Sharp Creek
SHARP CREEK
Part of Tonto National Forest
Overview
Sharp Creek is a small campground located in an area of central Arizona known for its pleasant temperatures, spectacular scenery and outdoor recreation. There are tent-only, family and group sites to accommodate a wide range of visitors.Facilities
Sharp Creek is a small campground with 28 campsites conveniently spread out into 3 loops. Campsites are spacious, comfortable and well-maintained, with some shade. Each has a picnic table, grill, campfire ring and lantern holder. One additional loop contains three group campsites that can each accommodate 75 people.
19 Sites are reservable and 9 sites are first-come, first-serve. Payment for first-come, first-serve sites is completed using the on-site fee machine. No cash is accepted.
Natural Features
Sharp Creek sits at a cool 6,000 feet elevation, perfect for escaping the desert heat of southern Arizona and getting away to shaded forests and refreshing creeks and lakes. It is surrounded by a thick ponderosa pine forest below the Mogollon Rim. The clear waters of Christopher Creek are less than a mile away.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 feet 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.
Recreation
The campground is in a central location for hiking, fishing, boating and picnicking. Anglers can try for trout in nearby Christopher Creek. Hikers and Mountain Bikers can access the National Recreation Highline Trail, which spans 63 miles along the base of the Mogollon Rim, from the 260 Trail three miles east of the campground. Two lakes nearby offer additional fishing and boating options.
Nearby Attractions
The small town of Christopher Creek is less than a mile away and has a few restaurant and shopping options for basic conveniences. Woods Canyon and Willow Springs Lakes sit above the Mogollon Rim, only a 10-minute drive away, and offer boating and fishing.
The National Recreation Highline Trail is just a few miles east on Highway 260.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (928) 474-7900.Important Notices
Extra (second) vehicle charge of $8 per night is required. An RV towing a car counts as one vehicle and a vehicle pulling a trailer counts as one vehicle. Fee can be bundled with online reservation or purchased on-site at fee machine. Maximum of 2 vehicles per campsite.
No off-highway vehicles allowed off the main campground road.
No firewood sales available at campground. Plan to purchase ahead of time.
For First-Come, First-Served sites, you must physically arrive at the campground to see if the campsite is available. There is no guarantee this site will be available to purchase upon your arrival.
Check in time is 2:00pm and check out time is 11:00am. Quiet Hours are 10:00pm through 6:00am.
Maximum stay limit is 14 days within 30 consecutive days on the Tonto National Forest including dispersed sites.
Available Activities
- WILDLIFE VIEWING - Wildlife Viewing
- HIKING - Hiking
- FISHING - Fishing
- CAMPING - Camping
Directions
This facility is located 23 miles northeast of Payson, Arizona, approximately 1.5 miles east of Christopher Creek. From Payson, take Highway 260 east for 23 miles. The campground is on the south side of Highway 260.
Contact Information
Phone: 928-468-7135
1009 East Highway 260PAYSON, AZ 85541
Rental Options
Available Campsites
- Site 020, Loop Juniper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 019, Loop Juniper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 2, Loop MANZ, Type Group Standard Nonelectric
- Site 028, Loop Juniper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 008, Loop Oak, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 007, Loop Oak, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 011, Loop Oak, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 005, Loop Pine, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 002, Loop Pine, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 027, Loop Juniper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 018, Loop Oak, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 001, Loop Pine, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 021, Loop Juniper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 017, Loop Oak, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 024, Loop Juniper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 014, Loop Oak, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 1, Loop MANZ, Type Group Standard Nonelectric
- Site 013, Loop Oak, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 016, Loop Oak, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 3, Loop MANZ, Type Group Standard Nonelectric
