Oleary Group Site

O'Leary access restricted; NPS Road 545 closed between SR 89 and Sunset Crater - Extension

A section of Coconino National Forest land surrounding National Parks Service Road 545 is temporarily closed to the public. The access road to O'Leary Peak is not accessible for hiking or driving during the closure.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service
Coconino National Forest
Flagstaff Ranger District

Temporary Road and Area Closure

PROHIBITIONS

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a) and (b), the following are prohibited on the National Forest System (NFS) lands in the Flagstaff Ranger District, Coconino National Forest, described below and shown on the attached map incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A (the “Described Road” and “Described Area”):

Being on the Described Road. 36 C.F.R. § 261.54(e).
Going into or being upon the Described Area for the protection of public health and safety. 36 C.F.R. § 261.53(e).

EXEMPTIONS

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order or a written determination by a Forest Service authorized officer that a permit is not required under 36 C.F.R. § 251.50(e)(1) or (2).
Any Federal, State, or Local Officer, member of an organized rescue or firefighting resource, or private contractor operating within the scope of an inter-agency agreement with the Forest Service and the National Park Service.

DESCRIBED ROAD AND AREA

The Described Area as depicted in Exhibit A includes all NFS lands and roads within 300 feet of and including Road NPS-545, beginning at the gate on Road NPS-545 (35°22'20.6"N ; 111°34'20.2"W), thence extending easterly to the junction of Road NPS-545 and Forest Road 545F (35°22'12.8"N ; 111°32'41.7"W).

PURPOSE

To provide for public health and safety during road maintenance activities.

IMPLEMENTATION

This Order shall be in effect from October 21st, 2026, through November 6th, 2026, unless rescinded.
A map identifying the Described Trail and Described Area is attached and made part of this Order as Exhibit A, which can be seen below.
Unless otherwise expressly defined in this Order, the terms used in this Order are defined by the regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture, 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299. If there are terms in this Order that are not expressly defined in the Order or 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299, their meaning shall be determined by their plain language definitions.
A violation of the above prohibition is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. 16 U.S.C. § 551; 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581.
Contact the Coconino National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Flagstaff, AZ at (928) 527-3600 for more information about this Order.
This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts in the same Described Area.

Overview

O'Leary Group Campground was constructed in 2001 and is named for O'Leary Peak, which overlooks this site. The campground is designed to accommodate the special needs of large groups with everything from picnic shelters, tables and grills, to lots of level ground covered in native volcanic cinders, perfect for setting up tents.

Its proximity to Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki National Monuments make it especially suitable for visitors who are intrigued by the cultural and natural history of the area.

Recreation

Most visitors spend time hiking, exploring and learning at the national monuments. Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monuments have visitor centers and feature self-guided and ranger-guided tours.

Another popular activity is hiking to O'Leary Lookout Tower. The trail is 4.9 miles one way on an old forest road with a steady, steep climb that rewards visitors with a vast panoramic view of Flagstaff, the San Francisco Peaks and the Painted Desert which was carved out by the Little Colorado River.

Facilities

There are three group camping areas. The east and north loops can each accommodate up to 50 people, while the west loop can host up to 75 people. Camping areas are spacious. The facilities offer many amenities for hosting large group gatherings, such as electricity, trash collection and drinking water.

Natural Features

The campground sits on a bed of soft, flat volcanic soil amidst Arizona's ponderosa pine country. This area of volcanic activity is so unique that much of it has been set aside as Sunset Crater National Monument.

The camping area offers incredible views of dark cinder cone peaks, thick forests and open grassy meadows that burst with wildflowers in spring and early summer.

Wupatki National Monument is also nearby and features an ancient four-story pueblo, a masterpiece of Ancient Pueblo stone masonry circa A.D. 1120.

Nearby Attractions

The nearby town of Flagstaff, Arizona, has shopping, restaurants and other conveniences.

Visitors also frequent the must-see Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and Wupatki National Monument.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (928) 774-9671.

Camp site features

Across 3 camp sites:

Pets allowed: all 3 sites
ADA accessible: all 3 sites
Group sites: all 3 sites
Longest RV: 35 ft
Largest party: 75 people

Directions

O'Leary Group Site is located approximately 13 miles north of Flagstaff, Arizona. From Flagstaff, take I-40 to exit 201. Turn left at the Page exit (Highway 89). Proceed north on 89 approximately 13 miles to the entrance of Sunset Crater National Monument. Turn right on Forest Road 545a and go 1.7 miles to Group Campground Road on the left (just before Bonito Campground).

Stay Limit

Check in from 2 PM, check out by 11 AM.

Reviews

15 reviews

5 stars

4 stars

2 stars

Rummi O

Loop:East

Site:

Reviewed 4 months ago

No complaints! Site host was super friendly and informative. Site was clean and everything went smooth. We will be back!

Melissa B

Loop:East

Site:

Reviewed 4 months ago

Great site! We had a group of about 25. The Ramada was perfect for our needs. Steve the host was amazing! Super helpful and attentive!

Luz Maria S

Loop:Nort

Site:

Reviewed 4 months ago

We had a wonderful stay at O'Leary Campground! Steve, our camp host, was outstanding—friendly, attentive, and always willing to help. He kept us informed about the nearby forest fire, potential power and water outages, and local events throughout our stay, which we greatly appreciated. He regularly checked in to make sure our group had everything we needed. The campground itself was clean, well-maintained, and peaceful. The surrounding area is absolutely beautiful, with plenty of nearby opportunities for hiking, sightseeing, and outdoor adventures. I highly recommend O'Leary Campground to anyone looking for a scenic, well-managed place to camp. Thank you, Steve, for making our stay such a positive experience!

Luke C

Loop:West

Site:

Reviewed 6 months ago

This site was such a great place to stay. Our camp host was great and always there for us. Would definitely recommend this site.

Sarah N

Loop:Nort

Site:

Reviewed a year ago

Love this group site. We have been using this for an annual event for over 10 years. We have transitioned from tents into most of us bringing trailers or RVs. The camp hosts are always wonderful!

Sarah N

Loop:Nort

Site:

Reviewed 2 years ago

Beautiful area for a group site. Host was very good and checked in to see if we needed anything. We will be back. Would be great if lime or another smell control agent could be put in vault toilets'. they were clean but stinky!!

Availability

See the Camp Sites section below to find detailed booking availability.

Reserve