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Big Lakes Recreational Area

4.4 (14 reviews)

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Bevy E.

This is where I spent many camping/fishing trips throughout my childhood and I still love to come back as an adult. Absolutely beautiful lake. But I always seem to get rained on. LOL

Behind the store. Secret tip. There's a rock that when stood on will provide a signal. You're welcome!!
Naomi G.

I love big lake and the forests surrounding the area. I have been coming here since I was tiny young thing and have a super soft spot in my heart for this place. The lake itself is very big! I have fished from both the land and a boat and done well from both. I'm recent years, they have had major alge blooms which makes the fighting from shore difficult and the fish just aren't biting like they used to but that doesn't deter me from visiting. The store is family owned and has been in their family for generations which I thing is awesome! The items are more expensive than the store but it will save you a 30+ minute drive back to the nearest town of you need something. And like I said, family owned so you're supporting a local business. I'd rather spend my money with a family than a big corporation any day. Anyhow, come to big lake. Enjoy nature. Create memories. You won't regret it.

Atul S.

Beautiful place. Huge lake and has many spots to see it. We went to the area next to the boat ramp. The water was damn cold. It is offseason when we went here hence there was no one at all to the end where we went. There was a little offroad way that we took while returning from the sunrise resort and loved the journey as well. Lake is beautiful and pine trees all around make it so serene. Overall it is a beautiful place to visit and is highly recommended when you are in the Pinetop-Greer area.

Beautiful vistas on the way
Gloria L.

Nice lake in the White Mountains. They are a bit generous with the name Big but it is big for this area. They say that it is 450 surface (depending on the year) acres of water. It's at 9,000 ft (2,700 m) so it's a cold water lake. I've read that it has an average of 16 ft. Fish in Big Lake includes Rainbow, Brown, Brook and Cuttbroat trout. The Arizona Fish and Game Department stocks, they say, an average of 480,000 fingerling (three inch) and 50,000 subcatchable (six inch) trout. Mostly, rainbow trout. Like most lakes up here, boat motors are restricted to electric or 10 HP or less gas motors. Boats are also available for rent at the small convenience store that sells limited food, gas, fishing supplies and fishing licenses as well as the boat rentals. They say the best fishing is from a boat. Being the only place with few boats, rental prices are very high. They have many camping sites. Mostly no service, some with electric and water and only a handful with full services. These sites fill up crazy fast. It's hard to get more than a day here or there. It is a great place to get away from it all and enjoy the wilderness.

Jamie G.

Met my brother-in-law at the Rainbow campground and stayed only a few nights do to time constraints. It was a clean nice campground no hookups on this one. The camp next door had some full hookups available but it's all dirt where rainbow is paved and a lot less dust. My 4 year old and wife loved it! We enjoyed the scenery and fishing. We will be back when we can stay a little longer.

Entrance to visitor center.
Matthew P.

My date and I escaped the Phoenix heat in search of a few hiking options. A friend told me about Big Lake and I did a little research. This link is to the Big Lake visitor center but they cover the entire area. There are a few other lakes that you can fish at and tons of campground options. I only visited Big Lake though. I also hiked a local trail - This area rocks!

Aspen #8 non hook up site $26.

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Review Highlights - Big Lakes Recreational Area

“Honestly, I could care less if I even catch fish (although that has never been a problem, the fishing is great if you know the right spots :) ).”

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Apache Trout Campground - Site 85 full hookups and Starlink works! First trip in a 2024 RPod 190c

Apache Trout Campground

4.0(3 reviews)
1.4 km

Site 85 it has 30 and 50 amp. It has full hookups electrical, water, and sewage dump! I am in a…read morenational park campground. Maybe I am overly excited. But it's been a great times! Highly recommend.

Apache Trout Campground is a rustic campground that has full services available. It is one of 5…read morecampgrounds in this area. They have single, double and group sites. They have good sized clean restrooms throughout with flush toilets and showers offer. The campground is in nature. There was reported a bear that was coming through the campground. I didn't get to see it because it was totally dark out but we heard rustling it the forest that surrounded our trailer. The campground sits at an elevation of 9,100 ft. in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona. It is a very scenic area, surrounded with ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, spruce and quaking aspen. We stayed for 4 days and really enjoyed staying here. It is close (they say walking distance but it's a short drive for me) to Big Lake, one of Arizona's top fishing lakes. Big Lake is known for its trout fishing, with rainbow, brown, cutthroat, brook and, even, the critically endangered Apache trout. The recreation area also has great places for hiking, mountain biking, ATV trails, bird watching and wildlife viewing. Amenities include: Dump Station Flush Toilets Showers Water Hookups Picnic Table Grills/Fire Ring Accessibility Accessible Occupant Message Sewer Hookup Full Hookup Electricity Hookup Water Hookup The best thing this campground offers is dark skies and quiet. The trees were hypnotizing. The campground is amazingly clean. I always pick up trash at any area I visit and this is the one place I had to work to find one inch pieces of trash. I highly recommend Apache Trout Campground. It is tough to find days together to reserve because sites get filled fast. Even if you can visit or stay in another campground nearby. It is worth enjoying nature in its best.

Photos
Apache Trout Campground - Isn't he the cutest?

Isn't he the cutest?

Apache Trout Campground - Dog friendly 6 foot leash required

Dog friendly 6 foot leash required

Apache Trout Campground - Naughty Starky table surfing.  Having a great time.

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Naughty Starky table surfing. Having a great time.

Lazy Trout Market & Lodge - Little Ponderosa

Lazy Trout Market & Lodge

4.4(21 reviews)
16.9 km

I am a huge fan of what the proprietors of this business offer to the small mountain-getaway of…read moreGreer, AZ. With the nearest grocery store about 20 miles away, their little store stocks a little of everything including, eggs, dairy, canned goods, fishing supplies, beer and liquor, tobacco products, and the ever-important fishing supplies. This is a great place to buy a fishing license, local souvenirs, and ice. Another important service they offer is two large dumpsters-- many of the area recreation sites do not have trash service, meaning you must "haul in and haul out." The Lazy Trout offers trash disposal at two dollars a bag. Well worth the expense, unless you want your refuse riding with you for the duration of your trip. Other services they offer are a quaint motel, stand-alone cabins, and private fishing. Private fishing is something I never thought I would take advantage of, however, fishing alone with my three-year-old, it proved to be a wonderful and worthwhile experience. Lazy Trout private fishing consists of three good sized man-made ponds that are well stocked with wish. You can catch-and-release (fly fish) for half or all day rates, or you can catch and keep fish (spin reel and bait fishing), and pay by the caught pound. The ponds and grounds are beautiful and serene. I was able to park fairly close to where we were fishing, which made life easier with a three-year-old in tow. She caught her first three fish in her life, which is a great memory associated with Greer and the Lazy Trout. Not only is the bait fishing good here, the fish are HUGE! After we caught the first three, I knew this was more fish than we could eat in a week (3 fish were 5 lbs!), so I bent the barbs down on the hooks so we could easily release any future catches. It was a wonderful experience, and well worth the money. The Lazy Trout does everything right, including being friendly and full of local fishing information. Above all, offering ice and trash service gets me in the store, and I always end up buying things there that keep me from going to town for days at a time. I love it!

We have rented from Ted & Nancy for years and there is definitely a reason why. They are super nice…read more& accommodating every year. Cabins are super clean and cozy. So many fun family memories at these cabins. We have rented all of the Big 10 cabins and the Little Ponderosa as well over the years. Each have something unique.

Photos
Lazy Trout Market & Lodge - Gorgeous Greer

Gorgeous Greer

Lazy Trout Market & Lodge - Little Ponderosa

Little Ponderosa

Lazy Trout Market & Lodge - Big horn sheep on the way into town

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Big horn sheep on the way into town

Big Lakes Recreational Area - campgrounds - Updated November 2026

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