Arizona · Hiking · Near Oracle

Box Camp

Box CampPhoto: desertdutchman, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
10.4 mi
round trip
505 ft
climb
8,137 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–Nov
best months

Is Box Camp open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Santa Catalina Ranger District. It doesn't name Box Camp, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Santa Catalina Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Box Camp is a hard hike of about 10.4 miles on a natural-surfaced trail in the Santa Catalina Ranger District of Coronado National Forest in Arizona. The trail is an out-and-back that climbs from a low point of 3,723 feet to a high point of 8,137 feet, with an elevation gain of 505 feet one way. Horses are allowed on the trail, but bikes are not. The Forest Service manages the surrounding land, and the trail is open year-round. The Box Camp Trailhead sits at the parking area named BOX CAMP. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable seasons. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mt Lemmon Willow Canyon, which sits about 1,100 feet lower, put May highs around 71°F and October highs around 68°F, with summer highs near 80°F. Spencer Canyon campground and the Sunset Trail #90 mountain biking route are each about 0.2 miles away. The climbing areas Upper Wall and Raycreation Area lie roughly half a mile off, and Whitetail Campground is about 0.7 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Spencer Canyon

    Campground

    Campground · 0.2 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Butler Hall

    Fast food

    On your way back · 2 mi
  • If it rains

    Wildlife Viewing Area

    Viewpoint

    On your way back · 13 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Oracle
  • Best time to go · Mar–Nov

    Best time to visit Box Camp

    Best months: March–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

      50° / 34°

    2. Feb

      50° / 33°

    3. Mar

      55° / 37°

    4. Apr

      62° / 43°

    5. May

      71° / 51°

    6. Jun

      80° / 60°

    7. Jul

      80° / 63°

    8. Aug

      79° / 62°

    9. Sep

      75° / 59°

    10. Oct

      68° / 49°

    11. Nov

      59° / 40°

    12. Dec

      49° / 33°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mt Lemmon Willow Canyon, AZ, 3.4 mi away at 7,027 ft. The station sits about 1,100 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Route details

Distance
10.4 mi round trip
Climbing
About 505 ft
Starts at
Box Camp Trailhead (about 8,014 ft)
Summit
8,211 ft
Difficulty
Hard
Time
About 3.5 hours

Getting there

Park at BOX CAMP.

Season

Season: Year-round.

Questions about this route

How long is the Box Camp on Spencer Peak?

About 10.4 mi round trip from Box Camp Trailhead (about 8,014 ft).

How much elevation gain is on the Box Camp?

About 505 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Box Camp?

It is rated hard.

Where does the Box Camp start?

Box Camp Trailhead (about 8,014 ft).

How long does the Box Camp take?

About 3.5 hours round trip.

When is the best time for the Box Camp?

Year-round.

Conditions and forecast on Spencer Peak

Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.