Camping Mama

Lakeside Fun
photo: a raft is a fun addition to the trip (this one is inflatable–so it’s easy to bring along)
Rating: 8/10
Getting There: About 2 hours and 30 minutes from Tempe.  Take the 202 east, exit 87 (Country Club) and go north, after about 80 minutes you’ll be in Payson. In Payson, take Hwy 260 east. About 25 miles out of Payson, start looking for a sign (smaller than you’d expect) that says “Woods Canyon Lake”. Turn north (left). You’ll be on forest road (FR) 300, traveling west. Go about 5 miles and turn at the sign for Woods Canyon Lake (FR 105). After about 2 miles, you’ll see the right turn for Spillway Campground.  Spillway Campground is on the Mogollon Rim, at Woods Canyon Lake, in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.   The road is paved all the way.
Elevation: 7500′

photo: wildflowers along Chevelon Creek
What I liked the most: Lake! Woods Canyon Lake is right there and the campground has beautiful views of it. The water is a 5-10 minute walk from any campsite. Also, it’s very quiet. The campground is set back from the access road (FR 105), and only trolling motors (virtually inaudible) are allowed on lake. The campground and surroundings are beautiful: pine trees, picturesque lake, lovely meadow, big rock outcroppings. It’s also easy to keep an eye on kidlets at Spillway as they explore (the campground is pretty flat).

photo, right: the lake is a few minutes walk from the campsites.

Shortcomings: no swimming in the lake. However, there is a very nice stream exiting the lake, also just a few minutes walk away, that you can splash around in. Some areas of the campground that have a somewhat steep slope, although it’s not close very to the campsites.

Amenities: picnic tables, fire rings, potable water, pit toilets. There is a camp host who sells firewood ($6/bag). Woods Canyon Lake has a boat launch (trolling motors only) and a little store (five minute drive away) sells most of the basics.

photo, above: most of the sites are similar to this one (#19). Nice and shady, roomy with lots of trees, flat tent spots.

My favorite sites: I really enjoyed site #19 (photo above), which had a lake view (as do most of the campsites), it was pretty close to water access and had several flat tent spots. The other side of the loop (i.e. sites #3-6) also looked good, with great rocks for climbing.

photo, left:  This is a general view of Spillway Campground on the hill side of the loop (#3-6).  The special thing about this part of the campground are the boulders behind the campsites, which are great for little climbing legs.  

photos, right: Chevelon Creek, flowing out of Woods Canyon Lake, is lovely and a perfect hike for the small set.

Excursions and Hikes:  When we were there (August 2008) the stream flowing out of the lake was wonderful (this is the stream in the photos). This stream is Chevelon Creek, which later goes through Chevelon Canyon and up to Chevelon Canyon Lake. At this point it is small and flows through a lush (at this time), narrow meadow. There is a path that follows it along the meadow that’s perfect for adults and little adventurers alike. Flat and very easy, the path faded at times, but seemed to quickly pick back up. We followed it for about 20 minutes out and 20 back, with lots of stops to investigate nature and munch trail mix.

Season and Reservations: From the Recreation.gov website, it appears that you can reserve just about any of the sites. Make reservations at Recreation.gov http://www.recreation.gov/welcome.do?topTabIndex=Home You can make the ressies up to six months in advance. Spillway campground is open from approximately May15-Sept 15 (depending on weather). You can make reservations during the peak summer months, then it becomes first come, first serve. Once the snow starts, the campground closes.

photo above: crazy lookin’ shelf fungus on humungous tree along Chevelon Creek.

lake photo, left: The lake shore near Spillway is good for splashing around. Wear shoes, though, because you don’t want to get hooked!
 

campsite photo, left: this photo was taken from site #19, and you can just see the blue of the lake in the background.  Many of the sites have about this much lake view.  (It’s easier to see when you’re really there.)

Also, you can go to their website: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/asnf/index.shtml
Another website for information:
http://www.camparizona.com/Campsites/PaysonCampsites/Spillway.htm
I was at Spillway Campground in August 2008.