Houston Mesa
Houston Mesa Campground is located in the forested northern section of Tonto National Forest, just one mile 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 several miles of hiking and horseback riding trails nearby.
As the fifth largest forest in the United States, the Tonto National Forest is one of the most-visited "urban" forests in the United States (approximately 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.
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 - 18 must have horses or mules. You do not need to have a horse or mule present to use sites 2 - 6 and 19 - 30 in Horse Camp (First Come, First Serve). Horse Camp closes seasonally from November - March.
Need to Know
Second vehicle charge of $8 per night is required. Fee can be bundled with online reservation or purchased on-site at fee machine.
No firewood sales available at campground. Plan to purchase ahead of time.
Showers are closed for the season.
No Dump or Fill Station Services.
Quiet Hours are from 10:00pm to 6:00am.
No electric or water hookups.
Please be advised bear activity can increase. All campers need to practice the following measures to prevent problems in bear country:
1) Always store your food securely. Use an airtight bear-proof container. Backpacks and coolers are not adequate;
2) Put all food away whenever you leave your campsite and at night. If bear-proof food storage boxes are not available, lock it out of sight.
3) Store anything that has an 'attractive' odor good or bad - in the same way. Lotions, soap, toothpaste, bug spray, etc., may attract a curious bear.
4) Be extremely aware of your garbage. Deposit it in bear-proof refuse container. Always respect wild animals, especially bears. Never attempt to feed or pet a bear. Avoid surprising, aggravating or harassing bears. Avoid what might be misconstrued as aggressive behavior.
For more information please visit: BeBearAware.org
- Dogs are allowed and must be kept on a 6 foot leash.
Fireworks are prohibited on National Forest Land.
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.
Campers who reserve sites 7 - 18 in Horse Camp (Mule Loop) are required to have horses or mules present. You do not need to have any to use sites 2 - 6 and 19 - 30
Natural Features
The campground is located at an elevation of 5,200 ft. 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. Hawks, eagles, javelina, deer, fox, skunk and coyote live in the area.
Nearby Attractions
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.
Recreation
Many visitors come to Houston Mesa to horseback ride, hike, camp and picnic. Houston Mesa Loop Trail is a 9-mile round trip through a pinyon and juniper woodland and can be accessed from the horse camping area. The Houston Mesa Interpretive Trail is a 0.5-mile self-guided trail.
Contact Information
Mailing
1009 East Highway 260 PAYSON AZ 85541
Physical
2100 Houston Mesa Rd Payson AZ 85541
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 928-468-7135
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From Payson, Arizona, go north for 1 mile to the junction of Highway 87 (Beeline Highway) and Forest Road 199 (Houston Mesa Road). Turn right (east) onto Forest Road 199 for .10 miles. The campground is on the north side of Houston Mesa Road.
Available Campsites
- Site 053, Loop BEAR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 033, Loop BEAR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 004, Loop MULE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 032, Loop BEAR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Group Site 2, Loop Fox, Type Group Standard Electric
- Site 006, Loop ELK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 011, Loop MULE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 020, Loop MULE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 049, Loop BEAR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 008, Loop MULE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 064, Loop MOUN, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 057, Loop BEAR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 040, Loop BEAR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 015, Loop MULE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 065, Loop MOUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 047, Loop BEAR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 059, Loop MOUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 042, Loop BEAR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 030, Loop MULE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 014, Loop ELK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 018, Loop ELK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 021, Loop ELK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 006, Loop MULE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 013, Loop ELK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 027, Loop MULE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 050, Loop BEAR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 029, Loop MULE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 055, Loop BEAR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 069, Loop MOUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 067, Loop MOUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 002, Loop ELK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 003, Loop ELK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 005, Loop ELK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 048, Loop BEAR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 007, Loop MULE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 066, Loop MOUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 018, Loop MULE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 046, Loop BEAR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 063, Loop MOUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 035, Loop BEAR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 010, Loop MULE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 026, Loop MULE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 025, Loop MULE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 039, Loop BEAR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 077, Loop MOUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 005, Loop MULE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 023, Loop ELK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 034, Loop BEAR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 009, Loop ELK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 021, Loop MULE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 002, Loop MULE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 072, Loop MOUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 052, Loop BEAR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 036, Loop BEAR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 044, Loop BEAR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 061, Loop MOUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 045, Loop BEAR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 028, Loop MULE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 068, Loop MOUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 060, Loop MOUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 043, Loop BEAR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 056, Loop BEAR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 009, Loop MULE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 041, Loop BEAR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 020, Loop ELK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 024, Loop MULE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 058, Loop MOUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 014, Loop MULE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 013, Loop MULE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 071, Loop MOUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 051, Loop BEAR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 078, Loop MOUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 016, Loop MULE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 038, Loop BEAR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 003, Loop MULE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 022, Loop ELK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 037, Loop BEAR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 019, Loop MULE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 024, Loop ELK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 027, Loop ELK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 017, Loop MULE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 007, Loop ELK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 012, Loop MULE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 022, Loop MULE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 023, Loop MULE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 070, Loop MOUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
