Manzanita Campground

State: Arizona

Open all Year: Yes

Number of Sites: 18

Elevation: 4800

County: Coconino

Free: No

About: At this creekside campground you’ll have a fishing hole for your back yard, and that’s not all. Add spectacular scenery, clear water swimming holes, picturesque hiking trails and excellent wildlife watching (in other words the standard amenities of Oak Creek Canyon) and it should come as no surprise that these pieces of recreational real estate are in high demand. Now comes the bad news. This campground is small, so small that trailers and RV’s are prohibited. So small that to get a campsite here you’ve got to be more than early, you’ve got to be lucky.

The decor at Manzanita Campground is Arizona ash and box elders, gravel beaches and stream-bed boulders. The creek is regularly stocked with trout. Colorful songbirds add a flash of brilliance to the trees. Access is easy. The campground is just a few yards off US 89A and the pull-throughs are paved.

Fees: $18 (2011)

Water: Yes

Restrooms: Vault Toilet

Directions: On US Highway 89A, drive south from Flagstaff or north from Sedona. Both campgrounds are located just off the paved highway.