Turney Gulch Group

Turney Gulch is a remote, scenic location for groups of up to 100 people to rest under the stars and towering pines of Prescott National Forest. The site accommodates 30 vehicles or less and lies near Horse Thief Lake, seven miles southeast of the small town of Crown King, Arizona, a former ghost town. Campers can enjoy hunting, fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing and visiting historic sites in the area. Campers have no shortage of activities both in and around the campground. The shade of the ponderosas invites guests to picnic and relax at the facility, while nearby Horsethief Lake allows fishing and boating with electric motors and oars only. Anglers cast for largemouth bass, channel catfish and sunfish. Hunting is available in the surrounding forest, and the nearby Castle Creek Wilderness provides numerous trails for hikers to explore. Turney Gulch is the only group campground near Horse Thief Lake and is close to one family campground. The facility has a rustic mountain feel, with a picnic shelter, 15 picnic tables, fire grills and an accessible vault toilet. Trash service is provided. Water is available via standpipe in front of the Horsethief Cabin approximately 1 mile down the road at the junction of FSR 52 and FSR 52G. The site lies on an unimproved dirt road and the drive can be challenging; campers should use high clearance 4x4 vehicles to get there. The facility is situated in a ponderosa pine forest at an elevation of 6,000 feet in the Bradshaw Mountains of north-central Arizona. The forest is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including deer, mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, fox, rabbits, lizards, snakes, bald eagles and other species of birds. Summer temperatures offer a pleasant relief from the heat of nearby deserts, and winter is cool to cold with occasional snow. Afternoon thunderstorms are possible from late June through mid-September. The small town of Crown King has a general store with basic supplies.