Camping at Big Lake with kids. Big Lake is located near Greer, AZ, about 4 hours East of Phoenix, in the White Mountains. At 9,000 feet above sea level, it offers cooler temperatures in the summer, and is a great out-of-the-way place for a weekend camping with kids!
In fact, on this camping trip, we were not prepared for the lower temperature at night! It went from 71 during the day, to 49 at night, and this was late August. We spent the second night in our car, and vowed to never have this happen again! Otherwise, we loved this camping area and would return.
Campground
There are several campground options around Big Lake, all in the southern area: Apache Trout Campground, Cutthroat Campground, Grayling Campground, Bookchar Campground, and Rainbow Campground. We chose to stay at Apache Trout, mostly because it had available sites when we searched and was near the restrooms and showers. Check-in was at the entrance, and sites were well marked. Included at our campsite was a firepit with a grill, picnic table, and a concrete slab where we parked.
Another aspect we loved about this campground was the spacing of sites. We could barely see our neighbors through the trees! So it gave the feeling of remoteness, but with amenities nearby. The road around the campground was paved, and we took several walks around to explore and even chatted with friendly families.
Our daughter loved exploring the woods! She helped find sticks for the fire and learned about nature without even knowing. She also loved nearby Big Lake itself.
Camping at Big Lake with Kids
Activities
Greer and the surrounding area offers some lovely nature opportunities, including hiking, fishing, kayaking, and more. For our weekend camping trip, we enjoyed our campsite and the nearby lake and hiked the Indian Spring Trail nearby. More info here, and don’t miss the jaunt up the hill to the lookout!
Other things to do:
- this page on the Greer Lodge website has a wealth of ideas.
- visit the Butterfly Lodge museum for some excellent history.
- Snowy Mountain Stables offers horseback riding!
- Sunrise Park Resort is popular in the winter and summer!
