Upper Hospital Flat Group Site

Coronado National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: Safford, AZ, AZ

Price: From $25 per night

Rating: 4 out of 5 (0 reviews)

Season: May through October

Upper Hospital Flat is a great place for groups to escape the summer heat of surrounding deserts and retreat to a scenic meadow in the Pinaleño Mountains of southeastern Arizona. The area is known for camping, scenic driving, picnicking, birding, wildlife viewing, hiking, mountain biking and history. In the 1880s, the campground served as the site for a field hospital for ailing soldiers from nearby Fort Grant, hence its name.

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

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Fishing, Firewood for Sale

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/upper-hospital-flat-group-site to be notified when sites open up.

Upper Hospital Flat is a scenic group site in the Pinaleño Mountains offering relief from desert heat at high elevation, with activities including hiking, biking, fishing, and wildlife viewing. Campers consistently praise the breathtaking scenery and pristine mountain environment.

Wildlife alert: American Black Bear, Mount Graham Red Squirrel, American Elk, Abert's Squirrel, White-nosed Coati, Mexican Spotted Owl, Chihuahuan Mountain Kingsnake present in area

Insider tips for Upper Hospital Flat Group Site: Book early — this is a federal campground with limited availability Plan for altitude adjustment; multiple reviews mention the elevation requires acclimatization Only 1 group site available; verify group size accommodations before booking

Skip Upper Hospital Flat Group Site if: You need hookups — no hookups available at this site. You visit outside May-October — seasonal operations only. You're camping solo or with a small group — this is designated as a group site.

Best time to visit Upper Hospital Flat Group Site: May-October — Official operating season; cooler mountain temperatures provide relief from surrounding desert heat.

Nearby campgrounds: Treasure Park - East (Safford, AZ), Lower Twilight Group Site (Safford, AZ), Upper Arcadia (Safford, AZ), Stockton Pass (Safford, AZ).

Cell Phone Coverage at Upper Hospital Flat Group Site

Cell signal at Upper Hospital Flat Group Site (Safford, 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›Upper Hospital Flat Group Site
Upper Hospital Flat Group Site — photo 1
Upper Hospital Flat Group Site — photo 2
Upper Hospital Flat Group Site — photo 3
Coronado National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Upper Hospital Flat Group Site

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Safford, AZ, AZ★ 4 (0 reviews)From $25/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Upper Hospital Flat is a great place for groups to escape the summer heat of surrounding deserts and retreat to a scenic meadow in the Pinaleño Mountains of southeastern Arizona. The area is known for camping, scenic driving, picnicking, birding, wildlife viewing, hiking, mountain biking and history. In the 1880s, the campground served as the site for a field hospital for ailing soldiers from nearby Fort Grant, hence its name.

Best for:AnglersHikersWildlife watchersFamiliesSites: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
Max RV40 ft
HookupsNo hookups.
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsFirewood for Sale
Recreation
Picnic Tables
Family & Pets
Fishing

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 — no hookups available at this site✕ You visit outside May-October — seasonal operations only✕ You're camping solo or with a small group — this is designated as a group site

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground with limited availability

Plan for altitude adjustment; multiple reviews mention the elevation requires acclimatization

Only 1 group site available; verify group size accommodations before booking

Best: May-October

Official operating season; cooler mountain temperatures provide relief from surrounding desert heat

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, Mount Graham Red Squirrel, American Elk, Abert's Squirrel, White-nosed Coati, Mexican Spotted Owl, Chihuahuan Mountain Kingsnake present in area

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
928-428-4150· Coronado National Forest
Getting there →

From Safford, Arizona: Take State Route 191 south for 6 miles. Turn right onto State Route 366/Swift Trail and travel 23.3 miles to the Upper Hospital Group Site entrance on the right (MM 137.2). From Tucson, Arizona: Take I-10 east for 90 miles. Take exit 352 for State Route 191, and turn left toward Safford. Drive 26.3 miles north and turn left on State Route 366/Swift Trail. Continue for 23.3 miles to the Upper Hospital Group Site entrance on the right (MM 137.2).

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

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Upper Hospital Flat Group Site cost per night?+
Upper Hospital Flat Group Site costs $25 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Upper Hospital Flat Group Site open?+
Upper Hospital Flat Group Site is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Upper Hospital Flat Group Site have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Upper Hospital Flat Group Site?+
Upper Hospital Flat Group Site can accommodate RVs up to 40 feet.
How do I make reservations at Upper Hospital Flat Group Site?+
Upper Hospital Flat Group Site 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 Upper Hospital Flat Group Site?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Upper Hospital Flat Group Site is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Upper Hospital Flat Group Site open, and what are check-in times?+
Upper Hospital Flat Group Site is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
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●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.

$25 /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 Upper Hospital Flat Group Site cost per night?+
What season is Upper Hospital Flat Group Site open?+
Does Upper Hospital Flat Group Site have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Forest campground camping

Treasure Park - East

Safford, AZ

From $25/night

Lower Twilight Group Site

Safford, AZ

From $25/night

Upper Arcadia

Safford, AZ

From $30/night

Stockton Pass

Safford, AZ

From $25/night

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