The Mogollon Rim Road, or Forest Road 300, winds along part of the 200 mile long Rim, offering stunning views of the Arizona desert and forest down below, with drop-offs at some overlooks plunging to more than 1,000 feet.
We started our Rim Road journey near Show Low, Arizona and camped the first night a couple miles from the edge of the Rim. We drove only about a mile west of US-60 to a forest road on the right, where we found a nice level camping spot with great views and some privacy. There were a couple of other campers in Sprinter vans just down the road, but we never saw anyone or heard any human noise.
There was a forest fire burning somewhere in the area, and the sky was hazy and red as the sun fell across the forest down below. The fire apparently grew overnight, and we were forced to break camp early and move on down the road a bit to avoid the heavy smoke.
Hot Days and Cool Nights
In mid-June, the daytime temperatures in this part of Arizona are much cooler than the lower parts of the desert down below the Rim, yet it was still warm enough to cause us to wait to set up camp closer to sunset. The nights were nice and cool though, especially after midnight, when the temperatures dropped below 60 degrees F. Until it cooled off, we ran a couple of small rechargeable fans up in the windows of the Roam Adventure Company rooftop tent to create a cross-flow of air. We’re pretty happy with these little fans, and were very surprised to find that they lasted all night. They’re rechargeable from a USB port, and in our case we top them off during the day from the solar panel. You can find the fans on Amazon.
A Bittersweet Camping Trip
It was on this trip to the Mogollon Rim that our sweet 15 year old Blue-Heeler mix, Lulu Belle, finally succumbed to a degenerative illness she’d been fighting. She was a dog who always loved to be “on the go”, and who would stand with head cocked – giving out the occasional “come on, let’s go!” bark at the front door – anytime that camping gear appeared near the door. Over the course of the trip she began to refuse food and gradually her body shut down. We are grateful she got to have one last big adventure, filled with everything from the excitement of seeing buffalo and antelope in New Mexico, to swimming in the cool waters of Elephant Butte Reservoir.
The kind veterinarians and staff at Alta Sierrra Animal Hospital in Show Low helped her on her path over the Rainbow Bridge. We’re eternally grateful for their kindness and compassion during the time we were there.
It seems we were not the only ones to suffer the loss of a beloved dog there – along the Rim Road we saw several posters for a beautiful German Shepherd who had become separated from its owner.
We Continue On…With Heavy Hearts
After much reflection, we decided to continue on our journey, rather than heading home to Austin – carrying on in the spirit of our happy traveling girl. We promised ourselves to say a little “woof” every time we saw something along the way that she would have enjoyed. We spent another day in Show Low, then drove on up past Heber, Arizona, where we got on another segment of the Mogollon Rim Road, just past the community of Forest Lakes. We turned right onto Forest Road 300 just before the road begins to descend down off of the rim. About a half-hour’s drive down the road we found a nice dispersed camping spot in the forest, about a mile away from the Rim. Although we were some distance from the notoriously windy Rim, the wind in the trees above was so loud that it kept us awake for much of the night.
A Nice, Mostly Smooth Section Of The Mogollon Rim Road
The section of the Mogollon Rim that we traveled after Show Low was quite different. It was well maintained, not full of OHV’s, and wide enough along the steep sections next to the drop-off that we felt very safe. If you’re looking for a section to test out your 4×4’s capabilities, this is probably not it.
We turned off where the pin is located in the photo above, just before the highway drops down into Christopher Creek. (This is from The Delorme Atlas and Gazeteer of Arizona.)
There are some nice dispersed camping spots along the Mogollon Rim here, but just be aware that you may get lots of wind if you don’t seek shelter farther back into the forest. At one of the more popular viewpoints we saw the remains of a small tent wrapped around a tree – about 15 feet up – which left us wondering exactly what happened. See the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest website for more info about dispersed camping along the rim.
Be sure to follow all rules regarding campfires – when they are allowed. Currently no campfires are allowed due to severe drought conditions. Below is an excerpt from the National Forest Service’s website concerning dispersed camping along the Mogollon Rim and other areas of the forest:
“The majority of campgrounds on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests are primitive and offer dispersed camping. You may camp outside of recreational areas anywhere on the Forest at no charge. Potable water, toilets, and other amenities are not generally available. If you choose to camp outside recreational areas, be sure to bring adequate water or be prepared to purify any water source before drinking. Also, remember if you pack it in, then pack it out. Don’t leave your trash for others to clean up. No permits are required to camp in Wilderness areas.”
Cautionary Notes About Dispersed Camping Along The Mogollon Rim
- Be sure to drown all campfires – when they are allowed. Fires are not currently allowed in the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest.
- Be careful about camping under dead or dying trees. Beetle kill is a problem here and many trees have been weakened by drought and insects.
- Avoid camping in sensitive wildlife zones. There are signs along the forest roads indicating these zones.
- Be Bear Aware. There are numerous black bears here, and unfortunately some have become accustomed to people.
- Gas up beforehand. There are few gas stations along the Mogollon Rim to be prepared with a full tank.
- You’ll have some wind. Most times of the year are windy along the Rim. Be sure to stake your tent well!
- The road is dusty – it’s best to camp well off of the road if you prefer food without grit.
- Leave No Trace.
For more on our drive of this segment of the Mogollon Rim Road, you can watch our YouTube video below. Be sure to like and subscribe if you enjoy it!
- Wells, Charles A (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 236 Pages - 07/10/2020 (Publication Date) - Funtreks Inc. (Publisher)
After a few more nights of dispersed camping on the Mogollon Rim Road, we headed on up northwest – toward Kanab, Utah, where we visited Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. You can read our article and see a drone video of driving to the Paria Ghost Town Here.
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