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Black Canyon Rim Campground

Black Canyon Rim Campground in tall pines on the Mogollon Rim
Shaded site Loop and pads Forest floor textures
Mogollon Rim Developed Family Lakes nearby
Overview

A smaller FR 300 / FR 86 campground for Black Canyon Lake, General Crook Trail access, and a less built-up Rim stay than Canyon Point.

Black Canyon Rim is not the big all-purpose Rim campground. It sits farther off AZ-260, down the FR 300 / FR 86 side of the corridor, and feels more like a pine-forest stop tied to Black Canyon Lake than a central hub for everything.

Choose it when you want a quieter, simpler base with sandy ground, ponderosa shade, lake access a short drive away, and trail or history stops close to camp. Pick Canyon Point instead if you need the larger campground, electric-site options, or a more polished base for Woods Canyon and Willow Springs.

Best for
Black Canyon Lake, General Crook Trail access, smaller developed sites, and a quieter FR 300 feel.
Watch out for
Sand and gravel access roads, weekend lake traffic, monsoon gusts, and less big-campground infrastructure than Canyon Point.

Best version of the trip: treat camp as the quiet side of the day, then use Black Canyon Lake and the nearby trail/history stops for the outing.

At a Glance
Region
Heber - Mogollon Rim
Elevation
~7,600 ft
Access
AZ-260 to FR 300, then FR 86
Campsites
Smaller developed sites with tables and fire rings
Facilities
Potable water in season, vault toilets, trash service
Nearby
Black Canyon Lake, Hangman Trail, and General Crook Trail
Season
Typically May through mid-October
Reservations
Recommended during peak season
Getting There

From AZ-260, turn onto FR 300 south of the highway, then use FR 86 to reach the campground. The approach is still straightforward, but it feels more like a Rim road campground than a paved-loop stop right off 260.

  1. Watch for elk on 260, especially early and late.
  2. Expect sand and gravel inside the access route and campground area.
  3. If Black Canyon Lake is the plan, arrive early enough to set camp before the day-use traffic builds.
Camping Info
  • Sites: shaded pine sites on relatively flat, sandy ground, best for tents and smaller to mid-size rigs.
  • Water and toilets: potable water in season, vault toilets, and trash service.
  • Fires: in rings only when restrictions allow.
  • Lakes: Black Canyon Lake is the main nearby water draw, roughly a short drive northeast on FR 86.
  • Trails/history: General Crook Trail, Hangman Trail, and the nearby Pleasant Valley War grave site give this page its own reason to exist.
  • Cell: usually better near the highway, less reliable farther in.
My Notes

Black Canyon Rim should not read like a duplicate of Canyon Point. The reason to choose it is the smaller, quieter Black Canyon Lake side of the Rim: sandy sites, tall pines, FR 86 access, and enough nearby trail/history interest to make camp feel tied to one specific pocket.

  • Choose this over Canyon Point: you want Black Canyon Lake, a smaller campground, and less main-corridor energy.
  • Choose Canyon Point instead: you want the larger developed base, electric-site options, and easier access to Willow Springs or Woods Canyon.
  • Photo note: the campground photos should lean into sandy forest floor, tall trunks, and simple shaded sites rather than pretending this is a dramatic overlook camp.
Choose It / Skip It
Good fit
Black Canyon Lake, General Crook Trail access, smaller developed sites, and a quieter FR 300 feel.
Bad fit
Sand and gravel access roads, weekend lake traffic, monsoon gusts, and less big-campground infrastructure than Canyon Point.
Gear I Used

Gear that actually helped on this trip.

Map
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