FAQ’s

Our Most Popular Questions

Frequently asked questions about staying at Woods Canyon Lake in Arizona

We are located in the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest (ASNF).  Please visit fs.usda.gov/asnf for more information about possible forest closures.

You can also check our instagram for information updates as well.

We are open 7 days a week. April 1st thru October 31st

8am to 5pm 7 days a week

The campgrounds usually open May 1st each year and are operated by an independent company.

Go to recreation.gov. We do not manage the campgrounds. Send us an email requesting camping info

The trail is 5.2 miles around the lake, on average it takes about 2 hours to complete. The hiking trail is rated easy to medium.

Yes, dispersed camping is available on Forest Road 300. West of Woods Canyon Lake.

Parking is free in the lower and upper lots, as well as the overflow lot. A small fee is charged to access the rocky point picnic area-cash only.

There are bathrooms located in the parking lots and the picnic areas as well as the campgrounds. These are primitive and do not have running water. 

The Apache Sitgreaves National Forest does not charge a fee or annual pass like the Tonto National Forest. Therefore, all garbage must be packed out or disposed of at the Woods Canyon Dump Station for a small fee. Cash only.

There is potable water available for containers or RV fill at the dump station. No fee. The water is free of charge.

There is no phone line or cell service at Woods Canyon Lake

The closest gas station is in forest lakes about 10 miles east of Woods Canyon Lake. 

Diesel fuel is available only in Payson or 30 miles East in Heber, AZ.

The closest cabin rentals are 15 miles from woods canyon lake. There are cabin rentals available in Forest Lakes, Christopher creek and Kohls Ranch. Some are listed on airbnb.com or vrbo.com

We do not rent or operate the campsites. We operate the store and the boat rental operation.

 
Reservations are made early in the year at reserveusa.com and or recreation.gov. There is also a phone number 877-444-6777 You can try. The season here runs from April 25 thru October 31 and then the campgrounds shutdown along with our store for the winter.
 
There is one campsite at woods canyon called “Aspen” which has 50 sites that are first come first serve. These sites empty out every Sunday/Monday and are available until Thursday evening when they fill up for the weekends. Your window to get a site at Aspen is Monday-Thursday. Nightly fee is around $25 and extra cars are allowed for a small fee. I think the maximum is 10 people in one of these sites. The fee’s are cash only.
 
There are 3 other campsites at WCL. Spillway campground (the most preferred) is always reserved and full during the vacation season of June and July. You can sometimes get into spillway which is right on the water but not during the vacation season. The other 2 campsites and Woods Canyon Group site and Crook group site. As the title group site, these sites are for large groups like churches, scouts corporations etc and run into the hundreds of dollars per night depending on the size of the group.
 
If Aspen is full there is also dispersed free camping on Forest road 300 (FR300) towards Bear Canyon and Knoll Lakes. Dispersed means you find your own site and set up your camp which can be a more secluded experience and there are no camping fee’s. We sell small maps in the store or can give you directions.
 
There are no hookups for RV’s at WCL. There is a dump station which is on your left as you drive into the area. Trash disposal is $3 a bag and RV dump is $7. Water fill is free
 
 
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