CAMPANAC.
U.S. Forest Service · Apache National Forest · AZ

Rainbow (AZ)

Rainbow Campground, Apache-Sitgreaves National ForestPhoto · Conservation Legacy
Not publishedStatus
ReservableAccess
166Sites
180 ftMax rig

The place

Rainbow is the largest campground in the Big Lake Recreation Area in eastern Arizona. Because of its proximity to the lake, size and the many amenities it offers, Rainbow is a favorite for families. Popular activities include hiking, horseback riding and fishing. Recreation The campground is adjacent to 450-acre Big Lake, one of Arizona's top fishing lakes. The lake is known for its trout fishing, with rainbow, cutthroat, brook and Apache being the most sought-after species. The recreation area is also popular for hiking, mountain biking, birding and wildlife viewing. Keep reading

Curious campers can attend educational programs at the recreation area's visitor center. Facilities The facility boasts 165 campsites organized into six loops. Four double sites are available for up to 16 people each, which is convenient for larger families, and two single unit accessible sites are also available. A small store nearby sells gas, food, boat rentals and firewood. A campground host is available on-site for visitor assistance. Natural Features Rainbow Campground sits at an elevation of 9,000 feet in the White Mountains. It is a very scenic area, forested with ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, spruce and aspen trees, which provide ample shade. Summer temperatures are pleasant and cool, a nice respite from the heat of the lower desert. Visitors should come prepared for cool nighttime temperatures and occasional summer thunderstorms. Nearby Attractions Visitors can explore endless vistas and take part in many outdoor activities in the surrounding Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, which encompasses 2 million acres of magnificent mountain country in east-central Arizona and New Mexico. Springerville, Arizona is the closest town to the campground.

SRC · Recreation.gov RIDB full extract · 2026-08-23

The sites · 166

LoopSiteTypeMax rigElectricADA
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MANAGEMENT SITESXXXmanagement45 ft—
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PTHR003standard nonelectric99 ft—
PTHR008standard nonelectric66 ft—
PTHR017standard nonelectric99 ft—
PTHR019standard nonelectric99 ft—
PTHR029standard nonelectric99 ft—
PTHR031standard nonelectric60 ft—
PTHR032standard nonelectric66 ft—
PTHR037standard nonelectric30 ft—
PTHR039standard nonelectric85 ft—
PTHR046standard nonelectric87 ft—
PTHR049standard nonelectric125 ft—
PTHR058standard nonelectric99 ft—
PTHR064standard nonelectric99 ft—
PTHR067standard nonelectric99 ft—
PTHR078group standard nonelectric99 ft—

SHOWING 60 OF 166 SITES

SRC · Recreation.gov RIDB full extract · 2026-08-23

Booking

183 daysBooking window before arrival

Recreation.gov default: most campsites can be booked six months prior to arrival date. Most campgrounds go on sale at 7am PT / 8am MT / 10am ET, but not always; check the facility Seasons and Fees tab. Some locations also offer shorter supplemental booking windows.

Book on recreation.gov
SRC · Rules verified against recreation.gov · 2026-08-24

Your representative

This campground sits in AZ-02. This member’s public-lands record →

SRC · U.S. Census TIGER · MTJP Scorecard