USDA Forest Service · Arizona
Turney Gulch Group
USDA Forest Service · Arizona, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 no hookups
- Season
- May 1 to October 31
- Max RV length
- 35 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 6,033 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- HORSETHIEF SH AREA (NFSR 000052G) · native material · high clearance vehicles
- Lake
- Prescott National Forest
- Nearest town
- PRESCOTT
- Address
- PRESCOTT NATIONAL FOREST, PRESCOTT, AZ, 86301
- Phone
- 1 (877) 444-6777
- Activities
- Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Turney Gulch is a remote, scenic location for groups of up to 100 people to rest under the stars and towering pines of Prescott National Forest. Site accomodates 30 vehicles or less. The site lies near Horse Thief Lake and is seven miles southeast of the small town of Crown King, Arizona, a former ghost town. Campers can enjoy hunting, fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing and visiting historic sites in the area. To make reservations click on the availability button to the right to book this site or call 1 (877) 444-6777. For general campground questions contact the Bradshaw Ranger District at 1 (928) 443-8000.
Recreation
Campers have no shortage of activities both in and around the campground. The shade of the ponderosas invites guests to picnic and relax at the facility, while the nearby Horsethief Lake allows fishing and boating (electric motors and oars only). Anglers cast for largemouth bass, channel catfish and sunfish. Hunting is available in the surrounding forest, and the nearby Castle Creek Wilderness provides numerous trails for hikers to explore.
Facilities
Turney Gulch is the only group campground near Horse Thief Lake and is close to one family campground. The facility has a rustic mountain feel with a picnic shelter, 15 picnic tables, fire grills and an accessible vault toilet. Trash service is provided for your convenience. Water is available via standpipe in front of the Horesthief Cabin approximately 1 mile down the road at the junction of FSR52 and FSR 52G. The site lies on an unimproved dirt road and the drive can be challenging; campers should use high clearance 4 x4 vehicles to get there.
Natural Features
The facility is situated in a ponderosa pine forest at an elevation of 6,000 feet in the Bradshaw Mountains of north-central Arizona. The forest is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including deer, mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, fox, rabbits, lizards, snakes, bald eagles and other species of birds.
Summer temperatures offer a pleasant relief from the heat of nearby deserts, and winter is cool to cold with occasional snow. Afternoon thunderstorms are possible from late June through mid-September.
Nearby Attractions
The small town of Crown King has a general store with basic supplies.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 51° | 32° | 21° | 66° | 9 of 11 |
| February | 51° | 32° | 15° | 70° | 10 of 11 |
| March | 56° | 36° | 23° | 84° | 7 of 11 |
| April | 65° | 43° | 30° | 79° | 2 of 11 |
| May | 74° | 51° | 38° | 86° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 86° | 61° | 49° | 99° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 90° | 67° | 59° | 100° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 84° | 63° | 54° | 98° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 81° | 60° | 50° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 70° | 48° | 38° | 85° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 64° | 42° | 28° | 73° | 4 of 10 |
| December | 54° | 34° | 21° | 68° | 7 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
- Horsethief Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 1 sites
- Desert Tortoise Campground (Lake Pleasant) · City, County & Regional Parks · 21 mi · 74 sites
- Desert Tortoise Group Campground (Lake Pleasant) · City, County & Regional Parks · 21 mi
- Lake Pleasant 10-Lane Boat-In Camping · City, County & Regional Parks · 21 mi
- Roadrunner Campground (Lake Pleasant) · City, County & Regional Parks · 21 mi · 71 sites
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.