Aspen (Az)

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest — lakeside, hiking

Location: Forest Lakes, AZ, AZ

Price: From $35 per night

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (450 reviews)

Season: Memorial Day through Labor Day

Aspen Campground is a scenic hideaway for anglers, boaters, families and photographers, located in north central Arizona near Heber and Payson. It sits in a dense pine and aspen area forest near the shore of Woods Canyon Lake at an elevation of 7,000 ft. With spacious campsites, calm and scenic lake waters, a marina, boat ramp and many amenities, Aspen is one of the most popular camping spots in Arizona.The large and rambling campground offers several camping experiences and environments from ma

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

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Showers, Electric Hookups, Boat Launch, Firewood for Sale

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

Aspen sits at 7,000 ft near Woods Canyon Lake in dense pine and aspen forest, offering scenic water access with a boat ramp and marina. It's one of Arizona's most popular camping spots for trout fishing, boating, and hiking.

Wildlife alert: Expect to see Wapiti/American Elk, Steller's Jays, and Gray-collared Chipmunks in the area. Ruby-crowned Kinglets also present.

Insider tips for Aspen (Az): Book early — it's a federal campground and one of Arizona's most popular spots Most sites have no hookups; confirm self-contained RV capability before booking Firewood available for purchase on-site, so you don't need to bring your own

Skip Aspen (Az) if: You need full RV hookups — most sites lack them. You want to camp outside May 27 - September 5 — it's seasonal only.

Best time to visit Aspen (Az): Memorial Day - Labor Day — Campground operates seasonally during these months only per RIDB data.

Nearby campgrounds: Woods Canyon Lake Group (Forest Lakes, AZ), Mogollon Campground (Overgaard, AZ), Crook Campground (Forest Lakes, AZ), Rim Campground (Overgaard, AZ).

Cell Phone Coverage at Aspen (Az)

Cell signal at Aspen (Az) (Forest Lakes, 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.

CamperWatch›AZ›Aspen (Az)
Aspen (Az) — photo 1
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest — lakeside, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Aspen (Az)

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Forest Lakes, AZ, AZ★ 4.5 (450 reviews)From $35/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Aspen Campground is a scenic hideaway for anglers, boaters, families and photographers, located in north central Arizona near Heber and Payson. It sits in a dense pine and aspen area forest near the shore of Woods Canyon Lake at an elevation of 7,000 ft. With spacious campsites, calm and scenic lake waters, a marina, boat ramp and many amenities, Aspen is one of the most popular camping spots in Arizona.The large and rambling campground offers several camping experiences and environments from marshy meadows to a rocky forest.

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

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMemorial Day through Labor Day
Stay limit14 days
Max RV69 ft
HookupsNo hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
ToiletsVault toilets
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsElectric Hookups
Recreation
Picnic TablesBoat Launch
Family & Pets
ShowersFirewood for Sale

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 full RV hookups — most sites lack them✕ You want to camp outside May 27 - September 5 — it's seasonal only

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

it's a federal campground and one of Arizona's most popular spots

Most sites have no hookups; confirm self-contained RV capability before booking

Firewood available for purchase on-site, so you don't need to bring your own

Best: Memorial Day - Labor Day

Campground operates seasonally during these months only per RIDB data

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: Expect to see Wapiti/American Elk, Steller's Jays, and Gray-collared Chipmunks in the area. Ruby-crowned Kinglets also present.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
928-535-9859· Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
Getting there →

From Payson, take Highway 260 northeast toward Heber. Take a left at the sign for Woods Canyon Lake (Rim Road/Forest Road 300). Follow for about 5 miles and turn right onto the paved road at the sign toward Woods Canyon Lake (there is no road sign). Aspen Campground is about 1 mile down the road on the left.

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.
  • Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Aspen (Az) cost per night?+
Aspen (Az) costs $35 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is Aspen (Az) open?+
Aspen (Az) is open Memorial Day through Labor Day. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Aspen (Az) have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at Aspen (Az)?+
Aspen (Az) can accommodate RVs up to 69 feet.
How do I make reservations at Aspen (Az)?+
Aspen (Az) 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 Aspen (Az)?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Aspen (Az) is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Aspen (Az) open, and what are check-in times?+
Aspen (Az) is open Memorial Day through Labor Day. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Forest Service ConcessionairePrint Facility MapMap of Aspen Campground 4/2023
●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.

$35 /night★ 4.5 (450)
SeasonMemorial Day through Labor Day
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Aspen (Az) cost per night?+
What season is Aspen (Az) open?+
Does Aspen (Az) have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

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