USDA Forest Service · Arizona
Rainbow (Az)
USDA Forest Service · Arizona, United States
- Sites
- 166
- Hookups
- 121 no hookups
- Season
- May 15 to October 15
- Max RV length
- 180 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 9,131 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
- RAINBOW CG (NFSR 8115C) · asphalt · moderate degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
- Address
- APACHE-SITGREAVES, AZ
- Phone
- 928-537-8888
- Activities
- Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Mountain Biking
166 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Rainbow is the largest campground in the Big Lake Recreation Area in eastern Arizona. Because of its proximity to the lake, size and the many amenities it offers, Rainbow is a favorite for families. Popular activities include hiking, horseback riding and fishing.
Recreation
The campground is adjacent to 450-acre Big Lake, one of Arizona's top fishing lakes. The lake is known for its trout fishing, with rainbow, cutthroat, brook and Apache being the most sought-after species.
The recreation area is also popular for hiking, mountain biking, birding and wildlife viewing. Curious campers can attend educational programs at the recreation area's visitor center.
Facilities
The facility boasts 165 campsites organized into six loops. Four double sites are available for up to 16 people each, which is convenient for larger families, and two single unit accessible sites are also available.
A small store nearby sells gas, food, boat rentals and firewood. A campground host is available on-site for visitor assistance.
Natural Features
Rainbow Campground sits at an elevation of 9,000 feet in the White Mountains. It is a very scenic area, forested with ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, spruce and aspen trees, which provide ample shade.
Summer temperatures are pleasant and cool, a nice respite from the heat of the lower desert. Visitors should come prepared for cool nighttime temperatures and occasional summer thunderstorms.
Nearby Attractions
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. Springerville, Arizona is the closest town to the campground.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 38° | 20° | 0° | 51° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 39° | 20° | -6° | 54° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 44° | 24° | 3° | 70° | 10 of 11 |
| April | 55° | 31° | 19° | 67° | 10 of 11 |
| May | 63° | 39° | 26° | 77° | 4 of 11 |
| June | 75° | 50° | 37° | 85° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 77° | 53° | 47° | 84° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 72° | 51° | 46° | 81° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 68° | 47° | 40° | 75° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 59° | 38° | 25° | 72° | 6 of 10 |
| November | 53° | 30° | 18° | 63° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 44° | 24° | -2° | 56° | 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
- Brookchar · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 13 sites
- Grayling · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 24 sites
- Cutthroat · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 18 sites
- Apache Trout Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 64 sites
- Buffalo Crossing Campground · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi
All public campgrounds in Arizona · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-06-20. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.