4.1892 reviewsPrice
Free
Booking
First-Come
Sites
11 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
No Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Price
Free
Booking
First-Come
Sites
11 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
No Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
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Cherry Road, Camp Verde, AZ
Fall campers wanting a quiet, free base camp in the Prescott National Forest will do well here. Crisp 55-75°F days, thinning crowds after summer, and easy trail access from camp make October the sweet spot. Pack in all water and pack out all trash.
No potable water, no dump station, no hookups, and no cell coverage on any carrier kills this for RVers who need infrastructure. Summer visits also bring beetles, sand fleas, and noisy generator users that reviewers flag repeatedly.
Reference information about Powell Springs Campground sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p>A historic campground built by the CCC, Powell Springs is flanked by Hackberry Wash, a seasonal creek. Ponderosa pines provide shade in the campground, and riparian vegetation grows along the wash.</p><p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/prescottnf/albums/72157710633255827">View photos on Flickr</a></p><p><strong><em>Note: This site closes following especially heavy rain or snow, and when the roads are too icy. If you plan to visit and want to make sure it is open, please contact the Verde Ranger Station: 928-567-4121. When the office is closed, please check the right-hand column under "Alerts and Warnings" to see if there are weather-related closures, and follow the link to see if this site is closed or on a reduced schedule.</em></strong></p><h2>Facilities</h2><ul><li>11 campsites</li><li>12 picnic tables</li><li>2 fireplaces</li><li>9 fire pits</li><li>11 pedestal grills</li><li>No drinking water</li><li>Vault toilet</li><li>No garbage service - Please pack it out </li></ul>
The elevation is 5,300 ft. The campground is located in a pocket of Ponderosa pines, juniper, oaks, Manzanita and other shrubs, which provide privacy between some sites. The campground was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the early 1930s. Chains can be seen at the ground level of some of the Ponderosa pines. Rumor has it that the CCC planted the chains to introduce iron nourishment into the soil. Others say the chains were attached to treasure. Whatever, the chains are there. A trip to the nearby town of Cherry provides a glimpse of an old mining town (no services).
The parking aprons are dirt some of which are eroded. Facilities Flush Toilets: No Hot Showers: No Vaults: Yes Wheelchair Friendly Toilets: No Public Phone: No Playground: No No. Water Spigots (non-site): 0 Water Sports None Hiking: No Fishing: No
The parking aprons are dirt some of which are eroded.
In Camp Verde, AZ, take Interstate 17 south 8.2 miles to Exit 278 (State Rt. 169). At end of exit ramp, turn right onto Rt. 169 (west) and go 5.5 miles to Cherry road sign (Forest Rt. 372). Turn right onto Rt. 372 (dirt) and go 4.5 miles to campground sign. Turn left at sign into campground.
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Fall brings the most reliable conditions: crisp days around 55–75°F, cool nights in the 30s and 40s, and dry trails. Autumn colors appear in the oaks, crowds thin out after summer, and the monsoon risk drops. Spring has wildflowers but less predictable weather. Summer works best before June or after August to avoid peak beetle season, which reviewers mention as a real annoyance. Winter occasionally brings snow. Summer monsoons can send flash floods through the washes.
Snowmelt can lush the wash and scenery; spring listed among best seasons.
No drinking water Vault toilet No garbage service - Please pack it out
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