Tent campers hike their gear uphill from designated parking areas to reach forested sites at this Apache National Forest campground. The layout spreads across varying elevations, with lower-numbered sites 3-8 providing direct lake access while upper sites like spot 19 offer closer proximity to vault toilets and parking. Not all sites sit level, requiring campers to scout for suitable tent placement.
The campground operates seasonally from mid-May through mid-November at $26 per night, with drinking water and a dump station available. Campers exploring places to camp near Greer will find this location emphasizes fishing access over RV accommodation, as no RVs are permitted. The rough access road and carry-in camping style suit those comfortable with a more primitive forest experience.
Description
Overview
Cutthroat Campground lies at an elevation of 9,000 feet in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona. It sits on the shoreline of Big Lake and affords visitors many recreational opportunities in a quiet, scenic setting. Popular activities include trout fishing and hiking.
Recreation
Named after a species of trout, Cutthroat 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.
Facilities
Sites for tent camping only are scattered throughout this small facility and spaced a good distance apart. Some are directly on the waterfront. The basic amenities of restrooms, picnic tables and drinking water are provided, and anglers and boaters have the convenience of a boat ramp. An RV dump station is one mile away.
Natural Features
The campground is located in a very scenic area, forested with ponderosa pine, spruce, Douglas fir, and aspen trees, which provide ample shade. Summer temperatures are pleasant and cool, a nice respite from the heat of lower deserts. Visitors should come prepared for cool nighttime temperatures and occasional summer rain storms.
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.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (928) 537-8888.
RV Road Trip Guides
Location
Public CampgroundCutthroat 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 2 miles to Cutthroat Campground.
Address
APACHE-SITGREAVES
AZ
Coordinates
33.8722222 N
109.4183333 W
Connectivity
T-MobileNo Coverage- VerizonNo CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 4/2/26
- AT&TNo Coverage
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 4/2/26
- AT&TNo Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
Site Types
- Tent Sites
Features
For Campers
- Market
- Trash
- Firewood Available
- Reservable
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
Drive Time
- 3 hrs 32 min from Flagstaff, AZ
- 4 hrs 32 min from Phoenix, AZ
- 4 hrs 56 min from Tucson, AZ
- 4 hrs 58 min from Sierra Vista, AZ
