Just about everything you need to enjoy yourself deep in the mountains. A nice stocked lake with…read moreplenty of shoreline to enjoy fishing, hiking and other water associated activities. Plenty of parking but no bait shop but as a true fisherman, I bring what I need or I live without it.

Nice lake between Paulson and Heber that seems away from it all. The lake is in the…read moreApache-Sitgreaves National Forests. My Yelp friend Monica E. said it was one of her favorite so I had to check it out. Willow Springs Lake was actually created in 1966 by the Arizona Game and Fish Department as a trout fishing lake. They regularly stock the lake with trout spring through fall increasing your chance of catching a fish. Willow Springs is the second most visited lake so there will be competition for those fish. Willow Springs Lake has held the Arizona State record for largest trout caught so there are some big fish in the lake. There is a campground about a mile away. The lake website said it was in walking distance but it's more than I want to walk with chairs, cooler, etc. The campground has no services (water, electricity, sewer hookups) so you need to come prepared. Overall, it's a beautiful blue, clean lake in a pine forest that is a wonderful place to see and enjoy.

A very nice place to camp. Shady throughout the morning with cool enough temps during the summer.read more

Hard-To-Beat Location! Fantastic location, easy to find,…read moreexcellent camp hosts, good facilities, a good chance of seeing small wildlife up-close-and-personal. We arrived at 3:00 pm on a busy Memorial Weekend away from the Covid19 pandemic. There were no spaces left! We're so happy we booked EARLY online! Our first time here! You would be hard-pressed to find a more scenic creek forest camp setting in Arizona. Mighty impressive! The camp host in both LOTS A and B were extremely welcoming, very personable and obviously kept a very tidy ship. Thank You Ellen, Roger and Shannon for everything you did that made our trip just a little better. You're hard work and dedication should be recognized beyond this review. We found the fee to be fairly cheap, considering the location and time of year. It was also a very quiet site, compared to the nearby campsites. It's very close to Starr Valley and Payson etc ..too. We'd definitely recommend Christopher Creek Campsite to friends and family, for any future visits. The Santos Family (The Pug Family)

Love this place! Beautiful vantage point of the lake from the picnic area. There is a walking path…read morefrom the boat launch with lovely views of the lake dotted with benches, ideal for picnics. We ran out of time so we weren't able to get souvenir mugs from the cute gift shop there (which also sells drinks and snacks). The ranger at the gate was pleasant and friendly.

In fairness to the lake I didn't make it past the "ranger" taking money. $10 a person is a little…read morespicy for me to get here , if you want a nice day at the lake , there are many to choose from in this area for little or no fee, perhaps this is to keep the common folk from enjoying such a prestigious and fine lake.

This has been on my bucket list for the past 5 years and this weekend I finally made it! I was…read moreexpecting it to be busy since it was a Sunday and a holiday weekend, but we went in the afternoon and tons of people were leaving when we were parking. The downside to that is that you are hiking in at the hottest part of the day. Which makes the water feel that much more refreshing. The hike isn't hard, you just follow the creek. Some people were in flip flops- which is doable, but the rocks can be quite slippery in places. Bring lots of water. There's some shade, but not tons. Oh- and watch out for the random cow. He's not friendly.

There is an awesome hiking spot here. You don't need a pass you can just park and hike. It's a bit…read moresteep in some areas but lots of people of all ages with dogs too. It was so beautiful this time of year. Slightly off the beaten path from Payson but worth a fun day trip from phoenix to get out of the head and see so fall foliage. Highly recommend

Love this place. Lots of space and it's quiet. Little traffic so the kids could ride there bikes…read moreand run. The camp host was grumpy. We parked in the road when we were unloading and she drove by multiple times to let us know we needed to move.

Had a great time out here with a bunch of fun people! My girlfriend and I really enjoyed it. The…read morearea was easy to find right off the main road. Each site it huge and can accommodate lots of people. There is a covered area that has 6 bench tables, prep table and a large grill. They even have electricity under the prep table. Just a little ways away, near the parking area, are bathroom. Each one has electricity and are lit in the inside. Everything is well maintained. The campground supervisor comes by every night to check in you. This is just to make sure everything is in order and that there isn't random people occupying the space or creating disturbances for the other campers. You may see some cows. The roam around lot. It's worth the drive out. Really nice camp grounds. Would highly recommend it.

Did you know this about the Mogollon Rim? - Stretching 200 miles, the Mogollon Rim provides…read morebreathtaking views overlooking an expansive forest of pine trees. The rim is a true geological wonder hosting sedimentary, volcanic and metamorphic rock. The Mogollon Rim has been a favorite place for us to camp at over the years. Take the turn off to Woods Canyon lake and follow along turn off to a dirt road. We have many fond memories from our camping trips. It is free to camp and is a first come campsites. Plenty of boondock camping sites along the way to the rim or stay at one of the many campgrounds. The evenings do get cold even in the summer so pack accordingly. If you're not into camping it's a great day trip from Phoenix with lots of hiking and exploring opportunities. Great for pets, kids, fishing at the lake, hiking, wildlife watching, or just a relaxing and beautiful drive to soak in Mother Nature.

Have not been here for many years. Enjoyed an early morning weekday fishing trip. Lots of camping…read moresites available. Parked near the boat ramp and convenience store that has reopened. Got some tips on bait and purchased a few more lures. A couple of small snow packs still visible, and a few snow flakes in the morning. Caught and released a nice rainbow trout. Saw a bald eagle fly by and enjoyed the scenery. Had lunch near a scenic outlook. Place is likely crowded on weekends but that is expected, given the location and beauty of this place.

Wonderful little spot. Clear water, nice and peaceful. People seem to keep to themselves. No riff…read moreraff in

2 friends and I went to the this place having not much of an expectation. We are up in Flagstaff…read morefor school and wanted to get some sun in before we go back to school tomorrow. Jac had a great idea to come here for a lil sun day to go cliff jumping! k and I haven't been before, met a nice man who help film a video of us jumping from the underneath of the bridge. Bunch of people kayaking and paddling with dogs and kids! friendly area, would come back again! Remember to pick up after yourself, lots of trash which is sad. ;(

From the valley you can do a quick ride out past Payson to go up in the Mogollon Rim, and for the…read morepast few years, this has become my favorite place to spend times outdoor in the summer. There are a few lakes in the Rim Lakes Recreation area, and I am very familiar with Woods Canyon, but I want to explore the other areas. Stop at every scenic overlook to check the views of the Mogollon Rim while making your way to your trail, lake, or camping site, it's worth it! If you are on the main road going to Woods Canyon, stay straight on the dirt road and make your way to Bear Canyon Lake. Its apx 12 miles from the turn for Woods Canyon. I didn't know much of Bear Canyon Lake, but ready to check it out. Parts of the dirt rd can be rough, I have a lil Kia Soul and she made the drive just fine, but if you have a low clearance, it might not be the best. Things I have since learned. Bear Canyon Lake is accessible by foot trails only. There are no boat launches or ramps, no auto access. To get to the shoreline you do have to hike down apx .02 miles with your gear. I did see some folks out on the lake in their boats/kayaks, so I am thinking I am going to give that a try. From the shoreline where I was at the views were pristine. So beautiful. I honestly can't wait to come back and explore this lake some more.

Beautiful walking trail along the rims with beautiful views over the rims. Gentle breeze and…read morebeautiful wild flowers. This trail is easy trail and very pleasant to escape from the Scottsdale summer heat.

I can't begin to tell you how gorgeous this lake is. What a hidden gem! I'm a native of AZ and only…read morejust recently learned about Blue Ridge Reservoir (also known as C.C. Cragin). I almost didn't want to review it because I want to keep it all to myself. Because it is so narrow, it almost looks like a river. Blue Ridge is 8 miles end-to-end and is stocked with rainbow and brown trout. It is a popular destination for canoers and kayakers because of restrictions to motor boats more than 10 horsepower. I could have floated on this water for hours. The scenery at Blue Ridge reservoir is beautiful. It's located off Highway 87 about 30 miles north of Strawberry on the Mogollon Rim. There is only one convenience store with gas pumps nearby and no cell service. Rock Crossing Campground is the only organized campsite nearby if you want to stay overnight. The great thing is there are no permits needed or fees to enter Blue Ridge Reservoir. But it does get crowded at times and Forest Service workers will only allow one car at a time to enter when the lot is full. Make sure you have a reliable vehicle as the gravel road to the reservoir can get pretty bumpy. There is a bathroom on site at the overflow parking lot. Blue Ridge Reservoir is very peaceful and relaxing. I went over Memorial Weekend and it wasn't too crowed at all. It's definitely worth camping nearby so you can spend a full day here.

Great day here! Much larger than anticipated. Beautiful location within Coconino National Forest…read more Apparently this road is not open year round, nor are some of the local camprounds. Gravel forest road that any car can drive but beware of some deep ruts in areas. Vault toilets in upper parking lot. Nice concrete boat ramp. Jealous of those that were camping via kayaks.