Rose Canyon Campground

Beautiful place, very peaceful.

This site has a man-made lake with handicap accessible fishing. I visited in September (?) 2016. Very nice, new-looking ramada with a water spout, picnic tables, grills, and fire ring by the main parking lot at the lake. The vault toilets by the lake are some of the nicer ones I've seen and smelled, and they are some sort of composting toilets. The campgrounds are spread out between the main road and the lake and look very nice, lots of pine trees everywhere. I didn't check out the pit toilets in the campgrounds. There are water spouts around the campgrounds, also many sites appear large enough for big RVs and the roads are mostly paved. I didn't camp here, just came for the day to hike around the lake. The trail ends at the dam, which can't be crossed. I didn't see many people camped here, but there were lots of people fishing including little kids and someone in a wheelchair at the end of the fishing dock. Very quiet and scenic area. Don't remember the fees exactly, I think it was something like $8 for day use and around $20 for camping, and you need a license to fish if that's your thing. With T-mobile I have no coverage in this area, I have to drive back to Windy Point to get a signal.

My dog and I stayed here 2 nights to escape the brutal Tucson heat and we weren't disappointed. Weather was great with cool nights. Camp hosts attentive. This part of the campsite has spacious campsites and there are RV only sites as well. Water faucets and bathrooms thruout the property. Heavily wooded sites with plenty of shade. Paved road in good condition. The farther you drive closer to the lake the smaller the tent sites become as well as crowds.
If you have Senior Pass the nightly rate is $11 rather than $22.

Incredible ride up the Catalina Hwy on Mt Lemmon. Rose Canyon camp is mostly for tents, they do have a few RV sites, the loop we stayed had a very steep entrance so beware. You can reserve on Reservation.gov. The camp hosts were wonderful. The lake is well stocked, our neighbor caught a rainbow trout and he and his family enjoyed it for dinner. No cell coverage/service, but pulled in local TV on RV antenna well, it rained most of our stay. Take a ride to Summerhaven, they have the best fudge shop.

The road was very easy and the campsites were all pretty clear.

I was confused at first about which campsites were reserved as so many spots had green tags hanging on them with numbers. Turns out those are there for campsites that need to be cleaned. A campsite is only reserved if it has a red and white RESERVED sign hanging on it WITH information written on it about a reservation.

The price was steep and I paid it because the free dispersed camping sites were all locked up while I was on Mount Lemmon. (The price is the only reason I took a star off the rating.) However, for $26/night you get a beautiful, cool, peaceful spot to camp with the most AMAZING views of the stars at night! And the lake at the end is a fun little hike as well. (And the crisp freshness of the air around sunrise? Unbelievable 💖)

Do be cautious after dark about critters. While taking photos of the stars I heard something non-human coming my way. Thank goodness I had a flashlight on me or that skunk and I may have had a very different meeting!

Easy access to Summerhaven and what a treat that town is!

While at the campground I had no cell signal (AT&T) and no wifi (Verizon).

Camp is a little ways off the main road easily marked and accessible. Only 26 a night for a good size camp ground with a table, a standing grill and a fire pit. The hosts there seem to be selling fire wood.
Restrooms and potable water is available. Weather was way cooler than Tucson.
Stayed at site 22
No signal for At&T

I've been camping here over the last 30 years. Sometimes it was a big ruckus with holiday revelers. A new concessioner has taken over managing this CG. Prices have gone up, it's high for what you get. $26 dollars for disgustingly dirty pit toilets; dirt roads, with lots of golf cart and auto traffic (even on a quiet weekend), which were causing a very dusty camp due to the very hot and dry summer conditions; a single available water spigot near the pit toilet which you can't even wash your hands at because they want you to haul water to your site and use it there. The site has a drum style fire ring, concrete table, bear proof storage box, and a tent pad area. A group trash can is nearby. Site 34 was a first-come site. It's an odd shape, like a figure 8. I backed in my full-size truck and had enough room for two small tents. I'd take this spot again. There are a lot of saplings that create a small wall on one side and it should be better shade once some grow up. The lake has very limited use: fishing and walking around while bumping into and skirting around tons of people with the same idea. You cannot go wading or use any watercraft of any sort.

I went the weekend prior to 4th of July weekends and it was full with good, mellow neighbors. But, I have experienced this place getting mighty loud and rowdy in the distant past. I wondered if the new management company has changed the tone due to better supervision, RV only loops for apparently 1/2 the sites, and higher prices. I looked at the reservations for just after 4th of July, which landed on a Tuesday, and they were just about sold out from Saturday to Saturday. I chose to avoid the crowds because the highway and trails get very dodgy with that many people on the mountain trying to find room for themselves, not to mention the cyclists that take up the auto lanes.

They have turned 3 of the camp loops into RV only sites. I cruised them and they were very, very tight. Two sites were able to accommodate a slightly bigger rig, the rest of the sites are best left to pop up trailers, vans and Scamp sized rigs. What I saw at most of the RV sites was a single pop up sized RV with a bunch of tents set up around them. Those groups were sitting outside lounging peacefully.

I had to drive higher up the mountain, towards the town, to get cell service on ATT. I was able to make calls and texts at the right location. We made a call and took a nice walk a Butterfly trail head where there is a free parking lot (currently 7/2023) and a fly ridden pit toilet. Lots of flowers, birds, and butterflies to be found.

I tried to find some dispersed camping before RCCG but they were all taken. I'll have to get further away from 4th of July and other summer holidays to land a free spot some time. No luck this trip.

The benefit of Rose Canyon CG is that you can reserve it through Recreation.gov. I camp with children so that takes one of the stressors out of the equation. From Tucson, this is the closest option to escape the heat. There are pros and cons about doing Mt. Lemmon, especially during the summer, be sure you are up for the potential stressors. It can be a circus on the mountain. Choose your dates wisely.

I stayed 3 nights at RV site 45 in the Willow Edge Loop in a 20ft conversion van. The potable water spigot in Willow Edge was inoperable during my stay but the one across the road in Willow Canyon was usable and not too far. The primitive toilet for these two loops is located in the center of Willow Edge and was well stocked with toilet paper and as clean as a primitive toilet can get. Both loops were paved. I’ve listed my opinions on the sites in these two loops at the end of this review. I had no cell service (Verizon) at my site or anywhere along the main roadway.

The road down to Rose Canyon Lake was cordoned off to vehicles during my stay. I’m not sure if that was for temporary reasons or if it is only open when the Camp Store is open (Friday 11a - Sunday ). I walked down to the lake and the view was tremendous. I highly recommend making the trek but note that the walk down is relatively steep but not too far and is paved the entire way.

Overall I think that this is a very well maintained campground and an excellent option to escape the Tucson heat. I would stay here again and I would recommend others to stay here.

Willow Canyon (WC) & Willow Edge (WE) RV Sites:
40 (WC) — Small site. Overlooks roadway. Can see neighboring site but isn’t close.
41 (WC) — Saw a ~28ft. 5th wheeler parked here. Site located on a hill so not super spacious beyond the RV flat, picnic table, and fire pit. Can see neighboring site but isn’t close.
42 (WC) — Second best site. Private but overlooks roadway. Not overly spacious.
43 (WE) — Small site. Your choice of view is either the roadway or the backside of your neighbor’s RV.
44 (WE) — Best site. Private and spacious. Really close to the toilet and water spigot.
45 (WE) — Ideal for a motorhome with no tow vehicle or a very small RV. RV flat is ~30ft. long with no extra room nearby for vehicle parking. The flat is on a terrace and you have to walk down 6 fairly large steps to get to the picnic table and fire pit. You are right next to site 46 so these would be a good option for a group but not ideal if you are seeking solitude. The area off the picnic/fire pit is flat and easily traversed if you want to explore or throw around a sports ball.
46 — Big site. Flat, no stairs. Saw a truck with a 20ft. trailer parked here. Same picnic/fire pit situation as site 45.

I stayed 3 nights at RV site 45 in the Willow Edge Loop in a 20ft conversion van. The potable water spigot in Willow Edge was inoperable during my stay but the one across the road in Willow Canyon was usable and not too far. The primitive toilet for these two loops is located in the center of Willow Edge and was well stocked with toilet paper and as clean as a primitive toilet can get. Both loops were paved. I’ve listed my opinions on the sites in these two loops at the end of this review. I had no cell service (Verizon) at my site or anywhere along the main roadway.

The road down to Rose Canyon Lake was cordoned off to vehicles during my stay. I’m not sure if that was for temporary reasons or if it is only open when the Camp Store is open (Friday 11a - Sunday ). I walked down to the lake and the view was tremendous. I highly recommend making the trek but note that the walk down is relatively steep but not too far and is paved the entire way.

Overall I think that this is a very well maintained campground and an excellent option to escape the Tucson heat. I would stay here again and I would recommend others to stay here.

Willow Canyon (WC) & Willow Edge (WE) RV Sites:
40 (WC) — Small site. Overlooks roadway. Can see neighboring site but isn’t close.
41 (WC) — Saw a ~28ft. 5th wheeler parked here. Site located on a hill so not super spacious beyond the RV flat, picnic table, and fire pit. Can see neighboring site but isn’t close.
42 (WC) — Second best site. Private but overlooks roadway. Not overly spacious.
43 (WE) — Small site. Your choice of view is either the roadway or the backside of your neighbor’s RV.
44 (WE) — Best site. Private and spacious. Really close to the toilet and water spigot.
45 (WE) — Ideal for a motorhome with no tow vehicle or a very small RV. RV flat is ~30ft. long with no extra room nearby for vehicle parking. The flat is on a terrace and you have to walk down 6 fairly large steps to get to the picnic table and fire pit. You are right next to site 46 so these would be a good option for a group but not ideal if you are seeking solitude. The area off the picnic/fire pit is flat and easily traversed if you want to explore or throw around a sports ball.
46 (WE) — Big site. Flat, no stairs. Saw a truck with a 20ft. trailer parked here. Same picnic/fire pit situation as site 45.