Upper Arcadia Group Areas
USFS · Group Campground · Fee
Fast facts
- Cost
- Fee charged
- Managed by
- USFS
- Type
- Group Campground
- Hours
- Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
- Reservations
- fs.usda.gov
- Nearest dump station
- Big Lake Dump Station Dump Station · 88.2 mi
- Coordinates
- 32.6495, -109.8186
- Last verified
- September 18, 2026
About this place
When early settlers ventured up Mount Graham, the Arcadia area was usually as far as they got on the first day. A little later in the history of the Pinale?os, Arcadia was the site of one of several Civilian Conservation Corps camps established in the 1930s to provide jobs for workers idled by the Great Depression. Today, Arcadia Campground is the first campground visitors encounter on their way up Mount Graham by way of the Swift Trail (AZ 366), which was built by those Depression-era workers. Arcadia Campground is shaded by stands of tall ponderosa pine interspersed with Gambel oaks and Arizona walnuts. Such a diverse habitat makes this an excellent area for bird watching. You can access the lower trailhead of the Arcadia National Recreation Trail #328 at this campground. Note: Black bear area. Store and dispose of all food in bear-proof containers and trash bins, or keep it locked in your vehicle with windows all the way up.
From the USFS.
Is Upper Arcadia Group Areas free?
No. Upper Arcadia Group Areas charges a fee. It is managed by the USFS. Sites are reservable through fs.usda.gov.
How do I get to Upper Arcadia Group Areas?
From Safford drive south 8 miles on US 191 to AZ 366. Turn right (southwest) onto AZ 366 and drive 11.6 miles. Turn right on the road just past the entrance to Arcadia Campground entrance. Check local road conditions during winter months.
Nearby
SourceData from the USFS. Last synced September 18, 2026. Community reports and photos are submitted by travelers and are not verified by the agency.
