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Burnt Corral Campground and Recreation Area (elevation 1914') is about 5.8 miles south of Roosevelt Dam along the Apache Trail (AZ Hwy 88) along the shoreline of Apache Lake. It is nestled amongst the saguaros, mesquites, and palo verdes, and offers opportunities to boat, swim, fish, relax, hike, and sightsee.
Burnt Corral Campground offers something for almost everyone. Motorboating, fishing, water-skiing, and paddlesports are very popular because of the developed and undeveloped lake access from within the campground. Others may enjoy hiking nearby trails, being challenged by local jeep trails, or practicing their landscape photography, or simply relaxing with a good book.
Burnt Corral Campground includes 76 camp units, vault toilets, potable water hydrants, 6 day-use picnic units, paved boat launch, boat boarding dock; Each campsite includes a parking spur, fire ring with grill, a shade ramada, and a picnic table. This campground provides access to visitors who are mobility impaired.
Burnt Corral Campground is situated in what may be the most stunning Sonoran Desert landscape in Arizona. The contrast of sunshine, clear blue water, and saguaro's surrounded by the Four Peaks and Superstition Wilderness' is a magnificant sight to see. While shade is scarce in the desert, campsites are situated amongst mature mesquite and palo verde trees, and desert chaparral. Apache Lake is 17 miles long making it the longest in the chain of reservoirs on the lower Salt River below Roosevelt Dam.
Roosevelt Dam, Apache Lake Marina, Tortilla Flats, Tonto National Monument (Cliff Dwellings), Roosevelt Lake, Apache Trail Scenic Byway (AZ Hwy 88), Spines to Pines Scenic Byway (AZ Hwy 288). The City of Globe and Town of Payson are only an hour away.
Access to Burnt Corral from Tortilla Flat HWY88E/Apache Trail is currently closed, please use an alternative route.
From the Mesa area: Head to AZ-87N for approximately 59 miles. Turns right onto AZ-188S for 31.6 miles. Turn right onto AZ-88W for 6 miles and Burnt Corral Recreation Site will be on your right.
From the Globe area: Take AZ-188 west for 30 miles to its junction with AZ-88. Turn left onto AZ-88, and continue past historic Roosevelt Dam (unpaved) for 5 miles to Forest Road FR 183/ Burnt Corral Recreation Site. Turn right and continue to site.
Absolutely worth the 9 mile drive.
Terrific camping opportunity
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This is a great place to camp if you don't need hook-ups. You can get spots right on or very close to the water. The boat ramp is near by and Apache is a great lake for water skiing and jet skiing, too narrow for many sail boats. It is a bit of a rough ride to get to the campground, not for the faint hearted.
Perfect camping site for family, our campsite has perfect view of the lake, it has water supply and bathroom. My family and I found a beautiful beach while we were kayaking.
Access is limited but it adds to the appeal. Spaces are a bit closer than I'd expected and it seems like there is a lot of construction around the area to improve drivability. But the lake is quiet compared to alternatives.
