AtoZ Bucket List
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Abandoned & Ghost Towns
Caves
Desert
Forest
Historical & Ancient Ruins
Hot Springs
Lakes & Rivers
National & State Parks
Peaks
Lakes & Rivers
Arizona has more water than most people expect — mountain lakes tucked into the pines of the Mogollon Rim, desert rivers that carve through canyon country, and quiet shorelines that feel a world away from the city. These are places for fishing, swimming, kayaking, camping on the water, and simply sitting next to something that moves. Several of the lakes and rivers in this list are spots we return to year after year.
Alamo Lake Wildlife Area
Alamo Lake Wildlife Area near Wenden, Arizona is a remote desert oasis where the Bill Williams River spreads into a 3,500-acre bass fishing lake surrounded by saguaro-covered mountains — with dispersed camping on secluded beaches and peninsulas, exceptional birdwatching year-round, and wild burros roaming the desert road in.
#Fishing, #Camping, #Lake, #Boating, #BLM, #ArizonaStateParks, #Hiking, #Recreation, #River, #Desert
Apache Lake
Apache Lake, located in the Tonto National Forest, is a scenic reservoir offering both developed and dispersed camping options. Surrounded by steep canyon walls and accessible via the historic Apache Trail, it’s a hidden gem perfect for camping, boating, and outdoor adventures. The Burnt Corral Campground provides 76 campsites, and visitors can also enjoy secluded dispersed campsites with stunning views of the lake and desert landscape.
#Camping, #Boating, #TontoNationalForest, #Lake, #Recreation
Bear Canyon Lake
Bear Canyon Lake is one of the most rewarding dispersed camping destinations on the Mogollon Rim — a beautiful, narrow, canyon-bound lake at 7,560 feet in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, stocked with rainbow trout six times a year, surrounded by mixed conifer and aspen, and tucked far enough off the main road that solitude is almost always guaranteed.
#Camping, #Lake, #Forest, #Fishing
Bear Flat (FR 405)
Bear Flat is one of the Tonto National Forest's most rewarding and least-visited dispersed camping areas — easy forest road access through the pines near Payson, Arizona, with an old homestead site, a spring-fed canyon trail, wild blackberries and bear country solitude on FR 405 and 405A. Tonto Creek is a short drive away with access to a trail leading to the rugged Hellsgate Wilderness.
#Camping, #Fishing, #River, #Forest
Black Canyon Lake
Black Canyon Lake is a scenic 78-acre trout fishing lake on the Mogollon Rim in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest — a quiet alternative to the more visited Rim Lakes, with forested shoreline, electric motor boating, and wild horses known to stop at the water's edge.
#ApacheSitgreaves, #Boating, #Exploring, #Fishing, #Forest, #Hiking, #Lake, #MogollonRim
Black River (Fork Confluence)
The confluence of the East Fork and West Fork Black River in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest is one of Arizona's most rewarding dispersed camping destinations — reached via the short but rough Home Creek Road (FR 8750), with trout fishing, a spillway swimming hole, and genuine high-country solitude at nearly 7,500 feet.
#Camping, #Fishing, #Forest, #Hiking, #River, #ApacheSitgreaves, #Recreation, #Wildlife
C.C. Cragin Reservoir
Camping near C.C. Cragin Reservoir offers a unique escape into nature, where you can enjoy peaceful solitude surrounded by rugged canyon walls, serene waters ideal for kayaking, and the thrill of fishing for rainbow trout, all while being immersed in the diverse wildlife and scenic beauty of the area.
#Boating, #Camping, #Fishing, #Forest, #CoconinoNationalForest
Chevelon Canyon Lake
Chevelon Canyon Lake, nestled on the Mogollon Rim in northern Arizona, is a serene, hidden gem offering fishing, hiking, and camping. Accessible via a challenging hike, this narrow reservoir is surrounded by rugged canyon views, perfect for nature lovers seeking adventure.
#Camping, #Fishing, #Forest, #Hiking, #Lake, #Recreation, #Boating, #MogollonRim
Christopher Creek Campground
Christopher Creek Campground is a classic Mogollon Rim escape tucked along the banks of a spring-fed creek in the Tonto National Forest — ponderosa pines, flowing water, stocked trout, and cool mountain air just 90 minutes from Phoenix at 5,640 feet elevation.
#TontoNationalForest, #Wildlife, #River, #Recreation, #Photography, #Hiking, #Forest, #Exploring, #Camping
Riggs Flat Lake
Riggs Flat Lake is an 11-acre alpine lake at 9,000 feet near the summit of Mount Graham in the Coronado National Forest — stocked with rainbow, brown, and brook trout, surrounded by pine forest and meadow, and sitting at the end of the Swift Trail as a reward for the drive up.
#Camping, #Boating, #Fishing, #Exploring, #Forest, #Hiking, #Lake, #Wildlife, #Photography
West Fork Campground
Discover West Fork Campground in the scenic Black River area of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. At 7,740 feet elevation, this peaceful, undeveloped site offers dappled shade beneath towering pines, abundant wildlife, and opportunities for river play. Open from May to October, this free camping spot invites adventurers seeking a rustic, nature-immersed experience.
#Camping, #Fishing, #River, #Forest
Willow Springs Lake
Willow Springs Lake is the second most visited lake on the Mogollon Rim — a beautiful 158-acre reservoir set in the ponderosa pine forest at 7,500 feet, offering excellent trout and bass fishing, kayaking, and one of the most scenic shoreline views on the rim.
#Boating, #Camping, #Fishing, #Forest, #Hiking, #Lake, #ApacheSitgreaves, #MogollonRim
Woods Canyon Lake
Woods Canyon Lake is the most popular and accessible lake on the Mogollon Rim — a beautiful 158-acre reservoir surrounded by ponderosa pine, stocked weekly with rainbow trout, and equipped with a general store and boat rentals for a full day on the water.
#Boating, #Camping, #Fishing, #Forest, #Hiking, #Lake, #Recreation, #MogollonRim, #ApacheSitgreaves
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Abandoned & Ghost Towns
Caves
Desert
Forest
Historical & Ancient Ruins
Hot Springs
Lakes & Rivers
National & State Parks
Peaks