Go if
Anglers and couples or solo campers who want a cool high-desert escape from Phoenix-area heat. Horsethief Lake is steps away and stocked with bass and catfish, the shelters are genuinely charming, and summer nights drop into the 40s.
Price
Free
Booking
First-Come
Sites
15 campsites
Season
Open seasonally from...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
Price
Free
Booking
First-Come
Sites
15 campsites
Season
Open seasonally from...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
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Hazlett Hollow Campground, Crown King, Arizona, 86343
Anglers and couples or solo campers who want a cool high-desert escape from Phoenix-area heat. Horsethief Lake is steps away and stocked with bass and catfish, the shelters are genuinely charming, and summer nights drop into the 40s.
Families with a 4-person-plus tent won't fit in the three-sided shelters, and the rough access road has stopped low-clearance vehicles cold. Water spigots have been found non-operational, so bring your own regardless of what the listing says.
Reference information about Hazlett Hollow Campground sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p>This is a relatively small, semi-primitive campground in the southern end of the Bradshaw Mountains in the Horsethief Basin Area. Ponderosa pine is the dominant vegetation type in the area. One of the most attractive and well-developed campgrounds in the southern Bradshaws. Most of the walls and walks throughout the campground were built of stone during the 1930s by the Civil Conservation Corp (CCC). This site may close early or open late, depending on snowfall.</p><p><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd507675.pdf">History of Hazlett Hollow Campground</a><strong>,</strong> researched and compiled by AARCHER, Inc. (1,523 KB PDF)</p><p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/prescottnf/albums/72157710631431128">View photos on Flickr</a></p><h3>Facilities</h3><ul><li>15 campsites with picnic tables, and grills</li><li>3-sided wooden camping shelters with concrete floors at each site</li><li>No services available</li><!--li>2 vault toilets (1 is accessible)</li><li>Drinking water is available during the open season.</li><li>Garbage service</li--></ul><h4><strong>RVs:</strong><!--4--></h4><ul><li>Maximum vehicle length varies by site from 22-40 feet</li><li>No RV hook-ups</li><!--li>Drinking water is available for use on site, but not for filling RV water tanks</li--></ul><p><strong>High-clearance vehicle</strong> is recommended for those who plan to visit recreation sites in Horsethief Basin.</p><p><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd992456.pdf"><strong>Horsethief Basin Brocure</strong></a> (12.8 MB PDF)</p>
<ul> <li> Sites are designed for 5 people; a maximum of 10 is allowed only to accommodate a single large family.</li> <li> Each campsite usually accommodates one vehicle towing a camp trailer plus one additional vehicle (there is a charge for additional vehicle). Vehicles must be parked in space provided on site - not along side the road.</li> </ul>
The elevation is 6,000 ft. The campground is located in a stand of Ponderosa pines and is one of four (two do not meet the selection criteria) in the Horsethief Basin Recreation Area. Horsethief Lake is nearby. Each site has a wooden lean-to shelter (with cement floor) in which up to five adults can sleep. Each site is also landscaped with attractive stonework and was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s. The understory is grassy and covered with pine needles. The campground has an "Appalachian Mountains" feel to it. Although the roads accessing this campground are less than desirable, the campground and the town of Crown King are worth the trip. Crown King was a gold mining town, then a ghost town, now a community of 80 to 100 permanent residents, most of whom tool around in quads. There are two saloons and a general store (with regular gasoline and limited groceries). One of the saloons has been open for 92 years. Its walls are covered with photos of the old days. The other saloon, besides offering a variety of beverages, serves a $.99 breakfast seven days a week.
Open May 1 through October 31 Prescott National Forest 256
Horsethief Lake is 3.5 acres. Power boats limited to electric motors. Hiking: No Fishing: Bass, catfish (stocked) and Redear Sunfish
Horsethief Lake is 3.5 acres. Power boats limited to electric motors.
Some parking aprons are dirt and others are paved.
In Crown King, AZ, take dirt road (Forest Rt. 52) south for 0.6 miles to "Y" intersection (Horsethief sign). Bear left and go 6.9 miles to campground sign. Turn left into campground. NOTE: (1) The road (Forest Rt. 52) from Crown King is dirt and "unimproved primitive." It is single-lane, rocky, VERY rough and not RV friendly. In fact, about the first 3 miles would be rough on family sedans, but with caution, the road is passable. High clearance vehicles will do best on this road. (2) No matter how the town of Crown King is accessed, there are over 20 miles of dirt roads varying from two-lane to single-lane to get there.
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Summer brings the best camping conditions, with warm afternoons in the mid-70s to upper-80s and cool nights dropping into the 40s and 50s. This is peak season for fishing and boating, with trails fully accessible and moderate to busy weekend crowds. Early spring and late fall see temperatures as low as 28°F, with snow and rain showers common. The elevation provides a reliable escape from desert heat below.
Summer offers best conditions (mid-70s to upper-80s days, cool nights); peak season May–Oct.
Hazlett Hollow Campground offers a semi-primitive camping experience with 15 campsites, each equipped with picnic tables, grills, and 3-sided wooden camping shelters with concrete floors. Water is available during the open season from spigots located throughout the campground. There are two vault toilets, one of which is accessible, and campers are required to pack out their trash. No additional services are provided, such as RV hookups or garbage service.
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