USDA Forest Service · Arizona
Brookchar
USDA Forest Service · Arizona, United States
- Sites
- 13
- Season
- May 15 to October 31
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 8,996 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- BIG LAKE STORE (NFSR 8115A) · asphalt · moderate degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
- Nearest town
- Eagar
- Address
- APACHE-SITGREAVES, AZ
- Phone
- 928-735-7313
- Activities
- Boating, Camping, Fishing
13 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Brookchar Campground is tucked on the banks of Big Lake in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona. The campground is a small, tent-only facility comprised entirely of walk-in sites. Of the lake's five campgrounds, Brookchar is nearest to the water. The stocked lake draws anglers, and boat rentals and a boat ramp make it easy for campers to enjoy the lake's blue waters.
Recreation
Big Lake is one of Arizona's top trout fishing lakes, with rainbow, cutthroat, brook and Apache trout being the most sought-after species. The recreation area is also popular for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, birding and wildlife viewing.
Facilities
The facility is small, with 12 tent-only, walk-to campsites. Campfire rings and restrooms are provided. A campground host resides on-site for visitor assistance.
A dump station, store, firewood, gas, food and boat rentals are located a short, half-mile drive away, and showers are just 1 mile away.
Natural Features
The campground sits in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest at an elevation of 9,100 feet. The area is scenic, forested with ponderosa pine, fir, spruce and aspen, interspersed with high elevation meadows.
Summer temperatures are pleasant and cool, a nice respite from the heat of lower deserts. Visitors should come prepared for afternoon thunderstorms and cool nighttime temperatures.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (928) 537-8888.
Nearby Attractions
Several other lakes can be found in the surrounding area. Visitors can also 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.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 39° | 21° | 0° | 52° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 40° | 20° | -6° | 55° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 44° | 25° | 4° | 70° | 10 of 11 |
| April | 55° | 32° | 19° | 67° | 10 of 11 |
| May | 63° | 39° | 27° | 77° | 3 of 11 |
| June | 76° | 50° | 38° | 86° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 77° | 54° | 47° | 84° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 72° | 51° | 47° | 82° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 68° | 48° | 40° | 75° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 60° | 39° | 25° | 73° | 5 of 10 |
| November | 53° | 31° | 18° | 64° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 44° | 25° | -2° | 57° | 10 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
- Grayling · USDA Forest Service · 0 mi · 24 sites
- Cutthroat · USDA Forest Service · 0 mi · 18 sites
- Apache Trout Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 64 sites
- Rainbow (Az) · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 166 sites
- Buffalo Crossing Campground · USDA Forest Service · 7 mi
All public campgrounds in Arizona · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.