Whether you prefer pitching a tent in a quaint campground, relaxing in a luxury RV or simply unrolling a sleeping bag under the stars, Arizona camping is for you. With hundreds of recreation areas, campgrounds, RV parks and other places to stay all across the state, you'll find the right camping option for your trip – including many open year-round.
Looking for places to camp in Arizona? Our state parks are a great place to start. Visit the Arizona State Parks website, or read on for more campground and RV park listings.
June 2014
June, all month - Tubac Presidio State Historic Park
Special Photography Exhibit: Minas, Mineros y Sus Comunidades (Mines, Miners and Their Communities)
A special exhibition of antique and contemporary mining photographs will open on June 1 at the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and run through July 31. Mining: we are familiar with mines because we live in the Southwest. The image of a grizzled prospector with a pick axe comes to mind. But what is mining like today? What do mines look like in the 21st century? What equipment is used? What do miners and their families really do?These photographs depict aspects of mining from tracks and equipment, mine pits, blasting sites, mine ruins, to how miners and their families live with the good and bad of one of mankind’s oldest occupations. An international exhibition, with photographers from Hermosillo, Alamos, Tucson, Ruby, Tempe and Phoenix, the fifty-piece photographic collection reveals historic, intimate and contemporary stories of mining in Arizona and Sonora. Twenty photographers traveled throughout the region to provide unique perspectives of this industry and its communities. Download Event Poster (
1.8 MB PDF)Tubac Presidio State Historic Park is located at 1 Burruel Street in Tubac, Arizona (south of Tucson at Exit 34 on I-19). The Park is open daily from 9am to 5pm. Admission to the exhibit is included in Park admission: $5 adult, $2 youth (7–13), children free. For more information please call 520-398-2252 or visit tubacpresidio.org.
June 5 - Homolovi State Park
Star Night Party
8 - 10 pm in campground. Explore the wonders of the night sky through astronomer's telescopes at Homolovi's first Star Night Party. Online camping reservations are available (additional fee). Learn more about Star Night Parties and watch video
June 7- Catalina State Park
First Saturdays Concert Series
On the First Saturday of the month enjoy an evening concert at the Trailhead with standard park admission. Bring a chair, and your own food and water to enjoy these concerts! Concerts will be canceled during severe weather. Sponsored by the Friends of Catalina SP.
June 7: 5:00 pm. Annon and the Late Show (Jazzed R&B)
June 7 - Oracle State Park
Celebrate National Trails Day at Oracle State Park!
Ranger-led Interactive Guided Nature Hike begins at 8:30 am for one hour. Bring your favorite binoculars or identification guidebook and learn and share about the birds, plants, geology and wildlife found in the park. Reservation suggested; free with park admission.
June 14 - Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
Learn Your Lizards Guided Walks
8 am. Casa Grande outdoor educator ‘Wild Man Phil’ leads the walk June 14 walk for kids – and everyone who enjoys Arizona's most common, colorful and charismatic little reptiles. June 29 the special guest tourguide is Abi King – reptile researcher for AZ Game & Fish Department. (repeats June 29 with AZGFDs’ Abi King)
June 11 - 13 - Esplendor Resort at Rio Rico
2014 Arizona Historic Preservation Conference
The Arizona State Historic Preservation Office, the Arizona Preservation Foundation, and the City of Nogales invite you to join them at the 12th Annual Arizona Historic Preservation Conference. This year’s conference, “Economic Engines of Preservation” is being held in Nogales & Rio Rico, June 11-13, 2014. The goal of the Conference is to bring together preservationists from around the state to exchange ideas and success stories, to share perspectives and solutions to preservation issues, and to foster cooperation between the diverse Arizona preservation communities. Learn More & Register
June 13 - Red Rock State Park
Moonlight Hike & Lunar Viewing with Telescopes
7:00 pm. The Moonlight Hike is among the most popular interpretive hikes at the Park. Led by a naturalist, it gives hikers the rare opportunity to enjoy the sunset and moonrise from an overlook and return by the light of the moon, while also having the chance to learn about Sedona and its surrounding areas. Verde Valley and park history, as well as archeology, geology, botany, and riparian wildlife information, is also offered by a knowledgeable guide. The hike lasts two to 2 1/2 hours and covers a distance of approximately two miles. We will also be hosting the Astronomers of Verde Valley for a lunar viewing after the hike on top of our visitor center. The Astronomers will have telescopes and volunteers to help guide guests though the evening sky! Space is limited and reservations prior to this event are required; please call (928) 282- 6907 to reserve your space.
A $5.00 reservation fee is required as well as an entry fee upon arrival ($5.00 per adult (14 and up) $3.00 per youth (7-13), and free for children (0-6)). Rangers ask hikers to please arrive approximately 30 minutes before the starting time to insure participation. Program fees are non-refundable unless the park must cancel the hike after your arrival. Wear
June 14 - Homolovi State Park
Hopi Pottery Talk
11 am. Join Park Ranger and Hopi Potter Gwen Setalla for a discussion and demonstration of traditional Hopi pottery. She will explain, how traditional pottery is made and talk about how to recognize authentic made pottery. This will be held at the park's visitor center and will last approximately 1.5 hrs. Day use fee of $7 required. This Event is held every second Saturday of the month, except August.
Repeats: July 12, Sept. 13, Oct. 11
June 14 - Kartchner Caverns State Park
Moonlight Hike
6:30 pm. Enjoy a moonlight hike at Kartchner Caverns. Call 520-586-2283 for more info. RSVP to reservations(at)azstateparks.gov. Also: July 12.
June 21 - Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
Plants of the Bible Land Guided Walk
8 am. The Sinai Desert lies roughly at the same latitude as our own Sonoran Desert; many of the same plants common in the Middle East thrive in our Arizona climate, and can be seen here at Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Join Arboretum volunteers on a guided tour to learn about palms, pomegranates, figs, olives, and other plants of the Bible Land. Wear comfortable walking shoes and a hat, and don't forget your sunscreen and water bottle. The tour, conducted at a leisurely pace, lasts about 90 minutes and proceeds along wheelchair-accessible paths. Using references in ancient texts, guides will describe how people of the Bible Land used plants as food, medicine, and shelter in ways similar to how native peoples of Southern Arizona continue to do so in modern times. (repeats July 19)
June 21 - Homolovi State Park
Petroglyph Tour
10 am. Join a Park Ranger in a tour of Homolovi's petroglyph sites. This will require participants to have their on vehicle. Please be prepared for weather and bring plenty of water as the tour will last approximately 3 hours. There will be approximately 1.5 miles of walking on uneven terrain. Reservations can be made in advance by contacting the park at (928) 289-4106 or contact Kenn Evans by email at kke2@azstateparks.gov. Day use-fee required. This Event is held every third Saturday of the month.
Repeats: July 19, August 16, Sept. 20, Oct. 18
June 21 - Red Rock State Park
Yavapai-Apache Nation Cultural Awareness Day
10:30 am - 3:00 pm. Red Rock State Park will be hosting a Yavapai-Apache Nation Cultural Awareness Day on June 21. The event will include three dance troupes; the Gourd Dancers, Bird Dancers, and Crown Dancers whom will perform throughout the day. There will also be several craft vendors, fresh fry bread, and guest speakers representing the Yavapai-Apache Nation. The Yavapai-Apache Nation is comprised of two culturally distinct people, the Yavapai (Wipuhk’a’bah) and the Apache (Dil’zhe’e). Please join us to learn more about the tribes that first settled in this area and observe their traditional dance routines.
Though there is no reservation fee for this event parking is limited. Entry fees for Red Rock State Park are as follows:$5.00 per adult (14 and up), $3.00 per youth (7-13), and free for children (0-6). For additional information please call (928) 282-6907. Donations are suggested.
June 21 - Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
Exotic Bird Show
1 - 3 pm. Curt Scarberry and AZ Exotic Bird Rescue will host an exotic bird show at Tonto Natural Bridge. The group will bring a selection of exotic birds from their rescue to the park for the public to see. Learn about these amazing birds including include Macaws, Cockatoos, Conures, and Parrots (birds may vary). Speakers from the rescue will discuss the wonders of these animals, plus bring informative materials. Program is free with regular park entrance fee of $5 per person for everyone aged 14 years and older, $2 per person for everyone 7-13, and no charge for anyone 6 and under. Please call (928) 476-4202 with questions. For more information about AZ Exotic Bird Rescue go to their website at http://www.azexoticbirdrescue.org.
June 22 - Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
Edible & Medicinal Desert Plants Walk Guided By Dave Morris
8 am. Explore the Curandero Trail on this slow-paced guided walking tour, a one-hour walk where ethno-botanist and Choctaw Nation expert guide Dave Morris shares his knowledge about the ways native plants have fed, healed and clothed Sonoran desert peoples for more than one thousand years. ** Please note: this tour explores the Curandero Trail, which has steep sections that are not suitable for visitors who use wheelchairs or walkers.
June 22 - Red Rock State Park
Working in the Salt Mine: Native American Salt Procurement and Ritual in the Southwest
2:00 pm. Todd Bostwick will speak about the prehistory salt mining in what is now known as Camp Verde. Todd will discuss the discovery of prehistoric mining operation by the Sinagua people and how the rare-valuable item led many dangerous journeys across the Southwest through sacred lands associated with the Salt Woman deity. Todd will display several photographs of prehistoric tools discovered alongside many other artifacts discovered to illustrate this discovery. Todd Bostwick is currently the Senior Research Archeologist for Paleo West Archeology in Phoenix and the Director of Archeology for the Verde Valley Archeology Center in Camp Verde. He spent 35 years conducting archeology research in the Southwest- 21 years as the City of Phoenix Archeologist at Pueblo Grande Museum. Bostwick has a M.A. in anthropology and a Ph.D. in history from A.S.U. where he taught as a professor. He has also published several books and received many awards including the Governor’s Award in Public Archeology in 2005.
The program will be held in the Park's theatre. Please call ahead to reserve your space; the program is included within the Park’s admission fees: $5.00 per adult (14 and up), $3.00 per youth (7-13), and free for children (0-6). For additional information and reservations, please call (928) 282-6907. Please visit www.arizonahumanitiescouncil.org for more information. This program was made possible by the Arizona Humanities Council.
June 28 - Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
Geology Walking Tour
8 am. Geologists Steve Semken and Rich Leveille alternate as our special guest guides for this once-a-month walk, a chance to see rocks and volcanic formations along our main trail on a guided tour that compresses almost two billion years of geologic history into just over one educational hour! Learn about Pinal schist, the volcanic origins of Picket Post Mountain and the Apache Leap tuff. (repeats July 26 with Scott McFadden)
Butterfly Walk with ASU Professor Ron Rutowski
8:30 am. Once-a-month guided butterfly walks are a chance to see, photograph and learn about colorful butterfly species ranging from Empress Leilia to Queen, Spring Azure and more; on a relaxed and slow-moving walk that explores our Hummingbird-Butterfly Garden, Demonstration Garden and Children's Garden collections. Temperatures spike in May; wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen, carry water and stay hydrated. July 26 our guest tourguide is Adriane Grimaldi, and then August 23 its Marceline VandeWater; start time moves to 9:30AM for the season finale October 25Adriane Grimaldi and Gail Morris. (repeats July 26, Aug. 23, Sept. 27, Oct. 25)
June 29 - Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
Learn Your Lizards Guided Walk guided by Abi King
8 am. AZ Game & Fish Department reptile researcher Abi King guides this walk that’s especially popular with kids – and all who enjoy Arizona's most common, colorful and charismatic little reptiles. Abi’s here again Saturday July 12 – with Tucson author Larry Jones as our special guest, too (Lizard of the Southwestern US). (repeats July 12)
