Upper Arcadia
Upper Arcadia sits along Swift Trail in southeastern Arizona, providing an escape from desert heat and a pleasant place to take in the high desert scenery in spring and fall. Visitors enjoy hiking, camping, birding and picnicking.
The group camping area can accommodate up to 75 people. Amenities include drinking water (available seasonally), vault toilets, picnic tables, and campfire rings with grills. Bear-proof food lockers and trash cans are provided to keep visitors and wildlife safe. Dead-and-down firewood may be collected in and around the campsite. Several first-come, first-served sites are located nearby (must pay separately).
Need to Know
There is a $5 per vehicle fee. Please pay by cash or check at the Fee Station upon arrival
Drinking water is provided during peak season. Water availability is dependent on weather conditions.
For groups over 30, one portable/self-contained toilet is required for every 15 people
To keep visitors and wildlife safe, make sure all food is secure and place all garbage in the proper receptacles. If your garbage does not fit in the bins, please pack it out of the Forest. Please remove all garbage from food-storage lockers.
Season dates may depend on weather and fire conditions; call 928-428-4150 for current information
Total vehicle length must be less than 40 feet. Trailers are recommended to be less than 22 feet due to the narrow switchbacks of AZ 366.
No hookups are available
Check-in is at 2 p.m.; check-out is at noon
Maximum 75 people and 8 vehicles.
Be sure your fire is completely extinguished before leaving; do not leave fires unattended. Only dead-and-downed trees and shrubs may be collected as firewood; tree cutting is prohibited.
Pack and saddle stock are not permitted in camping area
Shooting is prohibited within 150 yards of any recreation site. Fireworks are prohibited anywhere on the Forest.
This is a high elevation facility; please use caution when traveling from lower elevations
Click here to learn more about Coronado National Forest
- Don't Move Firewood: Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org.
Natural Features
The shady campground is in a thick forest of tall ponderosa pines interspersed with Gambel oaks and Arizona walnuts, at an elevation of 6,700 feet.
The Coronado National Forest covers 1.78 million acres of southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Elevations range from 3,000 to 10,720 feet in 12 widely scattered mountain ranges, or "sky islands," that rise dramatically from the desert floor, supporting biologically diverse plant communities.
Nearby Attractions
The Mount Graham Wilderness Study Area, which includes the 10,720-foot Mount Graham, the tallest mountain in southern Arizona. Columbine Visitor Center, Riggs Lake, and a variety of trails can be accessed along the Swift Trail Scenic Drive.
The town of Safford is approximately a 30 minute drive from the Upper Arcadia campground, heading north on SR 191. Safford is home to our Ranger Station, where you can go to find information about trails, camping, hunting and fishing, and other questions you may have about our district (open Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm).
Recreation
The campground lies along the Swift Trail Scenic Drive, which takes visitors from the Sonoran Desert at 2,900 feet to alpine meadows and forest on the 9,000+ foot ridges of the Pinaleño Range. Because of its diverse habitat, the area is well-known for birding and wildlife watching.
The Swift Trail provides access to a number of hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking trails, along with several other campgrounds that invite you for an afternoon picnic. A trip up to Riggs Lake, stocked with trout by Arizona Game & Fish, or to the Columbine Visitors Center could make a worth-while day trip as well.
The Arcadia Trail #328 starts at the Upper Arcadia Campground and leads up the mountain to Shannon Campground. A 1-mile spur off this trail leads to the top of Heliograph Peak, one of the highest mountains in southeastern Arizona.
Changes & Cancellations
Please review the Rules & Reservations Policies page on recreation.gov
Contact Information
Default
711 14th Avenue, Suite D Safford AZ 85546
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 928-428-4150
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From Safford, Arizona: Take State Route 191 south for 6 miles. Turn right onto State Route 366/Swift Trail and travel 11.5 miles to the Arcadia Campground entrance (MM 125.5), taking the next right turn to access Upper Arcadia.
From Tucson, Arizona: Take I-10 East for 90 miles. Take exit 352 for State Route 191, and turn left toward Safford. Drive 26.3 miles north and turn left on State Route 366/Swift Trail. Continue for 11.5 miles to the Arcadia Campground entrance (MM 125.5), taking the next right turn to access Upper Arcadia.
Available Campsites
- Site Upper Arcadia, Loop UPPER ARCADIA, Type Group Standard Area Nonelectric
- Site Upper Arcadia Double Site, Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
