USDA Forest Service · Arizona

Upper Twilight Group Site

USDA Forest Service · Arizona, United States

Open on the map Drive there Reserve Directions
Sites
1
Hookups
1 no hookups
Season
Year-round
Group sites
Yes
Restrooms
Yes
Pets
Yes
Elevation
7,431 ft
Dark sky
Bortle class 1
Cell coverage
T-Mobile weak · Verizon weak · AT&T good (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
Access road
TWILIGHT (NFSR 819) · improved native material · suitable for passenger cars
Lake
Coronado National Forest
Nearest town
Safford
Address
711 14th Ave., Ste D, Safford, AZ, 85546
Phone
928-428-4150
Activities
Biking, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Picnicking, Ranger Station, Scenic Drive, Visitor Center, Wildlife Viewing

1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.

About

Overview

At an elevation of 7,400 feet, Upper Twilight Group Site offers groups a secluded camping escape from the summer desert heat. The scenic mountain setting is a great base for hiking, wildlife viewing and picnicking. The facility sits along the Swift Trail in southeastern Arizona, adjacent to Lower Twilight Group Site.

Recreation

The campground lies along the Swift Trail Scenic Drive, which takes visitors from the Sonoran Desert at 2,900 feet to alpine meadows and forest on the 9,000+ foot ridges of the Pinaleño Range. Because of its diverse habitat, the area is well-known for birding and wildlife watching.

The Swift Trail provides access to a number of hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking trails, along with several other campgrounds that invite you for an afternoon picnic. A trip up to Rigg’s Lake, stocked with trout by Arizona Game & Fish, or to the Columbine Visitors Center could make a worth-while day trip as well.

Facilities

Upper Twilight can accommodate a single group of up to 50 guests. Amenities include vault toilets, parking areas for up to six vehicles, picnic tables, and a group campfire ring with a grill. Bear-proof food lockers and trash cans are provided to keep visitors and wildlife safe. Dead-and-downed firewood may be collected in and around the campsite.

Natural Features

The campground lies beneath a nice canopy of ponderosa pine trees in the scenic Pinaleño Mountains in Coronado National Forest. Temperatures are very pleasant in summer compared to the heat of surrounding lowers deserts.

The Coronado National Forest covers 1.78 million acres of southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Elevations range from 3,000 to 10,720 feet in 12 widely scattered mountain ranges, or "sky islands," that rise dramatically from the desert floor, supporting biologically diverse plant communities.

Nearby Attractions

The Mount Graham Wilderness Study Area, which includes the 10,720-foot Mount Graham, the tallest mountain in southern Arizona. Columbine Visitors Center, Riggs Lake, and a variety of trails can be accessed along the Swift Trail Scenic Drive.

The town of Safford is approximately a 45 minute drive from the Twilight campground, heading north on SR 191. Safford is home to our Ranger Station, where you can go to find information about trails, camping, hunting and fishing, and other questions you may have about our district (open Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm).

Charges & Cancellations

Please review the Rules & Reservations Policies page on recreation.gov

Fees

This site has a $25 per night fee and a $5 per vehicle per night fee. Your check-out through recreation.gov will only include the Nightly/Daily rate. You must pay the per vehicle fee by cash or check upon arrival at the designated Fee Station.

Weather, month by month

MonthTypical highTypical lowColdest nightHottest dayYears with a night below 32°F
January47°28°16°63°11 of 11
February51°29°15°68°11 of 11
March57°34°19°77°8 of 11
April68°41°28°80°5 of 11
May74°48°36°85°0 of 11
June86°59°48°93°0 of 11
July87°64°56°93°0 of 11
August81°60°53°91°0 of 11
September77°57°47°88°0 of 11
October68°45°33°81°0 of 10
November57°37°19°71°5 of 10
December51°30°18°62°9 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

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.