Camping/Overlanding areas few hours outside Phoenix? First trip looking for scenic AZ stuff

Hi. My son has a hockey tournament in Phoenix thanksgiving weekend and we're driving out from LA area. I'm considering getting to Arizona a few days area for some camping, light offroading, easy hiking. Superstition Mountains looks pretty awesome but the Dutchmen campground seems to be fully booked. I'm completely open to dispersed camping. Would this area be a good place to visit or do you guys have any other ideas? it seems there will be a cold front/weather system coming into Superstition that week so somewhere a little warmer would be nice. But I want it to be scenic. Was looking at Sedona area too. Hoping you guys can help me out. Would be my family of four either tent camping or bringing the high clearance camper trailer out there. Thanks!

 

If you can get the Lost Dutchman, go for for it, I was there a little over a month ago and was impressed by access to trails, hot showers and clean campgrounds and even had a fenced dog play area. It borders on the Tonto NF so there may be some dispersed camping along the Apache trail as you head east from the Lost Dutchman into the mountains. Just down the road from the Lost Dutchman is the Goldfield Ghost Town tourist attraction, where you can get a cold brew or dinner if you're so inclined - or as last resort, camp in their campground.

 

Thanks. Really hoping to snag a spot there but I doubt anything will open up. I would probably bring my camper trailer out there so might just find some BLM to set up on nearby.

 

Lake Pleasant has some decent campsite areas, but that is in the opposite direction of the Superstitions. East side, but still north, look out at Bartlett Lake area. 4 Peaks is east and a little bit more south.

 

There's a couple campgrounds out in the Canyon Lake/Tortilla Flats area, which is further out the Apache Trail from Dutchman. Canyon Lake Campground or Tortilla Flat Recreation Area

 

Thanks. Will check those out.

 

If you want boondocking, I would recommend BLM area outside Wickenburg or Agua Fria national monument. I am a anti-campground pay for it person. If you want specifics dm me as I dont share sites publicly. Any elevation could be cold at night.

 

I too recommend AFNM, you can camp anywhere and check out petroglyph and ruins while you're there.

 

Butcher Jones, Sycamore Creek, and Sugarloaf are all open to explore too. All on the east side as well. Sycamore and Sugarloaf have more of the open shooting crowds though. Especially on weekends. Tons of wheeling options at Butcher Jones though and access to Saguaro Lake.

 

Since we only had 24 hours and spent about 6 hours driving there, we decided to rent one of the new cabins over at Lost Dutchman State Park. Turns out it was perfect for what we needed. Super clean, warm heater, comfortable beds, and literally the best view possible of the Superstitions. We had a campfire right next to our cabin. Definitely we need to go back there. 24 hours wasn't enough. Oh, and the ghost town nearby was pretty awesome.

Thanksgiving Day we checked into the hotel, had Thanksgiving dinner with three hockey teams, and then spent the next 3 days watching my son play five games on Gilbert and Chandler. They took a second place in the tournament! Love this area in the winter. Definitely going to be back. Thanks for the tips guys

 

Looks like a great trip!

 

Oh shit @XPOTRPR, @prise, and I were there at the rink Saturday afternoon having beers and food randomly. Small world!

 

Dude for a hockey rink they have a great bar, good food, and one of the coldest rinks in the West! That's so random. Indeed small world. I was there in the morning and again in the afternoon.

 

It was definitely a solid trip with lots of memories made.

 

I was impressed with it too. The only touch point I have with hockey is being half Canadian.
I appreciate your family's recon of Lost Dutchman. We just booked a spot in the Campground for Christmas eve.

 

wtf.. small world for sure! Definitely remember seeing your guys' team there Saturday. Congrats on the 2nd place! My Mom just moved down into that neighborhood right there next to the Park/Rink.. She's originally from Michigan and is a hockey fan so I've been hitting that Tavern quite a bit lately.. super cool atmosphere. Most time I've ever spent around the Ice being an Az native.. lol

 

that's wild that you saw our team. yeah ice isn't very common in the southwest. somehow there's like 3 rinks within 30-40 miles of eachother. i'll probably be back around the same time next year... maybe we can camp. i'll have my OVRLND Campers camper on the back of my new 1st gen tundra by then!