Super cool place to visit seasonally- especially if you are a birder. Highly recommend coming here…read morein the early winter to witness the magnificent Sandhills cranes on their migration path... apparently some end up in Siberia (how cool is that!!). Websites say to come early morning and in the late evening... however two years in a row I have witnessed the cranes return around 11-1pm to their roosting site and witnessing the hundreds of cranes descent is a marvel. Apart from the Sandhills cranes (in season)- the terrain in the area also allow the opportunity to capture sightings of other wildlife, waterfowl, birds and plants. Wear appropriate shoes if visiting after a rain. The last 2.5 mile drive to the location is on gravel/ some washboard road. Here is the extra extra bonus apart from witnessing beautiful nature... it's free. Plus restrooms available (albeit porta pottty/ pit style).

You have to visit the Sandhill cranes during their journeys to and from migration. It is an…read moreincredible thing to see thousands of birds, and when they take off in groups of V-formations heading out with dozens of V's going into the sky, it is wonderful. Check the time of year to make sure you come during the migration times. This resting wildlife habitat is located in the middle of nowhere with only farmlands surrounding the area. It is close to Sierra Vista, Ft Huachuca and Tombstone. If you are in the area for the migration period, then you have to come and see. Mornings and evenings are the best times because you will be there when they take off, but even if you come while they are on the ground you will be amazed. There are also other migratory birds as well and finding and identifying them is also interesting. This is a rural site coming onto a dirt road with almost no amenities. There is a parking area, with what appears to be a limited dry camp location for birders. Then a couple of hundred feet away is the parking area for day use where you can then walk to the various water sites. You should see the birds as you pull in. There are two pit toilets, bring your own TP and hand sanitizer just in case. No food nearby, bring it in and take out your trash. If you live in Southern AZ it is worth the day trip. Me and wife came on a whim after hearing the birds were still there leaving Tucson around 1pm and we stayed until about 6pm after the cranes took flight. About an 90 minute drive one way depending on where you are in Tucson.

A great spot in AZ to camp, fish, boat, and take in the beauty of all that surrounds.read more

We spent a few hours on this lake on a cloudy post-monsoon morning. It was lovely!…read more The state park rangers were so kind and eager to help us with any questions. I rented a kayak for 2 hours for $35 and had a blast out on the water. There were many people fishing and swimming. It was great to see so many families staying in the cabins for the weekend to enjoy the lake. I would love to check out the well-maintained trails the next time I go. Also, the views of Mt. Graham are unmatched. Highly recommend!

A fantastic State Park with fun ready for everyone. The RV/camping opportunities are outstanding…read more The sites are VERY well maintained, which includes immaculate restrooms & showers. The park Volunteers are wonderful & work hard to ensure the park is a place for everyone to enjoy.. Day use or overnight stays, Roper Lake State Park is a terrific place to be. Enjoy!!

Get rid of the manager and clean up the place We were…read moretreated poorly and people who bought trailer models are stuck.

Such a relaxing place to camp. It was a short drive to town where we were able to also enjoy a nice…read moredinner, get gas and odds & ends.

Get new kind and happy camp hosts! We drove 2 1/2 hours. To be yelled at called stupid and have a 5…read moregl bucket water thrown on our fire which hit a member of group who is not physically well! We checked before we left home and fires were fine. He did it to other campers as well. I come from a fire fighting family! Well aware of the danger. The host at the entrance who took our money was his wife she yelled at us all . Including the other 6 campers who were there to complain, said we were all stupid and that she quit. Mind you not one person was being rude or yelling. I deal with people daily. I would never treat any one so harshly. I feel that we were assaulted!

Starting off, I'm going to recognize 'Monica E' as an incredible resource for nearly everything as…read morea great breakdown on the intricate details of Rose Canyon Lake, so I won't capitulate on the details she provides; look up her review! There is one error I'll note with her review which is minor but important; you ARE able to reserve locations at Rose Canyon Lake. It's on numerous websites and even by calling, you can. No worries though, small detail but again, her review is amazingly full of all details that I found across three different websites and she put together for you! On a more simpler context I'll say this about Rose Canyon Lake, It's super tiny, very hilly (which I prefer!) and unfortunately the campsites are not 'near' the water. However with 70 some sites, you'll often hear someone near you because the trees deaden so much surrounding noise, you'll hear your neighbor; warning! In fact, our neighbors had to be reported on our visit in May because they were just obnoxious and atrocious with incredibly foul language - throughout the day and well past the quiet hours. Let's be honest, you come to the forest for some peace and quiet. Had we known there was a Ranger on duty throughout the night, we could've communicated that but we learned this the next day. RCL is small, beautiful with surrounding hiking and about 30 degrees cooler than Tucson. Win. Never saw the little 'Lake Store' open during our May visit but no worries nonetheless. Cell phone signal is absent in all the campsites unless you climb the hills around the lake. For at least the four phones with my group, that was the norm. You can use a canoe, ONLY if you pay extra for this. Not sure what good that is but the extra pay keeps you and other out of the water I suppose? There are also a generous amount of restroom spots throughout and some are unisex ones, most, with water spigots. You never have to go to far for a potty break so that made my daughters feel more comfortable. The wildlife surrounding is filled with humorous crows and tons and I mean TONS of squirrels of different species. The pine smell and the beautiful temps in May are a win... One final note, they make it much safer here by implanting 'bear proof' trash and campsite specific lock boxes to store all your food safely out of reach of Bears at night. This no doubt dramatically reduces interfaces thus, making it safer for continuous use as a campsite. The campsite Rangers where attentive and polite and overall, we highly recommend this location albeit secluded, no cell service and a bit on top of your neighbors. No real negatives per se except that the lake is REALLY tiny but is a reprieve nonetheless! It's a nice break from the heat of Tucson and the fresh pine smell is a win!

Cute little park. The lake isn't huge, but there were a lot of people fishing from the banks and…read moreone from a small boat. We hiked one of the short trails around the lake area. Beautiful scenery and an easy hike. You do need a state park pass, which isn't inexpensive. We went to Roper Lake a few miles away to purchase an annual pass, which is now $200! That's a huge increase from the $75 one we got a few years back. It's good for all the state parks for one year.

Nice small park with a few miles of trails. The trails lead to a BLM sponsored replica of a…read moreNative Village. Lots of folks were fishing in the stocked pond. You may need bug spray. Good for two hours.

nice open park with lots of parking. there are plenty of picnic table with lots of shade…read moreavailable. Several paved and unpaved trails available to walk around the pond and park. There are a few ducks. There are restroom facilities available.

This place was absolutely amazing the peacefulness of watching the koi , turtles, ducks and so much…read morestuff to learn

Great clean lake. Definitely recommend. Take food or snacks as hiking will get you hungry. My doggo…read morehippie loves it as he always finds new routes to explore. Take a leach to avoid losing your dog as it is big to explore!

It's a place filled with natures beauty. Perfect for a little escape from reality. Or just to enjoy…read moreNatures beauty!!

USFS Shannon Campground is a great place to unwind and beat the heat…read more Shannon Campground is small (about 15 campsites) and tucked away along the upper reaches of Marijilda Creek on Mount Graham, a pleasant little brook with wild rhubarb growing on its banks winds through a setting of really tall trees and green grass. Campsites are shaded under mature Engelmann spruce and Douglas-fir. I went up when the temperature in Tucson was + 100 at 9,000 feet the temp remained a steady 65. Shannon is the last campground off the paved road. Recommended RV legth is no larger than 22 ft. Mine is 24 ft. and I made it just fine. Arcadia campground is at around 4,000 ft. and about 20 deg. Warmer. Several campsites are above Shannon, but the road is not paved. You can drive all the way up to Riggs Lake at the top and do some fishing. Native species of trout live in the lake. There are also many hiking trails of varying difficulty. I hiked the Heliograph Trail 328A to the lookout tower, 4 miles round trip. http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coronado/recreation/camping-cabins/recarea/?recid=25552&actid=50 Notes: There's no running water at this site. Bear proof containers are at sites for food storage. I highly recommend this area and wish you a good time.

I think it's important for me to make a longer post about this, even considering 5/5 stars. To be…read morehonest, this is a very wonderful place! We've been here almost every years since finding it. The service is great, attentive and helpful and available. We enjoy the people working, it's been the same every time. And! Here's more. This is a long standing, not 5 star hotel but a little town 'back country' style spa. Each room is very unique with several options available- campsites, car camping, singular shed / storage container rooms, mini cabins, yurt like structure and others. Every single one is themed something different. The one we stay in this time was sunset beach themed with tropical sunset colors, bamboo on the ceiling, palm tree decor, water like vibes. Both the rooms we've stayed in have a small fridge, microwave, TV- dvd/vcr, lights, bed w/ sheet, trash, paper towel, tables, mirrors, WiFi, hooks and lock n key. The rooms are well kept however, just to be honest and note that it's not particularly bothered us, there are spiders all around and other bugs at time. There are common areas for use that include the following: Kitchen- utensils, dishes, cookware, small electronics, stove top (gas), some seasonings, coffee set up, sink and soap, washing items, cutting board, fridge/freezer, water, microwave, etc. *please note that this is a 'what's left' or 'what's been gotten' space meaning while there's almost always something for anything, at times there aren't. Ex: last time there was no coffee bean grinder and this time there was. We still typically bring our own things but somethings can stay. Depends on your preference I would say. Kitchen is kept clean mostly by guest so can vary. Head sup that the sink water on hot gets very hot! Make sure you clean up after yourself, gentle with the plumbing. Lounge Room- it has tables, chairs and a living room like space with a TV that has VCR and DVD options. Two walls in the space are riddled with dvds and vhs videos. It's such a wonderful thing about this space honestly. The lounge space is not for sleeping in or staying in, heads up. You'll see the signs. Outside areas- there are several outside lounge areas for use of whomever is staying. One right outside of the kitchen door, one in the center of the round about driveway, one in between the areas, and one in pool amongst the pool- clothing required in that one and in all common areas. NOTE: if you have allergies to cats, this place has free roaming cats on property that walk around d and go inside the common lounge/kitchen spaces (not the spa) Individual spaces vary from pull-up car and car, camping, camping outside, mini sheds and cabins, and larger spaces as well. Each room is equipped with a bed, light, refrigerator that's small, trash, shelving, hooks for hanging, locked door, TV with VHS and DVD player, water, broom, mini heater, and small air conditioner. There is a theme to each room and as a gentle reminder, although the rooms are well kept, you can still find things like cobwebs and spiders. If the place is busy, it can be a little bit difficult to find parking that's suitable, but there still is plenty on the inside and on the outside as well. When it comes to those hot springs, there are five private rooms. Two of them have larger tubs that are grapefruit groups, and the other three are much smaller for one to four people Atmos. There is a common pool that can be used by anyone that is seated on the outside and not private, no unit is allowed in this. All of the private spas have doors that close and lock, and they can be rented out during certain times of the day by people who request this. Please note that using the hot tubs if you are staying overnight between 6:30 PM and 8:30 PM is difficult as those are usually saved for reservations. As our house recommended, and as we did, this is a great time to go for a walk or enjoy some dinner. As in any space, be respectful of your fellow hot spring goers with noise, smells and uses of area. No smoking anywhere or alcohol allowed. Not far from Mount Graham with tons of stunning exploring views and trails and more. Nearest town is just around the corner , 5-10 min drive with small town foods Love this place! Hope you enjoy if you go

Recently went back for a little getaway with friends. I love this quaint and rustic place over all…read more It's run by a really sweet lady , it's always clean and a good time. My favorite thing is that you can stay overnight in these little cabins for pretty cheap and have access to the hot springs all night long! I've learned booking by email is easiest although you can call. There's massage available to book onsite too but it fills up fast! There are group and solo tubs available as well as one totally outdoor tub . Tent camping is also an option but no RV's or hookups . The overnight area is complete with bathrooms (real ones ) and a kitchen/ common room space for lounging/ cooking /chilling . Each cabin has a tv so make sure to grab a VHS for watching. Plenty of parking and just over all great vibes! Absolutely worth the trip for the healing waters!