Apache Trout Campground

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest — lakeside

Location: Springerville, AZ, AZ

Price: From $38 per night

Price range: $38–$425 per night

Rating: 4.7 out of 5 (337 reviews)

Season: May through October

Apache Trout Campground is one of five campgrounds at the Big Lake Recreation Area in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, and is especially popular for group camping. With boating and fishing facilities and a variety of amenities, Apache Trout is a convenient and comfortable place to stay. Plenty of open space, shaded forests and mountain scenery make for a pleasant outdoor experience.The campground is especially convenient for small to medium sized groups.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Showers, Electric Hookups

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/apache-trout-campground to be notified when sites open up.

Apache Trout is one of five campgrounds at Big Lake Recreation Area in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, offering convenient access to a 450-acre lake with boating and fishing facilities. Shaded forests and mountain scenery provide a pleasant outdoor experience with ample open space.

Wildlife alert: Mexican wolves and wapiti (elk) have been documented in the area within the past 8km. Exercise appropriate caution and distance.

Insider tips for Apache Trout Campground: Book early—this is a federal campground and fills up quickly, especially for group camping Most sites have no hookups; confirm full hookup availability when reserving if needed Big Lake is a short walk from the campground, making water-based recreation easily accessible

Skip Apache Trout Campground if: You need hookups—only select sites offer full hookups at this campground. You plan to visit outside May-October—seasonal operations only. You dislike patchy smoke conditions—current NWS forecast shows smoke in the area.

Best time to visit Apache Trout Campground: May through October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only.

Nearby campgrounds: Cutthroat (Pinetop, AZ), Grayling (Pinetop, AZ), Brookchar (Pinetop, AZ), Rainbow (Az) (Pinetop, AZ).

Cell Phone Coverage at Apache Trout Campground

Cell signal at Apache Trout Campground (Springerville, AZ): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

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Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest — lakesideLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Apache Trout Campground

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Springerville, AZ, AZ★ 4.7 (337 reviews)From $38/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Apache Trout Campground is one of five campgrounds at the Big Lake Recreation Area in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, and is especially popular for group camping. With boating and fishing facilities and a variety of amenities, Apache Trout is a convenient and comfortable place to stay. Plenty of open space, shaded forests and mountain scenery make for a pleasant outdoor experience.The campground is especially convenient for small to medium sized groups.

Best for:FamiliesSites:TentRV
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
Max RV80 ft
Hookups31 electric sites
ADA sites21 sites
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsShowers
Recreation
Picnic TablesElectric Hookups
Family & Pets
Flush Toilets

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need hookups—only select sites offer full hookups at this campground✕ You plan to visit outside May-October—seasonal operations only✕ You dislike patchy smoke conditions—current NWS forecast shows smoke in the area

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground and fills up quickly, especially for group camping

Most sites have no hookups; confirm full hookup availability when reserving if needed

Big Lake is a short walk from the campground, making water-based recreation easily accessible

Best: May through October

Campground operates seasonally during these months only

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Mexican wolves and wapiti (elk) have been documented in the area within the past 8km. Exercise appropriate caution and distance.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
928-537-8888· Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
Getting there →

From Pinetop, Arizona, take Highway 260 east 25 miles to Highway 273 south. Follow Highway 273 south 19 miles to Forest Road 8115 (Big Lake Entrance). Turn right and travel 3 miles.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Apache Trout Campground cost per night?+
Apache Trout Campground costs $38–$425 per night. Hookup options: Full hookups available on select sites
What season is Apache Trout Campground open?+
Apache Trout Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Apache Trout Campground have hookups?+
Full hookups available on select sites
What is the maximum RV length at Apache Trout Campground?+
Apache Trout Campground can accommodate RVs up to 80 feet.
How do I make reservations at Apache Trout Campground?+
Apache Trout Campground is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Apache Trout Campground?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Apache Trout Campground is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Apache Trout Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Apache Trout Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Forest Service Concessionaire
Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$38 /night★ 4.7 (337)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Apache Trout Campground cost per night?+
What season is Apache Trout Campground open?+
Does Apache Trout Campground have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Cutthroat

Pinetop, AZ

From $26/night

Grayling

Pinetop, AZ

From $34/night

Brookchar

Pinetop, AZ

From $26/night

Rainbow (Az)

Pinetop, AZ

From $34/night

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