Blue Ridge Reservoir

[Cozalcoatl]

Hi
I just found this place while searching for a place to hike. Wish I knew about it earlier. Great information and seems pretty active.

I'm a Aussie who just loves living in Flagstaff. My husband and I are pretty experienced hikers/backpackers and are always looking for new places to explore.

My question is next weekend we want to do a overnighter down near the Reservior. Are there any good secluded camping areas so we can take the dogs and not bother anyone else? I'd rather not stay in the established sites. Car camping or hiking in is fine either way. We have a jeep so we can do some off road driving.

Thank you
Coz

[Nighthiker]

The campground Rock Crossing is usually full during the weekends (my brother is camping up there right now) and the road into the campground allows dispersed camping but it also has a lot of campers during the weekend. Once you get past the campground the road descends down to the lake. The lake is very popular and last year during several visits it had extremly heavy traffic and was quite busy. Few places to camp adjacent to the lake and they are usually taken.

[te_wa]

I drove the dead end road out to Blue Ridge (or whatever they call it now) and had a great camp spot right near the water. Search the maps for the fr 123 across Battleground ridge - and you will see some nice spots looking over the canyon. a trail will take you to the water. That is to say, if you want the best campsite you have to walk down the side of the canyon maybe 1/4 mile..

[chumley]

What te-wa said.

The trail leads down from just past the pumping station. You can car camp anywhere along the road on the ridge, or take the very short backpack trip down to the lake. There's a couple of very nice spots at the bottom near the spot on the map labeled Rock Crossing.

Though the map indicates a trail leading down to the south/east fork of the lake, I've never found it. Nonetheless, you can descend the hill off-trail and explore down there as well. There are numerous "boat-accessible" campsites on both forks of the lake, which you can hike to from above as well.

The catch of course, is that this area is accessed from the south side of the lake, which makes the trip from Flagstaff considerably longer. I'm not familiar with similar spots on the north side of the lake.

The pumping station/trailhead is centered on this map:
http://hikearizona.com/location_g.php?L ... =15&M=6&G=

[Nighthiker]

Brother came back from camping and he camped (casita travel trailer) at Blue Ridge Campground. He said not many campers at Rock Crossing and a cold front moved thru and it was chilly and some sleet on one of the days while he was camping. Usual lots of wildliife and a bear walked thru the campground.

[Nighthiker]

Brother is camping again in the area for a week long trip. I was to join him with my popup (Quicksilver) but I could not get off from work.

[outdoor_lover]

Just thought you all might like to know, there are going to be major changes in store which have already started, for Blue Ridge Reservoir....Enjoy it now, it won't be the same. http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOC ... 339846.pdf

[Nighthiker]

The reservoir will go back in operation as it had in the past. The camping in the area will be good (along with mtn. bike riding). I prefer Blue Ridge Reservoir over C Craigin though.

[mcontreras]

Looking for a non-developed camp spot on the south side of blue ridge reservoir. We have a high clearance pop-up trailer. On Google maps there is a road that leads from the Rim Road to the pump station, but not sure what the road is called. Anyone??

[Grasshopper]

On Google maps there is a road that leads from the Rim Road to the pump station, but not sure what the road is called. Anyone??

Looks like FR123 --> http://hikearizona.com/map.php?QX=2737 (from FR300/FR123 up FR123 to end at Pump Station). You can zoom-in and move around to check it all out and in the map upper right you can change the map overlays if you like

[Nighthiker]

Also review the 2013 forest travel map (last year's edition has changed) to check if the road and area is ok to camp. The battleground ridge area is an area you may be interested in. What type of camper, I have a Livinlite Quicksilver 8.

[chumley]

It is FR123, Battleground Ridge, and it is accessible with 2wd high clearance. Sedan possible if you're careful. I wouldn't think it would be any problem getting a popup out there.

On the point by the pump station it is really rocky and unpleasant for camping, but a little bit south of there you will find better spots. The side road to the Battle of Big Dry Wash Historical Marker also leads to relatively good camping, though that road is a bit rougher.

There is a hiking trail that begins at the pumping station and leads down to the lake at a very popular boat-camping spot. It's a short hike and not too steep. I've seen people carry their cooler down there, but that is a serious chore in my opinion.

Please note that under the new travel management rules, you are not permitted to take your vehicle or popup more than 30-feet off this portion of FR123 for camping. Basically, you can only park your vehicle on the side of the road and camp there. Though you will likely see previous side roads and camp sites that have been used in the past, it is no longer permitted to do so in this area. (The southern portion of FR123, nearest to FR300, allows dispersed camping up to 300-feet from the road, but not the northern half closest to the reservoir).

Maps and travel rules are available here: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino/ ... rdb5356224

[mcontreras]

Also review the 2013 forest travel map (last year's edition has changed) to check if the road and area is ok to camp. The battleground ridge area is an area you may be interested in. What type of camper, I have a Livinlite Quicksilver 8.

We would like to camp around the battleground ridge area, but looks like we can't with the new map. We are taking our mountain bikes, so maybe we can camp right around 9724V area. We have a 2009 Coleman E2 ( I think)... It has extra trailer room in the front to put ice chests and bikes. I love it. We usually camp/hunt around 139G.

Now I have no idea where to camp now. I really had my heart set on that area.

[chumley]

Make sure you understand the travel management rule. You are still allowed to camp absolutely anywhere! The restrictions are on where you may park your car or trailer. You can still camp at the north end of battleground ridge with a pop up camper... But only adjacent to the road. Since there is virtually no traffic in this area, that shouldn't be a big deal. Even if your fire ring and "camp site" is in the woods a short walk away. The key is only that your vehicles must be parked within 30 feet of the road. There's no reason why you. Can't set up a camp site out of view of the road, and walk to it from your vehicle. (Wheeled coolers are not subject to travel management rules

[ASUAviator]

@Chumley - I thought it was 300 feet??? Gotta look into that. That would totally blow

[chumley]

@ASU Aviator-

It is 30 feet from a road unless in a specified dispersed camping area which then allows 300-feet. Coconino publishes the 300-feet areas on their map by way of little dots next to the road. A-S does not have such a map, but they have numerous signs as you drive indicating the camping restrictions where you are.

As far as I know, Tonto has yet to finish their travel plan, but it will eventually have the same kind of restrictions.

[mcontreras]

@chumley

What if the road is not on that pdf map?? Does the 30 feet still apply? There are roads all over the place, but not on their map. I think we will camp at the end of FR123 past the pump station somewhere, 30 feet from the road.
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino ... urn false;

Thanks for the help with this!

[chumley]

@chumley

What if the road is not on that pdf map?? Does the 30 feet still apply? There are roads all over the place, but not on their map. I think we will camp at the end of FR123 past the pump station somewhere, 30 feet from the road.
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino ... urn false;

Thanks for the help with this!

No! Only the roads that are on the PDF map are open to motorized vehicle travel. All the other roads up there (not on the PDF map) are now closed to motorized vehicle use. You may walk, hike, bike, or camp on the old roads, but you may not drive on them.

Motorized vehicle travel is now restricted to ONLY the roads shown on the PDF map. And of the roads shown on the map, vehicles are allowed only 30-feet off any road except in the specific areas where designated by the dots which extends the off-road parking to 300-feet.

[mcontreras]

@chumley

Sounds good. Then the end of FR123 will still work, cause it's on the map and the battleground area is still an option. I'll be sure and take my tape measure...lol

We will also be taking our mountain bikes, so it's should be fun. Going on Wednesday the 29th after the Memorial weekend.

[chumley]

It's a nice area up there. Keep an eye on the the forest website (http://www.fs.usda.gov/coconino/) before you go (or here on HAZ) to double check on fire restrictions. For now there are none, but they often are implemented by the end of May so there's a chance that fires will no longer be permitted by the 29th.