Spillway (Az)

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: Forest Lakes, AZ, AZ

Price: From $36 per night

Price range: $36–$190 per night

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (260 reviews)

Season: May through October

Spillway Campground is on the shores of popular Woods Canyon Lake near the town of Heber in north central Arizona. Situated in a pine forest with plenty of shade, the campground has individual campsites as well as one group campsite for small gatherings. Given its proximity to the lake, hiking trails and scenic areas, Spillway is a convenient getaway for anglers, boaters, hikers, families and photographers.Woods Canyon Lake is one of seven lakes in the Rim Lakes Recreation Area, and one of the m

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

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Restrooms, Showers, Electric Hookups, Fishing

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

Spillway Campground sits on the shores of Woods Canyon Lake in a pine forest at 7,000 feet elevation, offering excellent fishing, boating, and hiking opportunities. Google reviews consistently praise the stunning scenery, well-maintained facilities, and helpful camp hosts.

Wildlife alert: American Black Bear, Wapiti, Pronghorn, and Wandering Garter Snake present in the area. Steller's Jay, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and American Three-toed Woodpecker also documented.

Insider tips for Spillway (Az): Book early — this is a popular federal campground with only 24 sites and limited availability, especially weekends. Bring your own boat or rent locally to maximize the lake fishing and recreation opportunity. Visit on weekdays for a quieter experience with less crowding.

Skip Spillway (Az) if: You need full RV hookups — most sites have no hookups, suitable only for self-contained RVs.. You prefer non-seasonal campgrounds — Spillway closes November through April.. You dislike crowds — weekends book solid and become hectic..

Best time to visit Spillway (Az): May-October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only.. Weekdays — Reviewers report weekdays are serene and quiet, while weekends can be overcrowded and hectic..

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

Cell Phone Coverage at Spillway (Az)

Cell signal at Spillway (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
CamperWatch›AZ›Spillway (Az)
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Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Spillway (Az)

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Forest Lakes, AZ, AZ★ 4.6 (260 reviews)From $36/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Spillway Campground is on the shores of popular Woods Canyon Lake near the town of Heber in north central Arizona. Situated in a pine forest with plenty of shade, the campground has individual campsites as well as one group campsite for small gatherings. Given its proximity to the lake, hiking trails and scenic areas, Spillway is a convenient getaway for anglers, boaters, hikers, families and photographers.Woods Canyon Lake is one of seven lakes in the Rim Lakes Recreation Area, and one of the most visited.

Best for:AnglersHikersBoatersFamiliesSites: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 RV45 ft
HookupsNo hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
ADA sites22 sites
Pull-throughsAvailable
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

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

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 have no hookups, suitable only for self-contained RVs.✕ You prefer non-seasonal campgrounds — Spillway closes November through April.✕ You dislike crowds — weekends book solid and become hectic.

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a popular federal campground with only 24 sites and limited availability, especially weekends.

Bring your own boat or rent locally to maximize the lake fishing and recreation opportunity.

Visit on weekdays for a quieter experience with less crowding.

Best: May-October

Campground operates seasonally during these months only.

Best: Weekdays

Reviewers report weekdays are serene and quiet, while weekends can be overcrowded and hectic.

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: American Black Bear, Wapiti, Pronghorn, and Wandering Garter Snake present in the area. Steller's Jay, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and American Three-toed Woodpecker also documented.

Location

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

From Payson, Arizona, take Highway 260 northeast toward Heber. Turn left (west) onto Forest Road 300 directly across from the Rim Visitor Information Station and follow for 5 miles. Turn right at Woods Canyon Lake Road. Spillway is on the right, another 0.75 miles further.

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 Spillway (Az) cost per night?+
Spillway (Az) costs $36–$190 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is Spillway (Az) open?+
Spillway (Az) is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Spillway (Az) have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at Spillway (Az)?+
Spillway (Az) can accommodate RVs up to 45 feet.
How do I make reservations at Spillway (Az)?+
Spillway (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 Spillway (Az)?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Spillway (Az) is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Spillway (Az) open, and what are check-in times?+
Spillway (Az) is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Forest Service ConcessionairePrint Facility MapMap of Spillway Campground 4/2023
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.

$36 /night★ 4.6 (260)
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 Spillway (Az) cost per night?+
What season is Spillway (Az) open?+
Does Spillway (Az) have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Woods Canyon Lake Group

Forest Lakes, AZ

From $275/night

Aspen (Az)

Forest Lakes, AZ

From $35/night

Crook Campground

Forest Lakes, AZ

From $330/night

Mogollon Campground

Overgaard, AZ

From $18/night

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