Looking in Arizona

[Guest]

When i take my rv out for the first time I'd like to go to southern Arizona (I'll be leaving from Phoenix in late Sept). Does anyone know where I can go around Douglas. I want to be "out there" but I want a town nearby in case I have any issues with the rv. The 20' rv is home and transportation so&nbsp;I won't have a toad. I HOPE I can afford a scooter. Actually I'll take any warm town <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br />Sara

 

[lampliter]

Camp Verde---90 miles north of Phoenix.<br /><br />Cornville---same area<br /><br />Cottonwood---same area<br /><br />Rimrock---"

 

[Guest]

Lampliter<br /> I lived in prescott last year, so I was considering Cottonwood. I really don't want snow though.&nbsp;I'll have to look into Cornville. Thanks

 

[lampliter]

The 3 years I was in those areas; the winters were mild; snowed a little; nothing stuck; kinda cold at nite though. Very hot in summer.

 

[blars]

I spent several days at saddle mountain blm, about 100 miles west of phonix.&nbsp; Pictures and more info on my blog.

 

[elkhunter]

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Close by Douglas you have the Chiricahua Mountains straight north on 191 about 30 miles and about 10 miles east. There is a back road on the New Mexico side of the mountains also but I have never been on it. I hunted deer and javelina there back in late 80s and early 90s. There are a lot of places to camp with ponderosa pines and flowing creeks. If there is a wet winter you will have snow on the peaks. There is a nice little lake there called Rucker Lake. They used to stock it with fish. Absolutely gorgeous in those mountains. Straight west of the those mountains is Cochise Stronghold. Never been there yet but it might be a good place to investigate and is not far from Douglas. There is a reason why the Apaches used these two mountain ranges over a hundred years ago and it would be my first choice now.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Going west along I-10 you can camp around Picacho peak. West of there about 20 or 30 miles are the Sawtooth mountains. As you look at the setting sun behind the mountains it looks like a shark mouth. I hunted javelina not far from there also and we camped for several days just east of those mountains. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lastly, you can try south of Tucson in the Coronado National Forest. I have never been there but a neighbor told me all about his hunting trips in that forest. There is also Sierra Vista, Tombstone, and Kartchner Caverns State Park all a short drive from each other. I am not sure of the camping opportunities in the later. And don&rsquo;t forget Mount Lemmon in the Santa Catalina Natural Area just north of Tucson. I have never been there either but I am sure there are great camping opportunities.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hope this helps.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jim</span></span></p>

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

<span style="color: #008080;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Straight west of the those mountains is Cochise Stronghold. Never been there yet but it might be a good place to investigate and is not far from Douglas. There is a reason why the Apaches used these two mountain ranges over a hundred years ago and it would be my first choice now.<br /><br /><span style="color: #000000;">My absolute second favorite place for boondocking. There is a back way thru the mountains into Tombstone from Cochise Stronghold. As I recall it takes about 45 minutes. Tombstone is great, especially New Years eve. I think you could take a bigger rig the shortcut. Its gravel but had always been in decent shape. Ruts are a given with dirt roads though.<br />Waited out a terrible windstorm at the base of the Chirachauas one Jan. Took 2 days to pass, headed back to Ohio to lots of damage from the same storm. TX was a mess of ice. Ex was there 2 years ago and said it had changed but still worth it. Getting harder to find private areas. Can't remember any rv fixit places though. Just Javalina, Coatis and ringtail cats. </span></span></span>

 

[akrvbob]

I understand that when you are just starting out, staying in one place is very appealing, especially with the price of gas!! But my suggestion is to find a balance. Stay in one place for a few months and then move on. At the minimum you want to be a snowbird, mountains in the summer, desert in the winter.&nbsp;<br /><br />You are very forunate to be in Arizona. It is the single best state to be a snowbird in. There are lots of high mountain National Forests to explore in summer and lots of beautiful desert to camp in in the winter. All within a few hundred miles of each other. <br /><br />Be sure to join us this January in Quartzsite for the Rubber Tramp Rendezvous. You will meet lots of people who have camped all over and geet lots of great ideas for campsites. I strongly recommend the blog of RvSue and Crew http://rvsueandcrew.com/. You can learn a lot from her and she camped all over Arizona last year. Bob