State: Arizona
Open: Seasonal
Number of Sites: 11
Elevation: 9035
County: Graham
Free: No
About: Shannon Campground is small and tucked away along the upper reaches of Marijilda Creek, a pleasant little brook that winds through a setting of tall trees and green grass. Campsites are shaded under mature Engelmann spruce and Douglas-fir. Two three-sided wood shelters of the type originally developed in the Adirondack Mountains of New York add to the historic atmosphere of this campground.
The Arcadia Trail, which leads down the mountain from Shannon Campground to Arcadia Campground, has been designated a National Recreation Trail. A one-mile spur leads from this trail to the top of Heliograph Peak, a vantage point with a history as well as a view. This 10,022-foot vantage point once served as a location for signal mirrors used to communicate messages during the Apache Wars of the late 1880s. Today youll find a Forest Service lookout tower on the mountaintop as well as some of the most panoramic views in southeastern Arizona.
Fees: $10 (2011)
Water: None
Restrooms: Vault Toilets
Directions: From Safford drive south 8 miles on US 191 to AZ 366. Turn right (southwest) onto 366 and drive 21.8 miles to the campground entrance on the right side of the road. Check local road conditions during winter months.