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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
2100 Houston Mesa Rd PAYSON AZ 85541
2100 Houston Mesa Rd Payson AZ 85541
For campground inquiries, please call: 928-468-7135
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
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.