Explore Rose Canyon Campground in 360°

This campground has a full virtual tour with interactive campsite markers. Walk through every loop, inspect individual sites, and see the views before you book.

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What campers say

Rose Canyon Campground on Mt. Lemmon offers clean, well‑maintained campsites in a surprising pine forest above the desert. Sites vary in size and are spaced for privacy; many include fire pits, grills, picnic tables and bear boxes, and a small lakeside store sometimes sells ice. Staff and camp hosts are consistently described as friendly and helpful, and bathrooms are kept clean. Practical trade‑offs: the drive is steep but scenic, some sites lack shade, there can be insects (yellow jackets) and wildlife (skunks, bears) to be aware of, and the lake or fire access is occasionally restricted for maintenance or fire rules.

Our summary of 271 traveler reviews.

✅ Amenities & Features

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📖 About This Campground

Rose Canyon Campground is just 17 miles northeast of Tucson, Arizona, off the Catalina Highway Scenic Drive near the summit of Mt. Lemmon. This area is popular for day use as well as overnight camping. With a high elevation, forested setting, two group picnic areas and opportunities for hiking, wildlife viewing and fishing, Rose Canyon offers a great summer respite from the city.
The campground offers spacious, single-family campsites, as well as two group day use areas with picnic shelters, one of which can be reserved for up to 120 guests. The facility is equipped with picnic tables, campfire rings with grills and vault toilets.
The campground sits high on the slopes of the Santa Catalina Mountains, at an elevation of 7,000 feet. Because of its elevation, it can be much cooler than the lower-elevation campgrounds in the area. The campsites are spacious and spread out among stands of large ponderosa pines and clusters of Gambel oak. During the summer rainy season, Rose Creek meanders through the area to the six-acre Rose Canyon Lake at the lower end of the campground. 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.
The lake is sheltered by trees and offers a pleasant setting for a walk in the woods, relaxing on the shore or spending an afternoon fishing for stocked trout. A one-mile trail around the lake is convenient for anglers and hikers. The trail is accessible from the lower parking area to a floating dock near a dam. The surrounding national forest boasts a variety of hiking and mountain biking trails, including several that traverse the 9,157-foot Mt. Lemmon.

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