4.41150 reviewsPrice
$20 - $40/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
10 campsites
Season
Open seasonally from...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Price
$20 - $40/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
10 campsites
Season
Open seasonally from...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
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General Hitchcock Campground, Santa Catalina Ranger District, Coronado National Forest, Tucson, AZ
Birders, hikers, and Tucson locals wanting a cool forest escape without driving far. The Green Mountain Trail starts right here, fall days hit the mid-60s, and regulars call it their favorite Mt. Lemmon spot. Site 11 is the most spacious; arrive early on weekends since it's first
Bringing an RV or trailer: both are prohibited. Also a tough sell if vault toilet smell is a dealbreaker for you, or if you need potable water on-site. Road noise bothers reviewers on sites closest to the highway, and no camp host means rowdy neighbors are a real possibility on b
Reference information about General Hitchcock Campground sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p><img alt="General Hitchcock Campground" src="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/fseprd767422.jpg" title="General Hitchcock Campground" /></p><p>This small, sheltered campground is tucked away just off the <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coronado/recarea/?recid=25628">Catalina Highway</a>, along the rocky streambed that forms the floor of upper <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coronado/recarea/?recid=25612">Bear Canyon</a>. Campsites are nestled under a canopy of ponderosa pines, junipers and oaks. Some sites are located right along Bear Creek among large rocks. The Creek generally only flows during rainy periods or during the Spring snowmelt, but be vigilant of flash floods.</p>
Tucked away in a canyon. shady setting, picturesque streambed, and sheltered sites . Tables and fire grills.
The elevation is 5,700 ft. This is an attractive, heavily wooded campground nestled in a dell beside a seasonal creek. The trees are Evergreen oak and mixture of mature pines. Lantern poles and bear-proof food storage boxes provided. The campground is convenient for many things to see and do in and around Tuscon. Notable among these are the Saguaro National Park, Sabino Canyon, Colossal Cave, and a drive along Catalina Scenic Byway to Mt. Lemmon, all explained below. 1. The Saguaro National Park is divided into two districts - Saguaro East and Saguaro West. Saguaro East is the closest to the campground and is the district the authors visited. It is located at the foot of the Rincoon Mountains and is comprised of an aging Saguaro forest. There is an interesting 8-mile loop drive and 128 miles of trails. 2. Sabino Canyon is referred to as a "desert oasis" in the Coronado National Coronado National Forest 147 Forest. Part of it can be viewed from a privately owned open-air shuttle bus. The ride is 45 minutes and departs from the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center. Call (520) 749-2861 for information and tour schedules. 3. Explore the Colossal Cave, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The cave was discovered in 1879 and is dry or dormant. In other words, due to lack of water, the formations are not growing. Call (520) 647-3299 for additional information. 4. Experience an amazing drive up the Catalina Scenic Byway (a.k.a. Sky Island Scenic Byway/General Hitchcock Hwy.) to Mt. Lemmon. The trip ". . . can be compared to a trip from Mexico to Canada, with vegetation ranging from Saguaro cactus in the lowland deserts to pine, fir, and spruce at the highest elevations." The drive has many gorgeous views of the Santa Catalina Mountains and rises some 5,000 feet above Tucson.
Open beginning October through late April - weather dependent
In Tucson, AZ, on Interstate 10, take the Speedway Blvd. exit (exit 257) to Speedway Blvd. Turn east onto Speedway Blvd. and go 9.2 miles (past University of Arizona) to Pantano Rd. Turn left onto Pantano Rd. and go 1.1 miles to the Tanque Verde Rd. ramp. Bear right onto the ramp and go 1.6 miles (on Tanque Verde Rd.) to Catalina Hwy. Turn left onto Catalina Hwy. and go 16.7 miles to General Hitchcock campground sign. Turn right at sign onto General Hitchcock Rd. into campground.
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Fall brings the most reliable conditions. Days run mid-50s to mid-70s, nights drop into the 30s and 40s. The summer monsoons have usually passed, so afternoon thunderstorms are less common, and trails dry out. Summer nights stay cool at this elevation, but July and August bring lightning risk and possible flash flooding in the creek bed. Winter can dump snow. November overlaps with local hunting seasons. Spring sees snowmelt fill the creek, but mud lingers on uneven ground.
Fall cited as most reliable season: mild days and cool nights; reviewers favor fall visits.
Potable water is not available at this site.
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