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Aspen Campground - Woods Canyon Lake

Statistics Elevation
7620' 
Season
 May - Oct.
Days Limit
14
Fee
Units
136
Trailer Limit
45'
GPS Location
 34° 19' 34.58"N
110° 56' 43.26"W
Access
Paved 
 
Amenities Potable Water
 Yes
Waste Disposal
 Nearby
Restrooms
Vault
Showers
Reservations
Store Nearby
Yes 
Campsite Grills
 Yes
Campsite Tables
Yes
Fire Rings
Yes
Utility Hookups
No
Information
928-535-7300
Firewood
Camp Host
Fishing Supplies
Store
Laundry
Payson
Gas & Propane
Forest Lakes
ATV Use
No
Visitor Center
Nearby
Ranger District
Black Mesa
Fish Species Rainbow Trout
Yes
Cutthroat Trout
-
Brook Trout
-
Brown Trout
-
Apache Trout
-
Crappie
-
Yellow Bass
-
Flathead Catfish
-
Tilapia
-
Yellow Perch
-
Carp
-
Redear Sunfish
-
Bluegill
-
Green Sunfish
-
Walleye
-
Northern Pike
-
Channel Catfish
-
Sunfish
-
Smallmouth Bass
-
Largemouth Bass
-
Striped Bass
-
White Bass
-
Arctic Grayling
-
Bullhead
-
Fly and Lure Only
-
Acreage
52
Body of Water Depth
-
Catch and Release Areas
-
Boats Allowed
Yes
Motor Limit
Electric
Boat Rentals
Yes




 

Woods Canyon Lake, the most popular camping area in the entire state, has much to offer. Virtually every amenity is either available on site or within a few miles. The Aspen Campground is set just 1/2 mile south of the lake and has 136 campsites which are all nicely spaced, you won't feel too crowded, even for such a large campground. Most of the campsites are available for reservation (click the Book Now icon above) and 27 campsites are first come first served campsites. The campground is well shaded by ponderosa pine, oak, aspen and douglas firs. Bring your bikes for a nice ride through the campground and maybe you will see some elk in the area. Some of the popularity of this campground is it's proximity to Phoenix, approximately a 2.5 hour drive. This campground fills quickly on summer weekends and sometimes will fill by Thursday evenings on holiday weekends. If you don't make reservations, plan on arriving around 11 am on the day you plan to camp to grab any spots that might be vacated that morning. You can get lucky and grab a spot on Saturdays if you get there at the right time.

If this campground is full, try checking out Mogollon or Rim Campgrounds located just a mile or two away on FR300.

One nice thing about Aspen if that there is an occupancy chart at the host/check-in station and will let you know what if any of the area campgrounds are full or not.

Located at the lake is a country store complete with boat rentals. The store pretty much has everything you might need for a great camping trip. You can buy a fishing license, bait, camping supplies like tarps, tents, propane and pretty much any food item you will need. A phone is available at the front door of the store. If you have your own boat, you can ask them to charge your battery overnight for a small fee if they have room to charge it. If your battery is running low, they will rent you one at the country store.

Just around the corner from the store is the Rocky Point day use area. There is a charge to use the parking area but it is minimal ($5.00 I think). There is good fishing down by Rocky Point and I tend to spend at least one afternoon there every visit.

Bald eagles have been nesting down towards the end of the Rocky Point day use area in the past few years and is occasionally roped off so the only way into the area is by boat.

Ospreys have been in the area the past few years.

Don't forget your long lens on your camera to get a great shot of the raptors making a spectaular catch on the lake.

Fishing Information - Provided by the Arizona Game and Fish Department

If fishing for trout, try power bait from the shore, try power bait or worms. Boaters can try trolling Super Duper or tiny gold Kastmaster lures. When it is hot during the summer, fish a little deeper, but not too deep, between 10 to 20 feet because the lake stratifies in the summer, meaning there is no oxygen at the bottom. The lake is loaded with crayfish, try fishing for big browns int he spring and fall with spinners or lures that imitate crayfish patterns. Lake depth averages 25 feet and can reach up to 40 feet.

Statewide fishing regulations apply and a trout stamp is required. The daily bag limit is six trout, three for unlicensed anglers under the age of 14.

Cow bells or bumble bee's can also bring good results.

I fly fish the lake and notice that many fly fisherman tend to use sinking line with a bead head wolly bugger in olive or black. I have good luck when the shade hits the shores to the left of the boat dock down the left arm of the lake down along rocky point day use area with small dry flies like a parachute adams or any type of caddis.

Nearby Hiking

Woods Canyon Lake Trail surrounds the lake and makes for a nice but easy afternoon hike.

Woods Canyon Lake Trail Woods Canyon Nature Trail
Aspen Trail Boulder Hop Trail
Drew Canyon Trail Meadow Trail
Rim Lake Vista Trail Military Sinkhole Trail

Click for a map of trails in the Black Mesa Ranger District

A dump station is located back up the road about 1 mile as you exit the Woods Canyon Recreation Area.

The Rim Visitors Information Center is located at the junction of the S. R. 260 and Rim Road.

Showers are located at Canyon Point Campground 5 miles east of the visitors center on S. R. 260. The charge for using the showers is $5.00.

Directions

From Payson, travel east on U.S. 260 until you reach the top of the Mogollon Rim and turn left on F. R. 300 (Rim Road). Travel west on Rim Road 3.4 miles to the Rec. Area entrance. Turn right at the entrance and travel 1.5 miles to the campground on the left. Don't forget to stop by the scenic stops along Rim Road for spectacular views of the Mogollon Rim and the valley below.

 

 

Campsite Panoramas - See each campsite at Aspen Campground.

Click a campsite number below to view a 360 degree panorama of that campsite.

3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136

 


 Aspen Campground Map

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