Horseshoe (Az)

Tonto National Forest — lakeside, fishing

Location: Scottsdale, AZ, AZ

Price: From $20 per night

Rating: 4 out of 5 (0 reviews)

Season: May through October

Horseshoe Campground is farther up the road from Mesquite Campground. Offering more developed campground sites with picnic tables, fire pits and access to the Verde River at campsites 11 and 12. Gorgeous vistas of surrounding mountains and the Verde River are offered along the path for families to enjoy.

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

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Drinking Water, Fishing

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

Horseshoe Campground offers developed sites with direct access to the Verde River at campsites 11 and 12, featuring picnic tables and fire pits with gorgeous mountain vistas. Real campers praise it as an amazing fishing spot with nice natural riverside areas, though the remote location requires high-clearance vehicles.

Wildlife alert: Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake, Bobcat, and Gilded Flicker present in area. Use caution during hikes and keep distance from wildlife.

Insider tips for Horseshoe (Az): Book early — this is a popular federal campground with limited sites Bring high-clearance or 4WD vehicle; road to campground is rough and requires slow driving Prioritize campsites 11 and 12 for river access and better shade; bring canopies for other sites Bring plenty of water and shade equipment — most sites have limited natural shade

Skip Horseshoe (Az) if: You have a low-clearance vehicle; the access road is rough and bumpy. You require full hookups; no hookups available at this campground. You visit outside May-October; seasonal operations only. You want a developed, well-maintained facility; Google reviews note neglected appearance in some areas.

Best time to visit Horseshoe (Az): May-October — Official operating season per RIDB; avoid extreme heat by visiting earlier in season (May-June) or later (September-October).

Nearby campgrounds: Mesquite (Az) (Scottsdale, AZ), C C C (Az) Tonto Nf (Scottsdale, AZ), Cave Creek Group Site (Scottsdale, AZ), Riverside Campground (Az) (Scottsdale, AZ).

Cell Phone Coverage at Horseshoe (Az)

Cell signal at Horseshoe (Az) (Scottsdale, 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
CamperWatch›AZ›Horseshoe (Az)
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Tonto National Forest — lakeside, fishingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Horseshoe (Az)

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Scottsdale, AZ, AZ★ 4 (0 reviews)From $20/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Horseshoe Campground is farther up the road from Mesquite Campground. Offering more developed campground sites with picnic tables, fire pits and access to the Verde River at campsites 11 and 12. Gorgeous vistas of surrounding mountains and the Verde River are offered along the path for families to enjoy.

Best for:AnglersFamiliesSites:Tent
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
HookupsNo hookups.
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsFishing
Recreation
Picnic Tables
Family & Pets
Drinking Water

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 have a low-clearance vehicle; the access road is rough and bumpy✕ You require full hookups; no hookups available at this campground✕ You visit outside May-October; seasonal operations only✕ You want a developed, well-maintained facility; Google reviews note neglected appearance in some areas

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a popular federal campground with limited sites

Bring high-clearance or 4WD vehicle; road to campground is rough and requires slow driving

Prioritize campsites 11 and 12 for river access and better shade; bring canopies for other sites

Bring plenty of water and shade equipment

most sites have limited natural shade

Best: May-October

Official operating season per RIDB; avoid extreme heat by visiting earlier in season (May-June) or later (September-October)

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: Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake, Bobcat, and Gilded Flicker present in area. Use caution during hikes and keep distance from wildlife.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
N/A· Tonto National Forest
Getting there →

This site is 23 miles northeast of Carefree. From Carefree, take Cave Creek Road turn right on Bartlett Dam Road and continue for 6 miles to the junction of FR 205 and FR 19. At this junction, FR 205 turns left and becomes an unmaintained unpaved road. Follow FR 205 for 10 miles towards Horseshoe Reservoir. At the junction of FR 205 and FR 205A, turn right and travel an additional ½ mile to the site.

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 — Tonto National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Tonto National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Horseshoe (Az) cost per night?+
Horseshoe (Az) costs $20 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Horseshoe (Az) open?+
Horseshoe (Az) is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Horseshoe (Az) have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Horseshoe (Az)?+
Horseshoe (Az) is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Horseshoe (Az)?+
Horseshoe (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 Horseshoe (Az)?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Horseshoe (Az) is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Horseshoe (Az) open, and what are check-in times?+
Horseshoe (Az) is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
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.

$20 /night★ 4 (0)
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 Horseshoe (Az) cost per night?+
What season is Horseshoe (Az) open?+
Does Horseshoe (Az) have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Mesquite (Az)

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From $20/night

C C C (Az) Tonto Nf

Scottsdale, AZ

From $20/night

Cave Creek Group Site

Scottsdale, AZ

From $75/night

Riverside Campground (Az)

Scottsdale, AZ

From $20/night

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