Located in Saguaro National Park.

The six wilderness campgrounds in the Rincon Mountains are the ONLY campgrounds in Saguaro National Park. For fit hikers interested in backpacking a minimum of 4.4 miles 7 km into the rugged Rincon Mountains, six wilderness campgrounds are available.

The Rincon Mountains in Saguaro National Park rise out of the Sonoran Desert to over 8000 feet 2438 m in elevation and host vegetative communities ranging from desert cacti, desert grasslands, and oak woodlands, to mixed conifer forests. In 1976, congress designated 57,930 acres 23,443 ha within these Mountains as the Saguaro Wilderness managed as an area where the each and its community of life are untrammeled by humans, where people themselves are visitors who do not remain.

None of these wilderness campgrounds is accessible by vehicle including RVs . For car or RV camping, the only options in the immediate area are private or commercial campgrounds. Further away, there are campgrounds in the Coronado National Forest, some of which may be available to book on Recreation.gov.

This is not car or RV camping It is not possible to drive to the campgrounds.

The 6 campgrounds are primitive and offer few, if any, amenities. Campgrounds require a minimum hike of 4.4 miles 7 km to the closest lowest elevation campground, while Manning Camp is a minimum hike of 14 miles 22.5 km depending on your starting trailhead.

Water While all campgrounds are near intermittent streams or springs, during dry seasons, water may not always be available. Start your trip with at least one gallon 4 L of water per person per day. Treat all water for human consumption.

Campfires .While some campgrounds have fire rings and grills, fires are prohibited at others. Gas stoves are encouraged at all campgrounds.

Toilets. Toilets at campgrounds are rarely visited by park staff. Campers are strongly encouraged to carry and use personal hand sanitizer.

Primitive Campground Amenities

Douglas Spring 4,800 feet/1463 m 3 campsites, No Campfires There are plenty of cottonwoods and oaks in the area that provide some shade in the hotter months. Water is seasonal. The campground has a vault toilet.

Grass Shack 5,200 feet/1585m 2 campsites under the shade of large sycamores and other trees. No Campfires Chimenea Creek and Madrona Creek provide water most of the year. The campground has a vault toilet.

Juniper Basin 6,000 feet/1829 m 3 campsites. Water is seasonal often dry during the spring and fall. The campground has a vault toilet. Fires are allowed here using only dead and downed wood.

Happy Valley Saddle 6,200 feet/1890 m 3 campsites. Water is available only during wet times.The campground has a vault toilet.

Spud Rock Spring 7,400 feet/2255 m 3 campsites under the shade of pines and aspens. Water is available seasonally.The campground has a composting pit toilet.

Manning Camp 7,920 feet/2414 m 6 campsites, each with a fire ring and grill, shaded by ponderosa pines. Water is virtually always available. The campground has a vault toilet.

The 70,000 square mile 18,1299 sq. km Sky Island region of southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and northwestern Mexico is globally important because of its rich diversity of species and habitats. These mountain islands--which include the Rincon Mountainsare --forested ranges separated by vast expanses of desert and grassland plans and , are among the most diverse ecosystems in the world. The Rincon Mountains of Saguaro National Park are the largest roadless sky island in the region.