Rose Canyon
Rose Canyon Campground is just 17 miles northeast of Tucson, Arizona, off the Catalina Highway Scenic Drive near the summit of Mt. Lemmon. This area is popular for day use as well as overnight camping. With a high elevation, forested setting, two group picnic areas and opportunities for hiking, wildlife viewing and fishing, Rose Canyon offers a great summer respite from the city.
The campground offers spacious, single-family campsites, as well as two group day use areas with picnic shelters, which can be reserved for up to 120 guests.
The campground is equipped with picnic tables, campfire rings with grills and vault toilets.
Need to Know
No hookups. Campground has 6 dedicated RV only sites. No tents are allowed on these RV sites.
- Swimming and boats are not permitted in the lake
- Pack and saddle stock not permitted in campground or picnic area
- This is a high elevation facility; use caution when traveling from lower elevations
- Bears and other animals live in the area; all food must be secured and trash disposed in the trash cans provided
- The camp store is located south of campsite #73.
- Credit cards are not accepted. Only cash and Arizona checks are accepted.
The Amphitheater has limited parking. Up to 50 persons - 4 vehicles. 51 to 90 persons - 8 vehicles. 91 to 120 persons - 12 vehicles are allowed.
Please Note: One RV with tow vehicle per single site or one vehicle per tent site. Any extra vehicle is not included with the reservation fee. Extra vehicle will be charged a per night fee and collected at the campground.
Fire Restrictions: Fire restrictions may be imposed at any time due to hot, dry weather conditions, at which time campfires and charcoal fires may not be allowed
Reserved Sites will be held until check out time (NOON) the day following your arrival date. Sites must be occupied by the checkout time of that following day to hold a reservation or the site will be forfeited and released to other guests. Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.
Refunds: Refund requests made through www.recreation.gov will be charged a $10 processing fee. This fee is retained by the reservation service contractor along with the non-refundable reservation fee. All requests for the return of the non-refundable reservation fee and the cancellation fee will be declined by the campground concessionaire as they did not receive these fees (these are the fees retained by the reservation contractor, a different entity).
- Don't Move Firewood: Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org.
Click here to learn more about Coronado National Forest
Maximum trailer length is 22 feet.
Natural Features
The campground sits high on the slopes of the Santa Catalina Mountains, at an elevation of 7,000 feet. Because of its elevation, it can be much cooler than the lower-elevation campgrounds in the area. The campsites are spacious and spread out among stands of large ponderosa pines and clusters of Gambel oak. During the summer rainy season, Rose Creek meanders through the area to the six-acre Rose Canyon Lake at the lower end of the campground.
The Coronado National Forest covers 1.78 million acres of southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Elevations range from 3,000 to 10,720 feet in 12 widely scattered mountain ranges, or "sky islands," that rise dramatically from the desert floor, supporting biologically diverse plant communities.
Nearby Attractions
Catalina Highway, also known as General Hitchcock Highway and Sky Island Scenic Byway, is the only paved road that leads to the upper reaches of Mt. Lemmon and the Santa Catalina Range. It is one of the most scenic highways in the southwest and is a popular day trip.
Other notable attractions include Saguaro National Park, Sabino Canyon and Colossal Cave.
Recreation
The lake is sheltered by trees and offers a pleasant setting for a walk in the woods, relaxing on the shore or spending an afternoon fishing for stocked trout. A one-mile trail around the lake is convenient for anglers and hikers. The trail is accessible from the lower parking area to a floating dock near a dam.
The surrounding national forest boasts a variety of hiking and mountain biking trails, including several that traverse the 9,157-foot Mt. Lemmon.
Contact Information
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10371 Rose Canyon Rd Mt. Lemmon AZ 85619
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 520-576-1477
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From Tucson, Arizona, take Catalina Highway/Arizona Route 39 northeast. The campground is located between mile markers 17 and 18 on the Catalina Highway.
Available Campsites
- Site 063, Loop Rose Peak, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 014, Loop Green Mt. Loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 072, Loop Black Bear Flats, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 005, Loop Barnum, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Rose Canyon Amphitheater, Loop Group, Type Group Standard Area Nonelectric
- Site 046, Loop Willow edge, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 023, Loop Green Mt. Loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 070, Loop Black Bear Flats, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 015, Loop Green Mt. Loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 003, Loop Barnum, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 062, Loop Rose Peak, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 035, Loop Sycamore, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 011, Loop Green Mt. Loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 1, Loop Lizard Rock, Type Group Picnic Area
- Site 032, Loop Sycamore, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 033, Loop Sycamore, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 025, Loop Green Mt. Loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 061, Loop Rose Peak, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 001, Loop Barnum, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 039, Loop Sycamore, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 069, Loop Black Bear Flats, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 045, Loop Willow edge, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 048, Loop Red Tail, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 024, Loop Green Mt. Loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 050, Loop Red Tail, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 044, Loop Willow edge, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 002, Loop Barnum, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 073, Loop Black Bear Flats, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 060, Loop Rose Peak, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 071, Loop Black Bear Flats, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 041, Loop Willow Canyon, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 004, Loop Barnum, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
