There is a secret spot only an hour and a half from downtown Phoenix where you can fish and camp year-round. Riverside Campground in Tonto National Forest is beautiful, serene, and the perfect spot to cast a line and catch your dinner.
Riverside Campground has an amazing view of Bartlett Dam.
Baba Booey/Google Bartlett Dam was built on the Verde River in the 1930s and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The dam creates Bartlett Lake upriver from the campground.
Just 23 miles from Carefree, getting to this little piece of paradise won’t take long.
Baba Booey/Google The last three miles to the campground is a maintained gravel road. You can make the trip in a car, but things are going to get dusty and dirty.
There are only 12 campsites at Riverside, so you’ll have plenty of privacy.
NANCY DEROSE/Google Your site will include a picnic table and a fire ring. There is also a vault-style toilet at the campground. Bring plenty of water as there is none available on site, and plan to pack out all of your trash.
Bring your kayak or canoe, and enjoy paddling along the river.
Ron Edwards/Google No motorized boats are allowed on this stretch of the Verde River, so you can enjoy the peace and quiet of nature.
You’re most likely to hook a rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, or flathead catfish from the shores of the Verde.
Gia Janisse/Google Or take a short drive to Bartlett Lake and see why it has been a favorite of anglers since the dam was built.
Riverside Campground is located in a riparian desert area with temperatures suitable for camping year-round.
Gia Janisse/Google In addition to kayaking and fishing, Riverside is an excellent spot for birdwatching. Be on the lookout for bald eagles, as they are occasionally spotted in the area. Be sure to check the bald eagle seasonal closures before you head out. Roads in the area are sometimes closed near nesting areas to protect the eagles and their babies.
Have fun finding this hidden fishing spot. You’ll come home with some excellent memories and fish stories, even if you don’t come home with any actual fish.
Baba Booey/Google
Bartlett Dam was built on the Verde River in the 1930s and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The dam creates Bartlett Lake upriver from the campground.
The last three miles to the campground is a maintained gravel road. You can make the trip in a car, but things are going to get dusty and dirty.
NANCY DEROSE/Google
Your site will include a picnic table and a fire ring. There is also a vault-style toilet at the campground. Bring plenty of water as there is none available on site, and plan to pack out all of your trash.
Ron Edwards/Google
No motorized boats are allowed on this stretch of the Verde River, so you can enjoy the peace and quiet of nature.
Gia Janisse/Google
Or take a short drive to Bartlett Lake and see why it has been a favorite of anglers since the dam was built.
In addition to kayaking and fishing, Riverside is an excellent spot for birdwatching. Be on the lookout for bald eagles, as they are occasionally spotted in the area. Be sure to check the bald eagle seasonal closures before you head out. Roads in the area are sometimes closed near nesting areas to protect the eagles and their babies.
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Address: Riverside Campground, 4340 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018, USA
