Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests

Forest Service2,110,688 acres · USDA Forest Service
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests — landscape
Nightryder84 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Dispersed camping is generally allowed

On national forest and grassland, camping outside developed campgrounds is generally permitted unless an area is posted closed or a local order says otherwise. Stay on existing surfaces, camp away from water and trailheads, and check the forest's current orders before you go — fire restrictions change through the season.

Stay limit14 days in most forests — the exact limit is set per forest and district
In an RVDispersed sites are unimproved: no hookups, no water, no dump station, and access roads are often unsurfaced. Designated wilderness inside the unit is closed to all vehicles.
Rule36 CFR 261.58 — occupancy and use, set by forest order

Rules change with fire season and local order. Checked 2026-08-05. Confirm on the managing office’s official page

Area
3,298 sq mi
Managed by
Forest Service
Campgrounds
61
Longest rig
130 ft

Where the land is, and what fits

The official Forest Service boundary with every campground we hold inside it. Tell it how long your rig is and the map keeps only what takes it — public land rarely matches the shape people picture, and neither does what you can actually get into.

Map loads as you scroll

Official unit boundary · USDA Forest Service · 61 campgrounds shown

61 of 61 campgrounds

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests

The Apache–Sitgreaves National Forests is a 2.76-million-acre (11,169 km2) United States national forest which runs along the Mogollon Rim and the White Mountains in east-central Arizona and into the U.S. state of New Mexico. Formerly two forests, it is currently managed as one unit by USDA Forest Service from the Forest Supervisors Office in Springerville, Arizona. Apache–Sitgreaves has over 400 species of wildlife. With its high elevation and cool summer breezes it is a popular weekend destination from the hot desert for Phoenix, Arizona, residents. The forest is divided into 5 Ranger Districts that span almost 300 miles (480 km) from Clifton, Arizona in the east-central portion of Arizona to the eastern boundary of the Coconino National Forest in north-central Arizona. The Apache–Sitgreaves National Forest borders the western and northern borders of the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. It is located in parts of Greenlee, Apache, Navajo, and Coconino counties in eastern and east-central Arizona, and Catron County in western New Mexico. The more northwesterly Sitgreaves National Forest portion lies adjacent to the north side of the Fort Apache Indian Reservation and is located entirely in Arizona, within Navajo, Apache, and Coconino counties. It has a total area of 818,651 acres (3,313 km2). The more southeasterly and much larger Apache National Forest portion lies adjacent to the east side of the Fort Apache and the San Carlos Indian Reservations. It lies on both sides of the border with New Mexico, in Greenlee, Catron, and Apache counties. It has a total area of 1,813,601 acres (7,339 km2).

Extract from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA. Agency description not published.

No vehicles past these lines

Designated wilderness is closed to every wheeled vehicle, including bicycles. You can walk in and camp; you cannot drive or park a rig inside one.

  • Bear Wallow Wilderness11,235 acres
  • Mount Baldy Wilderness6,819 acres
  • Escudilla Wilderness5,158 acres

Byways through this country

Places worth pulling over

National parks close enough to pair

Drive to Apache-Sitgreaves the long way

Byway plans the road in, not just the destination — real places along the way, weighted to what you like, with nothing invented.