$28 - $90 / night

Camper submitted image from Rainbow (AZ) - 1

Camper submitted image from Rainbow (AZ) - 2

Nature

Camper submitted image from Rainbow (AZ) - 3

Roads

Camper submitted image from Rainbow (AZ) - 4

Animals

Camper submitted image from Rainbow (AZ) - 5

Water

Established Camping

Rainbow (AZ)

8 Reviews

About

USDA Forest Service

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest

Overview

Rainbow is the largest campground in the Big Lake Recreation Area in eastern Arizona. Because of its proximity to the lake, size and the many amenities it offers, Rainbow is a favorite for families. Popular activities include hiking, horseback riding and fishing.

Recreation

The campground is adjacent to 450-acre Big Lake, one of Arizona's top fishing lakes. The lake is known for its trout fishing, with rainbow, cutthroat, brook and Apache being the most sought-after species. The recreation area is also popular for hiking, mountain biking, birding and wildlife viewing. Curious campers can attend educational programs at the recreation area's visitor center.

Facilities

The facility boasts 165 campsites organized into six loops. Four double sites are available for up to 16 people each, which is convenient for larger families, and two single unit accessible sites are also available. A small store nearby sells gas, food, boat rentals and firewood. A campground host is available on-site for visitor assistance.

Natural Features

Rainbow Campground sits at an elevation of 9,000 feet in the White Mountains. It is a very scenic area, forested with ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, spruce and aspen trees, which provide ample shade. Summer temperatures are pleasant and cool, a nice respite from the heat of the lower desert. Visitors should come prepared for cool nighttime temperatures and occasional summer thunderstorms.

Nearby Attractions

Visitors can explore endless vistas and take part in many outdoor activities in the surrounding Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, which encompasses 2 million acres of magnificent mountain country in east-central Arizona and New Mexico. Springerville, Arizona is the closest town to the campground.

Suggest an Edit

Location

Rainbow (AZ) is located in Arizona

Directions

From Pinetop, Arizona, take Highway 260 east 25 miles to Highway 273 south. Follow Highway 273 south 19 miles to Forest Road 8115 (Big Lake Entrance). Turn right and travel 1 mile to the campground.

Address

APACHE-SITGREAVES
AZ

Coordinates

33.8763889 N
109.4038889 W

Open in Google Maps

Is Rainbow (AZ) sold out?

Quickly grab cancellations!

Learn More

Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site

Stay Connected

WiFi
Unknown
Verizon
Unknown
AT&T
Unknown
T-Mobile
Unknown

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group
Tent Cabin

Features

For Campers

Trash
Firewood Available
Drinking Water
Toilets
Pets

For Vehicles

Sanitary Dump
Pull-Through Sites
Big Rig Friendly

SEE WHAT'S AVAILABLE

$28 - $90

/ night

First Come - First Served

Is Rainbow (AZ) sold out?

Quickly grab cancellations!

Learn More

Contact

General Info

Reservations

(877) 444-6777

Rebecca W.

Guide

Reviewed Sep. 5, 2021

Beautiful Hiking, Serene Camping

Camped here in October 2016. My all-time favorite campgrounds. We tent camped and it was freezing cold, poured rain. We had huge sleeping bags and a little propane heater, and still really enjoyed it. Lots of area to hike and tons to see.

Month of VisitNovember

warren

Traveler

Reviewed Jun. 24, 2021

Big Trees, clean air

I have been coming up to the White Mountains since I was a kid. Rainbow campground has been our go-to spot for camping. There are 3 loops that are FCFS. The rest of the sites are reservations. The sites all have picnic tables and fire rings. There are full bathrooms throughout the area and pay showers when is not covid. Big lake is a short drive from the campground, where you can rent a boat, fish from shore and a small store with supplies. There is always wildlife around, especially skunks, so watch your pets. The sites are laid at where you don't feel like you are right on top of your neighbor. None of the sites in Rainbow have hook-ups, bit there is a dump station down the road. There is another campground for full hook-ups down the way.

Siterainbow campground

Month of VisitOctober

(8) View All

Renee H.

Traveler

Reviewed Sep. 22, 2020

Absolutely beautiful

Quiet, beautiful, and clean. We even had visits from deer, a very bold skunk, chipmunks, squirrels, and blue jays. The camp hosts were delightful, too!

(4) View All

Jacob W.

Ranger

Reviewed Aug. 27, 2020

Organized, developed, cool forest in August

I spent 2 nights on my rode trip from El Paso to Provo. I reserved site 9 on Recreation.gov. The host expected me. The site was shaded encircled by pine trees and it was cool in late August. The squirrels are voracious and chewed through my stuff sack with sealed food that I left on the picnic table when I went for a bike ride around the lake.

NF Big Lake Rec Area is developed around Big Lake, which isn’t big. I asked the tackle shop clerk about swimming and he warned of hooks and lures. He said the water was fine except for a film of algae. I didn’t swim. The campground seemed used by anglers and off-roaders.

I found the first non-motorized trail off the gravel Forest Service road by the lake. It wasn’t walking distance from the campground. The forest had burned in 2011 according to warning signs, but by 2020 there was new growth and plenty of trees survived. The trail teamed with wildlife. There were squirrels and chipmunks everywhere. I spotted a group of elk cows and later mule deer bucks. I observed at least 5 species of birds. The forest was alive with activity. I didn’t see any people on the trail.

There were many dispersed camping spots throughout the forest and several campgrounds along black river.

I had a big juicy burger at the Alpine Grill and Still, whose bar area was open for dine in despite the coronavirus.

Despite the development, I recommend it.

(5) View All

Irene L.

Guide

Reviewed Sep. 30, 2017

Rainbow trout on Big Lake

Rainbow has lots of ecosystems, fun to hike and lots of boating fishing to enjoy too. The campground is very large and it’s quite wooded which is appreciated in AZ. Not much to say about the campground, it’s fairly basic but very pretty and there are hosts during most of the year to give you insider tips. The hosts told us that it’s an area known to have a lot of hummingbirds but unfortunately we didn’t see any (July visit). The trails aren’t too long but they are also pretty and lots of wildlife, and most of the people here were locals or RVs. This is kind of in the middle of nowhere but we were on our way and it was a very pleasant stopover.

Sara H.

Scout

Reviewed Sep. 4, 2016

Rainbow,az

Been going camping here in this area since I was three. The fires have taken their toll but there is still so much beauty in this magical place.

Yolanda E.

Scout

Reviewed Sep. 1, 2016

One week every year

Always a great time. We gather with about 60 other friends and there is never shortage of stories and adventures

Matt A.

Scout

Reviewed Jul. 17, 2016

Matt Ayers

being a long time since we had been back we love this Campground. We bring everything we need including the kitchen sink so we wants for nothing. Other campers are happy and never seem to be unhappy.