This popular day-use area is the trailhead for several trails. While there is
a permanent vault-type toilet installed here, there is **no trash pickup**.
Please practice **_Leave No Trace_**  principals and **PACK IT IN, PACK IT
OUT!**

For maps of the area, see the following web pages:

  * Blodgett Basin Trail
  * West Clear Creek Trail
  * West Clear Creek
  * West Clear Creek Wilderness
  * Clear Creek Campground

<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">This popular&nbsp;day-use area is the trailhead for several trails. While there is a permanent vault-type toilet installed here, there is <strong>no trash pickup</strong>. Please practice <strong><em><a href="http://lnt.org/" target="_new">Leave No Trace</a></em></strong>&nbsp;principals&nbsp;and <strong>PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT!</strong></p><p>For maps of the area, see the following web pages:</p><ul><li><a href="/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=55238" target="_new">Blodgett Basin Trail</a></li><li><a href="/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=55430" target="_new">West Clear Creek Trail</a></li><li><a href="/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=74378" target="_new">West Clear Creek</a></li><li><a href="/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=74374" target="_new">West Clear Creek Wilderness</a></li><li><a href="/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=55274" target="_new">Clear Creek Campground</a></li></ul>

Bird's eye view of the campground

Bull Pen Day Use Area & Trailhead

## Overview

This cozy group campground is tucked in the Lower Sonoran Desert along the
banks of the fresh, chilly Clear Creek. Campers can wade in the creek, fish,
or curl up with a book under the umbrella of cottonwood trees. Another popular
pastime here is birdwatching, where you might just spot a hawk or bald eagle
in flight.  
  
Clear Creek Campground is seven miles southeast of the small ranching town of
Camp Verde. It's part of the Coconino National Forest, one of the most diverse
forests in the country. Landscapes range from alpine tundra to desert valleys
and red canyons.

## Recreation

The campground is part of an oasis that attracts a variety of wildlife.
Colorful songbirds and raptors are common birdwatching finds, and cool water
species such as smallmouth bass and green sunfish make for enjoyable fishing.
Wildlife watching includes black bears, elk, turkey, deer, and bison.

## Facilities

Clear Creek Campground is grassy and flat, with some shade from surrounding
cottonwoods. The group campsite holds 80 people with a maximum of 20 vehicles.
The campsite is a popular destination, with its relaxed, open atmosphere, so
be sure to book early for holiday weekends. This facility also has 18 standard
family sites available, 5 of which are first-come, first-served/13 are
reservable on Recreation.gov.

## Natural Features

Clear Creek sits in the Verde Valley at 3,200 feet elevation. It's part of the
Sonoran desert near the base of Cactus Mountain, and the climate is arid with
hot summer days and mild winters.

## Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (928) 203-0624.

## Nearby Attractions

A must-do day trip is the Montezuma Castle National Monument, where you can
marvel at a well-preserved Native American cliff dwelling that dates back
1,000 years. Near the dwelling is the Montezuma Well, which is a naturally-
formed well that collects over a million gallons of fresh water a day.  
  
Hot-air ballooning and horseback riding are also fun outings near the
campsite.

<h2>Overview</h2>
This cozy group campground is tucked in the Lower Sonoran Desert along the banks of the fresh, chilly Clear Creek. Campers can wade in the creek, fish, or curl up with a book under the umbrella of cottonwood trees. Another popular pastime here is birdwatching, where you might just spot a hawk or bald eagle in flight. 
<br/><br/>
Clear Creek Campground is seven miles southeast of the small ranching town of Camp Verde. It's part of the Coconino National Forest, one of the most diverse forests in the country. Landscapes range from alpine tundra to desert valleys and red canyons.<h2>Recreation</h2>
The campground is part of an oasis that attracts a variety of wildlife. Colorful songbirds and raptors are common birdwatching finds, and cool water species such as smallmouth bass and green sunfish make for enjoyable fishing. Wildlife watching includes black bears, elk, turkey, deer, and bison.<h2>Facilities</h2>
<p>Clear Creek Campground is grassy and flat, with some shade from surrounding cottonwoods. The group campsite holds 80 people with a maximum of 20 vehicles. The campsite is a popular destination, with its relaxed, open atmosphere, so be sure to book early for holiday weekends. This facility also has 18 standard family sites available, 5 of which are first-come, first-served/13 are reservable on Recreation.gov.</p><h2>Natural Features</h2>
Clear Creek sits in the Verde Valley at 3,200 feet elevation. It's part of the Sonoran desert near the base of Cactus Mountain, and the climate is arid with hot summer days and mild winters.
<h2>Contact Info</h2>
For facility specific information, please call (928) 203-0624.
<h2>Nearby Attractions</h2>
A must-do day trip is the Montezuma Castle National Monument, where you can marvel at a well-preserved Native American cliff dwelling that dates back 1,000 years. Near the dwelling is the Montezuma Well, which is a naturally-formed well that collects over a million gallons of fresh water a day. 
<br/><br/>
Hot-air ballooning and horseback riding are also fun outings near the campsite.

Picnic site.

Site 8.

Information Center.

Entrance

Clear Creek Campground (AZ)

In 1908 the Arizona Power Company began construction of the Childs Power
Plant. For more than 90 years, the water of Fossil Creek had been diverted by
a system of pipes and flumes from its natural course to power the turbines of
the Childs and Irving hydroelectric plants. During this time, Fossil Creek had
been reduced to a mere trickle, compared with the normal one million gallons
per hour flow once witnessed by early inhabitants of the region.

In 2004, APS, the current owner of the plants, agreed to decommission them and
restore the creek to its natural flow. (From "Pine-Strawberry Archeological
and Historical Society")

The area is now a very popular dispersed camping area. It sits below the
remnants of the old power plant buildings on the edge of the Verde River. A
short hike upstream and some wading will get you to the ruins of the Verde Hot
Springs, a once famous resort.

**Photos & Multimedia**

<p>In 1908 the Arizona Power Company began construction of the Childs Power Plant. For more than 90 years, the water of Fossil Creek had been diverted by a system of pipes and flumes from its natural course to power the turbines of the Childs and Irving hydroelectric plants. During this time, Fossil Creek had been reduced to a mere trickle, compared with the normal one million gallons per hour flow once witnessed by early inhabitants of the region.</p><p>In 2004, APS, the current owner of the plants, agreed to decommission them and restore the creek to its natural flow. (From &quot;<a href="http://www.pinestrawhs.org/childsirving.htm" target="_new">Pine-Strawberry Archeological and Historical Society</a>&quot;)</p><p>The area is now a very popular dispersed camping area. It sits below the remnants of the old power plant buildings on the edge of the Verde River. A short hike upstream and some wading will get you to the ruins of the Verde Hot Springs, a once famous resort.</p><p align="right"><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72BTQxNjAwjQL8h2VAQA9Dlhuw!!/?ss=110304&amp;navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&amp;cid=3379&amp;navid=110000000000000&amp;pnavid=null&amp;position=null&amp;ttype=photogallery&amp;pname=Coconino%20National%20Forest-%20Recreation" target="_new"><strong>Photos &amp; Multimedia</strong></a></p>

Free. There is no fee for dispersed camping at undeveloped camping areas on
the Coconino National Forest. There are no amenities at this camping area.

Childs Dispersed Camping Area

## Overview

This rustic forest cabin is located at the eastern base of Apache Maid
Mountain, just two hours north of Phoenix and near the popular red rock
canyons and outdoor recreation opportunities of Sedona, in central Arizona.
The cabin provides several amenities, providing a comfortable stay for up to
six people.  
  
  
  
It can be accessed by vehicle. Guests are responsible for their own travel
arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.

## Recreation

The area is a hub for outdoor recreation. Although there are no trails
immediately around the cabin, countless hiking, mountain biking and horseback
riding trails are located within an hour drive. Closer to the cabin, anglers
can fish for northern pike, yellow perch and sunfish at nearby Stoneman Lake,
one of the few natural lakes in Arizona. Bird watchers can delight in watching
for migratory waterfowl and summer songbirds from the shoreline, and families
can enjoy an afternoon of picnicking.

## Facilities

The facility is a small, 520 square-foot cabin that can accommodate up to six
overnight visitors. It has one bedroom with bunk beds and a roll-away bed, a
living room with a futon couch, and a kitchen and dining room. All the beds
have mattresses. The kitchen has a propane stove with dishes, pots and pans,
but no refrigerator. The building is also equipped with a propane heater and
has limited solar-supplied overhead lighting system with wall switches in each
room. The cabin does not have any available outlets.  
  
Visitors must bring their own food and potable water for drinking, cooking and
cleaning, bedding (sheets, blankets, pillows and/or sleeping bags), towels for
the kitchen, weather appropriate clothing, dish soap, flashlights and an axe
for splitting wood at the outdoor fire pit.  
  
Users must clean the cabin and pack out all food and trash before leaving.

## Natural Features

The facility was originally constructed in 1909 by Charles Babbitt and served
as a ranch house for cattlemen, then later as a U.S. Forest Service ranger
station. It has been restored to its historic character.  
  
The cabin is surrounded by the shade of a ponderosa pine forest and is just
south of the Mogollon Rim, a 200-mile slope that ranges between 5,000 and
7,000 feet in elevation. The cabin sits at 6,382 feet and has summers that are
characteristically sunny, warm and dry, with the occasional afternoon
thunderstorm.

## Nearby Attractions

Nearby Stoneman Lake, Beaver Creek and Sedona offer numerous recreation
activities and cultural attractions.

<h2>Overview</h2>
<p>This rustic forest cabin is located at the eastern base of Apache Maid Mountain, just two hours north of Phoenix and near the popular red rock canyons and outdoor recreation opportunities of Sedona, in central Arizona. The cabin provides several amenities, providing a comfortable stay for up to six people.<br><br><br><br>It can be accessed by vehicle. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.</p>
<h2>Recreation</h2>
The area is a hub for outdoor recreation. Although there are no trails immediately around the cabin, countless hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails are located within an hour drive. Closer to the cabin, anglers can fish for northern pike, yellow perch and sunfish at nearby Stoneman Lake, one of the few natural lakes in Arizona. Bird watchers can delight in watching for migratory waterfowl and summer songbirds from the shoreline, and families can enjoy an afternoon of picnicking.<h2>Facilities</h2>
The facility is a small, 520 square-foot cabin that can accommodate up to six overnight visitors. It has one bedroom with bunk beds and a roll-away bed, a living room with a futon couch, and a kitchen and dining room. All the beds have mattresses. The kitchen has a propane stove with dishes, pots and pans, but no refrigerator. The building is also equipped with a propane heater and has limited solar-supplied overhead lighting system with wall switches in each room. The cabin does not have any available outlets.
<br/><br/>
Visitors must bring their own food and potable water for drinking, cooking and cleaning, bedding (sheets, blankets, pillows and/or sleeping bags), towels for the kitchen, weather appropriate clothing, dish soap, flashlights and an axe for splitting wood at the outdoor fire pit.
<br/><br/>
Users must clean the cabin and pack out all food and trash before leaving.<h2>Natural Features</h2>
The facility was originally constructed in 1909 by Charles Babbitt and served as a ranch house for cattlemen, then later as a U.S. Forest Service ranger station. It has been restored to its historic character.
<br/><br/>
The cabin is surrounded by the shade of a ponderosa pine forest and is just south of the Mogollon Rim, a 200-mile slope that ranges between 5,000 and 7,000 feet in elevation. The cabin sits at 6,382 feet and has summers that are characteristically sunny, warm and dry, with the occasional afternoon thunderstorm.
<h2>Nearby Attractions</h2>
Nearby Stoneman Lake, Beaver Creek and Sedona offer numerous recreation activities and cultural attractions.

Bull Pen Day Use Area & Trailhead

Reviews

Camp Sites

Nearby Campgrounds

Clear Creek Campground (AZ)

Childs Dispersed Camping Area

Apache Maid Cabin