Aspen Campground

Welcome to Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. Our campground is 7,700 ft. elevation and is on the Mogollon (pronounced Mo go ee on) Rim. It is one of nine campgrounds managed by Recreation Resource Management of America that we work for. About 30,000 visitors a week are in the area, many of whom camp, fish or hike. Aspen Campground, where we work, has 136 campsites, none of which have electric, water or sewer hookups. Water and restrooms are available throughout the campground and a dump station is up the road about 3/4 of a mile. Employees however have full hookups, thank goodness.

The first image shows one of the roads that winds through the forest - AZ #260 west to Payson and Phoenix. The second photo below shows the view from atop the Rim of the area. It is approximately 3,000 ft. to the canyon floor.


We're scouting out some little groves of Aspen trees to take photos of so we can watch the progression of their colors changing as the weather cools down. CoCo thinks he's died and gone to heaven with all the trees around. Boy is he in for a shock when we get to Mesa and all the asphault and concrete at the RV Resort. The dog park will not suffice for him I'm sure.


A large lake is just a quarter mile from where we are and quite a few trout are caught from the bank every day. Boats are allowed but no big motors on the them. Down at one of the marinas close by, there is a nest of Bald Eagles and their 2 fledglings. We haven't been down to view them yet but plan on doing so soon. Maybe we will even get a photo of them.

It is about 8 miles to the closest post office (Forest Lakes) and about 33 miles to Payson for groceries and laundromat. We can go east past Forest Lakes to Heber-Overgaard, about 28 miles for laundry and groceries also, but is a smaller town and the prices are higher. There is a lakeside store on the Lake here but everything is double in price. At least we get our cubed ice and firewood free.