How to Camp Around Sedona, Arizona
Sedona is a small community in the red rock country of central Arizona. The town of Sedona offers services and supplies, and the area surrounding the town offers extensive camping opportunities in the Tonto National Forest. The 3 million acre forest provides road access to remote areas and adventurous campers can choose backpacking destinations. In addition to camping, the area around Sedona is home to fishing, mountain biking, rock climbing and hiking. The town is a tourism hub and visitors will find several private and public camping options.
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Instructions
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Visit the Forest Service district office in Sedona or any sporting goods store in the area to purchase a Tonto Pass. The Tonto National Forest is managed as a fee area with numerous day and overnight use charges. The Tonto Pass allows you to bypass most of the fee stations with one single purchase.
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Select a campground based on the convenience of Sedona. Camping close to town is possible in Oak Creek Canyon. The canyon provides fishing and swimming and camping is possible at four different areas that are managed by the forest service. All of the Oak Creek campgrounds are within one hour of town and they are primitive campgrounds with no power, pit toilets and limited water.
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Camp in the Tonto National Forest around Sedona by selecting a campground from the Forest Service maps. Choose a dispersed campground for limited facilities and maximum privacy or choose an RV campground for showers and electric hookups. The Tonto National Forest is home to more than 20 campground areas.
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Choose a high elevation campground in the pine forests during the summer months. The summer around Sedona is hot and the pine forest areas provide the coolest temperatures. Choose a campground in the exposed red rock areas during the colder months. The red rock absorbs heat from the sun provides a warmer fall, winter and spring camping experience.
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Carry at least 1 gallon of water for every day of camping. Many of the campgrounds provide water but the region is rugged and you must have water in case you become stranded. Always carry extra water when camping in the desert around Sedona.
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Tips & Warnings
Plan your camping trip for the fall months. The changing colors combined with the red rocks makes for a scenic contrast.
Tell someone your camping plan before traveling through the remote country. People become lost in the Arizona outback every year and your safety person will send a search party if you do not return home.
References
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