Brookchar
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest — lakeside, fishing
Location: Pinetop, AZ, AZ
Price: From $26 per night
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (22 reviews)
Season: May through October
Brookchar Campground is tucked on the banks of Big Lake in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona. The campground is a small, tent-only facility comprised entirely of walk-in sites. Of the lake’s five campgrounds, Brookchar is nearest to the water.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Restrooms, Showers, Dump Station, Camp Host, Fishing, Boat Launch, Firewood for Sale
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/brookchar to be notified when sites open up.
Brookchar is a small, tent-only campground on the banks of Big Lake in Arizona's White Mountains, nearest to the water among five campgrounds on the lake. Big Lake is one of Arizona's top trout fishing lakes stocked with rainbow, cutthroat, brook and Apache trout.
Wildlife alert: Mexican Wolf, Wapiti, Coyote, American Badger, Dusky Grouse, and garter snakes present in the area
Insider tips for Brookchar: Book early as a federal campground with only 12 sites All sites are walk-in tent sites on the banks of Big Lake Boat launch and rentals available for direct lake access
Skip Brookchar if: You need RV hookups - no hookups available. You plan to camp outside May through October - seasonal operations only. You prefer larger campgrounds - only 12 total sites.
Best time to visit Brookchar: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.
Nearby campgrounds: Grayling (Pinetop, AZ), Cutthroat (Pinetop, AZ), Rainbow (Az) (Pinetop, AZ), Winn (Greer, AZ).
Cell Phone Coverage at Brookchar
Cell signal at Brookchar (Pinetop, 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.
Brookchar Campground is tucked on the banks of Big Lake in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona. The campground is a small, tent-only facility comprised entirely of walk-in sites. Of the lake’s five campgrounds, Brookchar is nearest to the water.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early as a federal campground with only 12 sites
All sites are walk-in tent sites on the banks of Big Lake
Boat launch and rentals available for direct lake access
Campground operates seasonally May through October only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
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 2 miles.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#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, speakableHow much does Brookchar cost per night?+
What season is Brookchar open?+
Does Brookchar have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Brookchar?+
How do I make reservations at Brookchar?+
What is the cell service like at Brookchar?+
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Official resources
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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