shrubs, providing creek side dwelling in Tonto National Forest at the base of the Mogollon Rim. The small town of Christopher Creek is just a short drive away and offers a few restaurant options for those who tire of cooking at the campground. A series of lakes called the Rim Country Lakes is about a 10 minute drive east. Woods Canyon Lake is one of the most popular recreational lakes in the state and offers options for boating as well as a nature trail that loops around the lake's perimeter.