Treasure Park East

711 14th Avenue, Suite D
Safford, AZ 85546

Overview

Treasure Park East sits along the scenic Swift Trail in the deserts of southern Arizona. The picturesque mountain meadow setting offers visitors an escape from the desert heat and opportunities for viewing wildlife and wildflowers, as well as group camping, hiking, mountain biking and picnicking.

The location boasts an interesting history. Legend has it that a treasure of stolen gold and silver was buried here by a band of outlaws in the 1850s. They reportedly marked the site with a triangle formed by three colored granite stones, though no buried treasure was ever found.

Recreation

The campground lies along the Swift Trail Scenic Drive, which takes visitors from the Sonoran Desert at 2,900 feet to alpine meadows and forest on the 9,000+ foot ridges of the Pinaleño Range. Because of its diverse habitat, the area is well-known for birding and wildlife watching.

The Swift Trail provides access to a number of hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking trails, along with several other campgrounds that invite you for an afternoon picnic. A trip up to Rigg’s Lake, stocked with trout by Arizona Game & Fish, or to the Columbine Visitors Center could make a worth-while day trip as well.

Facilities

Treasure Park East can accommodate a single group of up to 100 guests at a time. The site is equipped with picnic tables, a group campfire ring with grill, a parking area and a drinking water spigot nearby, with water available seasonally. Dead-and-downed firewood may be collected in and around the campsite.

Note: There are no toilets on site. One portable/self-contained toilet is required for every 15 people.

Natural Features

This site lies within the mixed conifer area of the Pinaleño Mountains at an elevation of 9,000 feet. The high elevations makes this area very pleasant in summer compared to the heat of lower deserts.

The Coronado National Forest covers 1.78 million acres of southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Elevations range from 3,000 to 10,720 feet in 12 widely scattered mountain ranges, or "sky islands," that rise dramatically from the desert floor, supporting biologically diverse plant communities.

Nearby Attractions

The Mount Graham Wilderness Study Area, which includes the 10,720-foot Mount Graham, the tallest mountain in southern Arizona. Columbine Visitors Center, Riggs Lake, and a variety of trails can be accessed along the Swift Trail Scenic Drive.

The town of Safford is approximately a 1 hour drive from the Treasure Park campground, heading north on SR 191. Safford is home to our Ranger Station, where you can go to find information about trails, camping, hunting and fishing, and other questions you may have about our district (open Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm).

Charges & Cancellations

Please review the Rules & Reservations Policies page on recreation.gov

Camp site features

Across 1 camp site:

Picnic table: all 1 sites
Pets allowed: all 1 sites
Group sites: all 1 sites
Longest rig: 40 ft
Largest party: 100 people

Fees

This site has a $25 per night fee and a $5 per vehicle per night fee. Your check-out through recreation.gov will only include the Nightly/Daily rate. You must pay the per vehicle fee by cash or check upon arrival at the designated Fee Station.

Directions

From Safford, Arizona: Take State Route 191 south for 6 miles. Turn right onto State Route 366/Swift Trail and travel 23 miles to the Treasure Park Campground entrance (MM 137), following the loop road to the East campsite. From Tucson, Arizona: Take I-10 east for 90 miles. Take exit 352 for State Route 191, and turn left toward Safford. Drive 26.3 miles north and turn left on State Route 366/Swift Trail. Continue for 23 miles to the Treasure Park Campground entrance (MM 137), following the loop road to the East campsite.

Stay Limit

Check in from 2 PM, check out by 12 PM.

Reviews

3 reviews

5 stars

4 stars

Clinton C

Loop:Treasure Park East

Site:

Reviewed 3 months ago

All was good

Clint W

Loop:Treasure Park East

Site:

Reviewed 4 years ago

This campsite is one of the best around. Large open area with plenty of room to spread out. Big open meadow area gives you plenty of room for group games. Great facilities that were well maintained. 10/10!

Kenneth A

Loop:Treasure Park East

Site:

Reviewed 7 years ago

A beautiful area for large groups. Enjoyed the large campfire ring that also has a grill top. Enjoyed the metal bins located on-site to keep bears out of food. We rented porta-potties and hauled them to the site with us. Water tap located just up the dirt road. There are a few picnic tables. Good spot for camping.

Availability

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

Reserve Watch

Popularity: Very quiet

Busiest in August, when about 14% of guest capacity is reserved. Based on 11 years of reservations.