HOUSTON MESA

About HOUSTON MESA

Overview Houston Mesa Campground is located in the forested northern section of Tonto National Forest, just north of Payson, Arizona and less than two hours from Phoenix. With family, equestrian and tent-only campsites, this campground can accommodate a range of visitors and offers plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors, including miles of non-motorized trails nearby. Easy access to the Town of Payson amenities makes this campground ideal! As one of the largest forest in the United States, the Tonto National Forest is one of the most-visited "urban" forests in the United States (approximately 5.8 million visitors annually). Its boundaries are Phoenix to the south, the Mogollon Rim to the north and the San Carlos and Fort Apache Indian reservations to the east.Recreation Many visitors come to Payson to ride, hike, camp and picnic. Houston Mesa Campground is centrally located for access to Rim Country's best trails. Check out the National Recreation Highline Trail from its many access points along the control road (beginning or ending at Pine TH or 260 TH) or travel a short distance to the Pine trailhead to access over 20 miles of non motorized trails in the Pine Strawberry area. Facilities Houston Mesa has 102 campsites, including 46 standard sites, 27 equestrian sites for campers with horses or mules, and 29 tent-only sites for those who want a quieter experience. There are several amenities to make campers feel at home, including flush toilets.The horse camping section (Mule Deer Loop) is across the street from the main campground and features 27 individual sites with tables and grills. Corrals are also available. Campers who reserve sites 7 - 18 must have horses or mules. Natural Features The campground is located at an elevation of 5,200 ft. in a mixed forest and shrub area, with spacious campsites offering both sun and shade. Winters are pleasant and cool with cold nighttime temperatures, while summers are warm and sunny, providing a nice getaway from the hotter d

How to Get There

From Payson, Arizona, go north for 1 mile to the junction of Highway 87 (Beeline Highway) and Forest Road 199 (Houston Mesa Road). Turn right (east) onto Forest Road 199 for .10 miles. The campground is on the north side of Houston Mesa Road.

What to Pack for Your Stay

Tuned to the live forecast for this park.

Plan Your Visit to HOUSTON MESA

Heading to HOUSTON MESA? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)