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Bike-packers and backpackers who carry their own water will find 13 quiet sites in dense pine forest, with the Union Valley Bike Trail connecting to Jones Fork and lake fishing nearby, all at no cost.
Price
Free
Booking
First-Come
Sites
13 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
Elevation by Open-Meteo.com, licensed under CC BY 4.0, processed by Outdoorithm.
Price
Free
Booking
First-Come
Sites
13 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
Elevation by Open-Meteo.com, licensed under CC BY 4.0, processed by Outdoorithm.
Lone Rock Campground
4260 Eight Mile Road Camino, CA 95709
Bike-packers and backpackers who carry their own water will find 13 quiet sites in dense pine forest, with the Union Valley Bike Trail connecting to Jones Fork and lake fishing nearby, all at no cost.
No potable water on site is a hard stop for anyone not prepared to haul in every drop, and the bike-or-foot-only access makes this genuinely unusable for drive-in tent campers or anyone with a car full of gear.
Reference information about Lone Rock Campground sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p>Bike-in or Walk-in along the Union Valley trail from Jones Fork Campground or Boat in from Union Valley boatramp.</p><p><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsbdev7_018777.pdf"><strong>Union Valley Bike Trail & Campground Recreation Opportunity Guide</strong></a> (ROG) - This guide contains information, maps, and directions to assist you in enjoying your trip to the Eldorado National Forest.</p>
The elevation is 6,120 ft. The campground is located on the edge of the Chiricahua Wilderness next to Rucker Creek. It is heavily forested with Apache, Ponderosa and Chinuahua pines, Evergreen oaks and Alligator juniper. The campground is aromatic with the smell of pines and is a delightful place to camp. There are bear- proof food containers at each site. Rucker Forest Camp is one of two developed campgrounds in the Rucker Canyon Recreation Area and the only one that met the selection criteria. This is bear country; practice safe food storage techniques.
The parking aprons are dirt. The RV waste station is 0.1 miles in from the beginning of Forest Rt. 74E, on the right. The Forest Service does not recommend RVs with a total length of more than 16 ft. Facilities Flush Toilets: No Hot Showers: No Vaults: Yes Wheelchair Friendly Toilets: No Public Phone: No Playground: No No. Water Spigots (non-site): 1 No. Threaded: 0 Comments: Although there is potable water, its availability is not dependable. Suggest calling the Douglas Ranger District Office to confirm. Water Sports None Hiking: Raspberry Ridge Trail (#228) - 4.6 miles Rucker Trail (#222) - 4.6 miles Both trails are horse and foot only and access the Chiricahua Wilderness (and other trails). Fishing: No
Although there is potable water, its availability is not dependable. Suggest calling the Douglas Ranger District Office to confirm.
The parking aprons are dirt. The RV waste station is 0.1 miles in from the beginning of Forest Rt. 74E, on the right. The Forest Service does not recommend RVs with a total length of more than 16 ft.
From Elfrida, AZ, take US Rt. 191 north 4.9 miles to Rucker Canyon Rd. (a dirt road). Turn right (east) onto Rucker Canyon Rd. and go 15.3 miles to "T" intersection (Forest Rt. 74). Turn left onto Rt. 74 and go 3.6 miles to "Y" intersection (W. Rucker Canyon Rd.). Bear right onto W. Rucker Canyon Rd. and go 3.2 miles to Forest Rt. 74E. Turn left onto Rt. 74E and go 5.5 miles to campground. NOTE: Starting with Rucker Canyon Rd., all access roads to the campground are well maintained dirt roads. On Forest Rt. 74E, there are several creeks crossing the road, which, depending on the time of year, may have to be forded. There is one dip on Rt. 74E that may cause the rear end of some travel trailers to drag.
Availability, what to pack, similar spots — ask anything and get an instant answer.
Summer brings the most reliable conditions. Daytime temperatures reach the mid-70s to low 80s, dropping into the 40s and 50s at night. June through September offers dry trails, accessible creek fishing, and comfortable evening temperatures for stargazing. The campground operates with limited services during this window. Spring can be muddy from snowmelt. Weekends see more visitors, but the bike-or-foot-only access keeps crowds smaller than at roadside campgrounds.
June–September offers the most reliable conditions; dry trails and mild daytime temps.
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com, licensed under CC BY 4.0, processed by Outdoorithm.
Dry campground no water on site. Walk, bike, or boat-in only.
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Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, and timing, compiled by Outdoorithm from public reviews and operator information.
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