Directions
From Heber: Travel 25 miles west on State Highway 260. Turn right onto Forest Road 300 which is located directly across from the Rim Visitor Information Station. Travel about 4 miles north of State Highway 260 toward Woods Canyon Lake. Turn right onto Forest Road 105 toward Woods Canyon Lake. Watch for signs for Crook Campground.
From Payson: Travel approximately 30 miles east on State Highway 260. When you top out on the rim, take the first left onto Forest Road 300 directly across the highway from the Rim Visitor Information Station. Travel about 4 miles north. Turn right onto Forest Road 105 toward Woods Canyon Lake. Watch for signs for Crook Campground.
Phone
928-535-9233
Activities
BOATING, CAMPING, FISHING, HIKING, PICNICKING, WILDLIFE VIEWING
Keywords
CROO,APACHE-SITGREAVES NF-FS
Related Link(s)
Overview
This group campground is situated in a tall ponderosa pine forest, just down the road from the popular Woods Canyon Lake in north central Arizona. The shaded campground is a nice hideaway for large groups with opportunities for boaters, anglers, hikers, families and photographers.
Recreation
Popular activities include trout fishing, hiking, boating, cycling, horseback riding, and photography. Woods Canyon Lake is the most popular of four lakes in the Rim Lakes Recreation Area. Woods Canyon Lake only allows electric boat motors. The paved Meadow Trail borders Crook Campground and will bring you about 1 mile north to Woods Canyon Lake or one quarter mile south to the The Rim Lakes Vista and Rim Trail is just a quarter mile from the campground and leads to spectacular views of the Mogollon Rim and surrounding area.
Facilities
The campground is arranged in two loops in a cul-de-sac design. Each has a group area that can host up to 110 campers and 26 vehicles (parallel parking only). The sites can accommodate both RVs and tents, though some areas are less suited for tent camping. A picnic shelter is located in the middle of the group use area. Groceries are available at the Woods Canyon Store, and a dump station is located near the park. Firewood is available for sale at the store and onsite.
Natural Features
The campground is situated a ponderosa pine forest at an elevation of 7,500 feet. Wildlife viewing includes birds, squirrels, deer and elk. Hikers who venture onto nearby trails are afforded expansive views of the land beneath the Mogollon Rim. The Mogollon Rim, pronounced by locals as “muggy-own,” is a 200-mile long escarpment in northern Arizona that ranges between 5,000 and 7,000 ft. in elevation and serves as the geographical divide between the cool high country above and the hot, dry desert below. Summer temperatures can be very pleasant because of the elevation. However, the rainy season often brings afternoon thunderstorms from late June through August. Visitors should come prepared for rain and cool nighttime temperatures.
Nearby Attractions
Gas, food, and groceries are available in Forest Lakes 9 miles east. The nearest full service community is Payson, Arizona, 34 miles west on Highway 260. Visitors can explore endless vistas and take part in many outdoor activities in the surrounding Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, which encompasses 2 million acres of magnificent mountain country in east-central Arizona and New Mexico.
