Ponderosa (az)

Named for the towering pines under which it sits, Ponderosa Campground is tucked in the rolling forests of northern Arizona. One of the largest forests in the country, the Tonto National Forest is also one of the most-visited urban forests in the United States, with about 5.8 million visitors annually; its boundaries are Phoenix to the south, the Mogollon Rim to the north, and the San Carlos and Fort Apache Indian reservations to the east. The campground underwent a timber sale a few years ago but still has many ponderosa trees that will be stronger and healthier for future generations to enjoy. Take advantage of the area's hiking and biking trails and lakes, or simply relax at the campsite. Scenic driving and outdoor recreation abound in the surrounding Tonto National Forest. A series of lakes called the Rim Country Lakes is about a 15-minute drive east, and Woods Canyon Lake — one of the most popular recreational lakes in the state — offers options for boating. The facility provides 48 single campsites and two group sites that can each accommodate up to 25 guests. The campsites are clean, flat and spacious, with a good amount of shade from the pine trees. In addition, first-come, first-served sites are available, with payment completed using the on-site fee machine; no cash is accepted. The ponderosa pines make this a memorable campground. Larger ponderosas release a vanilla scent into the air and have a relatively open understory, making the area perfect for camping; junipers, oaks and manzanita shrubs are mixed in below. The campground sits on the border of the Mogollon Rim, pronounced by locals as "muggy-own," a 200-mile-long cliff in northern Arizona that ranges between 5,000 and 7,000 feet in elevation. The unique landscape was created by extreme erosion and faulting that has sculpted spectacular canyons and buttes, and the rim serves as the geographical dividing line between the cool high country above and the hot, dry desert below. The nearby town of Payson, Arizona, offers restaurants, shopping and other conveniences.