USDA Forest Service · Arizona

Cave Creek Group Site

USDA Forest Service · Arizona, United States

Open on the map Drive there Reserve Official page Directions
Sites
1
Hookups
1 no hookups
Season
Year-round
Cost
$75 per night for groups of 1-50 people $150 per night for groups of 51-150 people
Group sites
Yes
Drinking water
No
Restrooms
Yes
Elevation
3,442 ft
Dark sky
Bortle class 3
Cell coverage
T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
Access road
CAVE CREEK GROUP (NFSR 240) · native material · suitable for passenger cars
Lake
Tonto National Forest
Nearest town
Scottsdale
Address
40202 N Cave Creek Rd, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262
Phone
480-595-3300
Activities
Camping, Crawfishing, Hiking, Hunting, Mountain Biking

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

About

Overview

Cave Creek Group Site is located 20 miles north of Cave Creek and Carefree, Arizona. It is a historic campground constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). This site is a short drive from the blistering heat of Phoenix offering cooler temps, a clear running creek, and plentiful shade to relax and enjoy nature. With food prep areas, grills and covered picnic tables, you're all set for a weekend with your loved ones you'll never forget!

Recreation

At this site you'll enjoy camping, hiking, mountain biking, picnicking, sightseeing, exploring, bird and wildlife viewing, and there is even a game area for volleyball and horseshoes.

Facilities

There are 12 picnic tables, three central grills, a covered food prep area and one serving table. The tables are stoneware consisting of deep crimson jasper interspersed with common fieldstone. There are also two large covered ramadas, four benches, a game area, campfire area, vault toilets, and trash service.

Natural Features

This group campsite is nestled in a narrow valley of juniper and sycamore trees providing abundant shade. Water flowing through seven springs is minimal and only several inches in depth. The area has one large open camping area and a nearby trailhead offering access to over 48 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. Bring your camera during springtime to get photos of the desert wildflowers in bloom.

Nearby Attractions

Across the road, Cave Creek trailhead offers over 48 miles of hiking trails - great for overnight backpacking trips. Bronco Trailhead further south, offers parking for 40 vehicles plus trailers and six horse pens. Just seven miles south is Sears-Kay ruin. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, this site features the remains of an ancient Native American tribe's hilltop village. For spectacular scenic views take Forest Road 562 to Humboldt Mountain. Or, you can simply stay on site and observe nature and hunt for crawdads in the nearby creek.

Weather, month by month

MonthTypical highTypical lowColdest nightHottest dayYears with a night below 32°F
January60°38°28°75°5 of 11
February59°39°21°78°6 of 11
March64°43°31°93°2 of 11
April75°51°37°89°0 of 11
May84°59°49°94°0 of 11
June95°70°57°107°0 of 11
July98°77°68°107°0 of 11
August93°73°63°105°0 of 11
September92°69°57°98°0 of 11
October79°55°46°93°0 of 10
November72°48°34°83°0 of 10
December63°39°27°74°2 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.