USDA Forest Service · Arizona
Christopher Creek
USDA Forest Service · Arizona, United States
- Sites
- 44
- Hookups
- 44 with water, 44 no hookups
- Season
- April 1 to November 1
- Max RV length
- 22 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 5,722 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · Verizon weak · T-Mobile good (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- CHRISTOPHER CREEK CAMPGROUND (NFSR 159) · bituminous surface treatment · moderate degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Tonto National Forest
- Nearest town
- PAYSON
- Address
- 1009 East Highway 260, PAYSON, AZ
- Activities
- Camping
44 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
With an elevation of 5640 ft, Christopher Creek Campground's crisp, fresh air and vibrant views are a joy to behold. The campground is tucked along the banks of the spring-fed Christopher Creek, which passes just below the Mogollon Rim. This campground is typically open April-November. The Mogollon Rim, pronounced by locals as "muggy-own," is a 200-mile long cliff in northern Arizona that ranges between 5,000 and 7,000 ft in elevation. The unique landscape was created by extreme erosion and faulting that has sculpted spectacular canyons and buttes. The rim serves as the geographical dividing line between the cool high country above and the hot, dry desert below. Christopher Creek is located in the desert portion, but is balanced by the cool waters of the creek and forested surroundings.
Recreation
After a day of exploring the natural beauty of Rim Country, sit back and relax in the shaded Ponderosa Pine Forest. Each spring, the creek is stocked with rainbow trout, allowing anglers the opportunity to cast their hearts out for rainbows as well as brook and brown trout.
Access the National Recreation Highline trail close by.
Facilities
The family-friendly campground has 43 sites on both sides of the creek, plus a group site that accommodates a maximum of 25 people. Most sites in this campground are reservable with only a few First come First serve sites, for first-come-first-served customers with payment completed using the on-site fee machine. No cash is accepted.
There is a separate day use/picnic area within the campground. Please note if you park and use this area it is a separate fee, covered under the Tonto Pass program.
Natural Features
Christopher Creek provides creek side dwelling in Tonto National Forest, at the base of the Mogollon Rim. Sites are surrounded by ponderosa pines, junipers, oaks and manzanita evergreen shrubs.
Nearby Attractions
The small town of Christopher Creek is just a short drive away and offers a few restaurant options for those who tire of cooking at the campground.. A series of lakes called the Rim Country Lakes are about a 10 minute drive east. Woods Canyon Lake is one of the most popular recreational lakes in the state and offers options for boating as well as a nature trail that loops around the lake's perimeter.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (928) 474-7900.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 48° | 32° | 10° | 64° | 10 of 11 |
| February | 51° | 32° | 8° | 69° | 9 of 11 |
| March | 56° | 36° | 4° | 81° | 8 of 11 |
| April | 66° | 42° | 28° | 80° | 3 of 11 |
| May | 75° | 51° | 38° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 88° | 61° | 49° | 100° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 90° | 66° | 60° | 100° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 85° | 63° | 58° | 99° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 81° | 60° | 46° | 91° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 71° | 47° | 35° | 84° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 64° | 40° | 21° | 75° | 4 of 10 |
| December | 54° | 34° | 6° | 69° | 8 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Sharp Creek · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi · 20 sites
- Fr 9350 Campground · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi
- Lower Tonto Creek · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi · 13 sites
- Upper Tonto Creek · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi · 13 sites
- Mogollon Campground · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi · 26 sites
All public campgrounds in Arizona · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-05-22. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.