Sharp Creek

1009 East Highway 260
PAYSON, AZ 85541

Overview

Sharp Creek is a small campground located in an area of central Arizona known for its pleasant temperatures, spectacular scenery and outdoor recreation. There are tent-only, family and group sites to accommodate a wide range of visitors.

Recreation

The campground is in a central location for hiking, fishing, boating and picnicking. Anglers can try for trout in nearby Christopher Creek. Hikers and Mountain Bikers can access the National Recreation Highline Trail, which spans 63 miles along the base of the Mogollon Rim, from the 260 Trail three miles east of the campground. Two lakes nearby offer additional fishing and boating options.

Facilities

Sharp Creek is a small campground with 28 campsites conveniently spread out into 3 loops. Campsites are spacious, comfortable and well-maintained, with some shade. Each has a picnic table, grill, campfire ring and lantern holder. One additional loop contains three group campsites that can each accommodate 75 people.

19 Sites are reservable and 9 sites are first-come, first-serve. Payment for first-come, first-serve sites is completed using the on-site fee machine. No cash is accepted.

Natural Features

Sharp Creek sits at a cool 6,000 feet elevation, perfect for escaping the desert heat of southern Arizona and getting away to shaded forests and refreshing creeks and lakes. It is surrounded by a thick ponderosa pine forest below the Mogollon Rim. The clear waters of Christopher Creek are less than a mile away.

The Mogollon Rim, pronounced by locals as "muggy-own," is a 200-mile long cliff in northern Arizona that ranges between 5,000 and 7,000 feet in elevation. The unique landscape was created by extreme erosion and faulting that has sculpted spectacular canyons and buttes. The rim serves as the geographical dividing line between the cool high country above and the hot, dry desert below.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (928) 474-7900.

Nearby Attractions

The small town of Christopher Creek is less than a mile away and has a few restaurant and shopping options for basic conveniences. Woods Canyon and Willow Springs Lakes sit above the Mogollon Rim, only a 10-minute drive away, and offer boating and fishing.

The National Recreation Highline Trail is just a few miles east on Highway 260.

Camp site features

Across 20 camp sites:

Fire pit: 17 of 20 sites
Picnic table: 17 of 20 sites
Pets allowed: all 20 sites
ADA accessible: 3 of 20 sites
Group sites: 3 of 20 sites
Longest RV: 120 ft
Largest party: 75 people
Equipment: RV, Tent, Trailer

Directions

This facility is located 23 miles northeast of Payson, Arizona, approximately 1.5 miles east of Christopher Creek. From Payson, take Highway 260 east for 23 miles. The campground is on the south side of Highway 260.

Stay Limit

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

Reviews

226 reviews

5 stars

176

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 stars

Scott B

Loop:Juniper

Site:

Reviewed 16 days ago

Campsite clean. Bathroom clean. Just don’t understand how people can’t follow rules and they drive their cars into the campsite off the asphalt. 1 site they drive 40 to 50 feet through tall dried grass.

Jeffrey S

Loop:Pine

Site:

Reviewed 17 days ago

In October, I didn't expect the camp to be too busy, and it wasn't. My reserved site was ready to go. It was clean and someone even left some firewood behind! The bathroom (vault toilet) was pretty standard. It was clean, with plenty of toilet paper, and the trash wasn't overflowing. Christopher Creek businesses are a quick drive from camp. I would stay again.

Rashla A

Loop:Oak

Site:

Reviewed 17 days ago

Great site!

Charlette B

Loop:Pine

Site:

Reviewed 22 days ago

We went to Sharp Creek with our family and friends this year for our annual camping trip. It was a fun trip even with the rain which freed up some of the closer parking spots. We went on a hike down the creek and hit a small waterfall which was cool! The bathrooms were well stocked and lite at night for us to see even if we didn't have flashlight. I would definitely go back here!

Meredith M

Loop:Oak

Site:

Reviewed a month ago

This is a real gem. It has well planned campsites that are not too close and has potable water outlets close and nice toilets that are well maintained. We'll be back--often I suspect.

Twila H

Loop:Oak

Site:

Reviewed a month ago

We've camped at Sharp Creek for several years. They used to have paid camp workers that kept the campground spotless. And it used to be mostly first come first served. A couple of years ago they switched to volunteers and the cleanliness of the campsites and vault toilets has gone downhill. And now most sites are reservation only making it difficult to use Sharp Creek on a spur of the moment trip. There are several campground nearby that are much better.

Availability

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

Reserve