Arizona · Camping · Near Blue Ridge

Lower Tonto Creek

from $20
fee
Mar–May, Sep–Nov
best months

Is Lower Tonto Creek open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Tonto National Forest. It doesn't name Lower Tonto Creek, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

  • Rattlesnake Recreation Site Public Safety Closure

    Agency closure covering Tonto National Forest · Order 3-12-01-26-36 · USFS · Tonto National Forest

  • State Route 260 Lion Springs Construction Site Public Health and Safety Closure Order

    Agency closure covering Payson Ranger District · Order 03-12-04-26-25 · USFS · Payson Ranger District

  • Emergency Closure of Water Wheel Recreation Sites for Public Safety

    Agency alert covering Payson Ranger District · Order 03-12-04-26-34 · USFS · Payson Ranger District

  • Canyon Lake Drawdown Public Safety Closure

    Agency alert covering Tonto National Forest · Order 03-12-00-26-22 · USFS · Tonto National Forest

  • No Fire Restrictions

    Agency alert covering Tonto National Forest · USFS · Tonto National Forest

As of · Source: USFS · Tonto National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

  • At 5,600 ft
  • Payson Ranger DistrictTonto National Forest

Lower Tonto Creek is a Forest Service campground in the Payson Ranger District of Tonto National Forest in Arizona. It sits among a cluster of trails and climbing areas, with Upper Tonto Creek campground about half a mile away and the Derrick Spur hike just 0.1 mile off. The site has vault toilets, and a fee is charged for stays. The closest neighbors are the Derrick Spur and the Horton Creek Trail #285, both within about a mile. Upper Tonto Creek campground is also close by. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from the Pleasant Valley weather station, about 17.5 miles away, show May highs near 76°F and October highs near 72°F, while July and August average highs in the upper 80s with more wet days. Climbers can find Confluence Wall and Mordor about 2 miles away. Ponderosa Campground is roughly 2.5 miles off.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Lower Tonto Creek

    Campground

    Campground · < 0.1 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Double D Bar & Grill

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 2 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Blue Ridge

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Mar–May, Sep–Nov

    Best time to visit Lower Tonto Creek

    Best months: March–May and September–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      53° / 25°

      5 wet

    2. Feb

      56° / 27°

      5 wet · 1 snow

    3. Mar

      61° / 31°

      5 wet

    4. Apr

      68° / 36°

      3 wet

    5. May

      76° / 42°

      3 wet

    6. Jun

      86° / 49°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      88° / 59°

      9 wet

    8. Aug

      87° / 59°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      82° / 52°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      72° / 40°

      3 wet

    11. Nov

      62° / 30°

      3 wet

    12. Dec

      52° / 25°

      4 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Pleasant Valley, AZ, 17.5 mi away at 5,183 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Lower Tonto Creek

Book on Recreation.gov

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