Houston Mesa
Hosted by USDA Forest Service
New listing
Houston Mesa Campground is located in the forested northern section of Tonto National Forest, just north of Payson, Arizona and less than two hours from Phoenix. With family, equestrian and tent-only campsites, this campground can accommodate a range of visitors and offers plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors, including miles of non-motorized trails nearby. Many visitors come to Payson to ride, hike, camp and picnic, and Houston Mesa is centrally located for access to Rim Country's best trails. The National Recreation Highline Trail has many access points along the control road, beginning or ending at Pine TH or 260 TH, and a short distance away the Pine trailhead opens up over 20 miles of non-motorized trails in the Pine Strawberry area. Houston Mesa has 102 campsites, including 46 standard sites, 27 equestrian sites for campers with horses or mules, and 29 tent-only sites for those who want a quieter experience. There are several amenities to make campers feel at home, including flush toilets. The horse camping section, Mule Deer Loop, is across the street from the main campground and features 27 individual sites with tables and grills; corrals are also available. Campers who reserve sites 7 through 18 must have horses or mules. The campground sits at an elevation of 5,200 feet in a mixed forest and shrub area, with spacious campsites offering both sun and shade. Winters are pleasant and cool with cold nighttime temperatures, while summers are warm and sunny, providing a nice getaway from the hotter deserts around Phoenix. Elk, javelina, skunk and coyote live in the area and can be seen in the campground. Campers who make the quick trip to the town of Payson, one mile south, will find restaurants, shopping and other conveniences. Scenic driving and outdoor recreation abound in the surrounding Tonto National Forest, which embraces almost 3 million acres of rugged and spectacularly beautiful country, ranging from saguaro cactus-studded desert to pine-forested mountains beneath the Mogollon Rim. Avid mountain bikers and hikers should check out the National Recreation Highline Trail, which spans 63 miles below the Mogollon Rim.
- Pet friendly
Location
032
BEAR · TENT ONLY NONELECTRIC · Overnight
- Max Num of People
- 10
- Pets Allowed
- Yes
- Capacity/Size Rating
- Single
- Max Vehicle Length
- 0
- Campfire Allowed
- Yes
- Shade
- Full
Campsites86
Payson, AZ
To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Amenities
Accessible campsites
90 sites
Camp host
Campfires allowed
Fire pits
Flush toilets
Picnic tables
Shade
Site features
Driveway surface
Gravel (varies by site)
Max vehicle length
Typically 45 ft, up to 99 ft
Horse
Typically 45 ft, up to 60 ft
Pickup camper
RV
Typically 45 ft, up to 99 ft
Tent
Typically 45 ft, up to 75 ft
Trailer
Typically 45 ft, up to 99 ft
Vehicle
Biking
Camping
Hiking
Horse Camping
Horseback Riding
Picnicking
Rules & policies
Check-in
2:00 PM
Check-out
11:00 AM
People per site
Up to 10
Vehicles per site
Up to 2
Camping equipment required
Horses
Up to 3 per site
Pets allowed
Reviews
No reviews yet.
USDA Forest Service
- 0
- Reviews
