Camping (Phoenix, Mesa, Show Low: insurance, mattress, felon)

[markas214]

I plan on moving to the Phoenix area within a year. One thing I like to do is hike and camp. Obviously the summer would be too hot but when is a good time? Is it safe to drive into the desert with a 4x4 and put up a campsite with a tent, a fire and cook out in the open. I am concerned about wildlife and also the possibility of running into smugglers of drugs and people.

I am not a paranoid and realize people do camp in Arizona. I also am aware of the diverse landscape from desert to mountain. Where do people go? Do you carry firearms for safety? What about rattle snakes, mountain lions and coyotes? Anyone go hunting?

My thought is to drive a pickup in and possibly use a tent that you can place in the truck bed to be safe from snakes. Am I too worried?

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by markas214

I plan on moving to the Phoenix area within a year. One thing I like to do is hike and camp. Obviously the summer would be too hot but when is a good time? Is it safe to drive into the desert with a 4x4 and put up a campsite with a tent, a fire and cook out in the open. I am concerned about wildlife and also the possibility of running into smugglers of drugs and people.

I am not a paranoid and realize people do camp in Arizona. I also am aware of the diverse landscape from desert to mountain. Where do people go? Do you carry firearms for safety? What about rattle snakes, mountain lions and coyotes? Anyone go hunting?

My thought is to drive a pickup in and possibly use a tent that you can place in the truck bed to be safe from snakes. Am I too worried?

Like many, even some who live here, you have a very serious misconception about Arizona. This is a year-round camping/outdoors paradise. It doesn't get any better than this. I could not begin here to tell you all the places you can go - millions upon millions of acres of desert monuments and BLM land in the winter; national forest with tall pines and alpine peaks, trout lakes and streams for summer; and hundreds of miles of undeveloped lake shores where you can camp in all seasons - all within 200 miles of your door. You can camp pretty much anywhere you like in any of them except when fire restrictions are on.

Forget about the snakes, already. I'm too old to sleep on dirt anymore , but in the many years I tented, the two things that I had trouble with were racoons and bears (on the White Mountain Apace Reservation). I do carry a gun with me, but I have not run into drug smugglers or illegals (unless they are from a church group ) or other bad people out there, so it gets used for practice and pleasure. Bad things do happen now and again, so it is a good idea to be prepared. As long as you are not a felon (and a few other things) you can legally carry a gun openly in this state without any kind of permit and you can get a permit to carry it concealed.

[Lovehound]

I've camped on the Mogollon Rim near Show Low, in the hills around Williams, at Apache Lake, on the north rim of the Grand Canyon, on the Colorado River near Peach Springs, at Monument Valley, at Organ Pipe Nat'l Monument, overlooking Lake Mead from the AZ side, at Canyon de Chelle... Nope, there aren't very many places to camp in AZ.

You don't need to worry about any of those things in any of the above. Just pick a place appropriate to the season. You wouldn't go camping at Williams in the winter. You wouldn't go camping at Organ Pipe in the middle of the summer (or at least be prepared for heat).

I wouldn't be concerned about safety (from humans) except very close to the Mexico border, due to drug smuggling and illegal immigration activities. As far as I understand it, you can carry a gun but if you conceal it you need a concealed carry permit. I expect if it's in your glove compartment then that's concealed. You had better check the laws to ensure you understand them so you can avoid breaking them. OTOH, nobody ever asked me if I was carrying a gun.

I've never seen a rattlesnake or any other dangerous wildlife but use your head. Look where you reach, look where you put your feet, especially in the desert. Don't pick up venomous reptiles, insects or arthropods. (Duh! ) Avoid sleeping on the ground. Sleep in your truck, or on a cot, or inside a tent with a zippered door. If you set your shoes on the ground, look inside before putting them on. (No, don't FEEL inside!!!) Wanna meet a scorpion?

I particularly recommend visiting Monument Valley (stay at the Navajo operated campground), and Canyon de Chelle (in nearby Chinle or at Navajo operated campground), and the north rim of Grand Canyon at any of the nearby campgrounds, or primitive camps in the forest outside the park.

Cook on your camp stove. You can have open fires on BLM land if there's a fire ring. Follow park rules inside national and state parks, they usually allow fires but only in fire rings or pits that are provided. Don't have an open fire if you perceive a fire danger, and find out in advance where fires are allowed.

More information: National Park Service Arizona Park Guide

Have fun!

[AZ Tracy]

Some great recommendations in the above posts.

If you just want to get away for a quick trip, I'd suggest Usery Mountain Park. It's just on the fringes of Mesa, in the East valley. We camped there awhile back and started out on a walk in the evening with our dogs, and ran into a pack of coyotes.....they ignored us, thank goodness. It was amazing though, to enjoy the stars at night, see wildlife, hike....and if you forgot something, it was a 10 minute drive to the nearest Bashas' grocery store!

[aj661]

I never thought about Usery park. It's close enough I wouldn't need to bring a cooler, just drive home and raid the fridge! I'm not a big fan of camping in the desert since I've lived in it for 46 years.

Personally, we only camp on the Rim. I posted a dark photo of our campsite last year. It's literally right on the Rim. I have to disagree with the comment about it being too hot to camp in the summer-it's the BEST time to camp. Ponderosa and Lovehound covered everything else, but if you're going to sleep in a tent, put it on the ground. Even at our advanced ages (early and mid fifties) we still do the tent. Add an air mattress and we're good to go. We owned a pop-up trailer for two seasons but it was a pain in the butt so we went back to basics. One of the best things about our spot is it's free since it's a primitive campground. The sites are huge and very private rather than packed in like sardines at Woods Canyon. The worst thing about it is way too many people have discovered it over the last eight years. It used to be half empty on weekends. Now we only go during the week when we can go at all. The only critters we deal with there are squirrels, elk, deer, mosquitoes and ants. As far as taking a gun camping...I take one when I go shopping so that's a no-brainer for me.

BTW, Lovehound-if it's in a holster in the glove box, it's not considered concealed. If you get stopped, obviously tell the officer about it before you open the glove box looking for your registration and proof of insurance.

[Lovehound]

I agree with AJ about camping on the rim. I love camping on the rim of the Grand Canyon because the views are so fantastic. I sometimes just sit in a chair in my campsite and gaze over the rim into the canyons and the gorge and it just blows my mind!!! Most of the rim places I've found are on the north side, for example take the dirt roads outside the main part of the national park perhaps out of Fredonia or Jacob Lake. Be warned that this is not for novices and 4 wheel drive may be helpful or even required.

As far as having your gun in your glove box, as I said I'm not informed on carry laws in AZ. However it might be handy to have your registration/insurance kept separate from your gun. I think I'll check out the laws before my next AZ camping trip, just to be safe. Actually I'd like to move to AZ and get a carry permit, and I am considering that move which is why I'm active in the AZ forum sections.

[YAZ]

If you have a pistola in the glove box and you get pulled over, then you MUST keep your hands on the steering wheel as the LEO approaches your vehicle. Basically, keep your hands where they can see 'em.

More than likely the LEO will ask right away about weapons in the vehicle, if not, tell 'em right away. They'll confiscate the firearm briefly while they do a background check on you.

If you have a CCW permit, present that immediately.

Don't start digging for paperwork until the LEO asks you for it.

About camping:

Please make sure you're not setting up camp in the middle of a wash.

[AZ Tracy]

Originally Posted by Lovehound

I agree with AJ about camping on the rim. I love camping on the rim of the Grand Canyon because the views are so fantastic. I sometimes just sit in a chair in my campsite and gaze over the rim into the canyons and the gorge and it just blows my mind!!! Most of the rim places I've found are on the north side, for example take the dirt roads outside the main part of the national park perhaps out of Fredonia or Jacob Lake. Be warned that this is not for novices and 4 wheel drive may be helpful or even required.

As far as having your gun in your glove box, as I said I'm not informed on carry laws in AZ. However it might be handy to have your registration/insurance kept separate from your gun. I think I'll check out the laws before my next AZ camping trip, just to be safe. Actually I'd like to move to AZ and get a carry permit, and I am considering that move which is why I'm active in the AZ forum sections.

I bet AJ661 was talking about the Mogollon Rim...but, both are beautiful!

[Beena]

You are gonna want to rethink that "I am not a paranoid " thing

Mogollon Rim is beautiful. Forest Lakes are at about 9000 feet elevation and it is cool there year round. Hour and a half drive from Phoenix and beautiful country that rivals the mountains of Colorado.

[Lovehound]

Originally Posted by YAZ

If you have a pistola in the glove box and you get pulled over, then you MUST keep your hands on the steering wheel as the LEO approaches your vehicle. Basically, keep your hands where they can see 'em.

Don't start digging for paperwork until the LEO asks you for it.

I do that even here in Los Angeles, right in the city. Nervous police officers can result in ballistic perforation of suspicious looking drivers. Not that I'm suspicious looking, but I'm allergic to lead pellets flying at high speed.

Originally Posted by AZ Tracy

I bet AJ661 was talking about the Mogollon Rim...but, both are beautiful!

OIC.

Originally Posted by Beena

Mogollon Rim is beautiful. Forest Lakes are at about 9000 feet elevation and it is cool there year round. Hour and a half drive from Phoenix and beautiful country that rivals the mountains of Colorado.

I would call the Mogollon rim pretty and the Grand Canyon blow your mind knock you down then pick you up and blow your mind again and knock you down again, staggeringly, awesomely, totally spectacular, and beautiful beyond words.

There is absolutely nothing on the planet that can compare with the Grand Canyon. That's why Arizona chose to call their state "Grand Canyon State." That's why you see the slogan on most AZ license plates.

Not that the Mogollon rim isn't pretty.