Brookchar
Campground · Arizona · 12 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
Apache National Forest (NF) · Open Access
- 12
- Bookable sites
- up to 8
- People per site
- 8,991 ft
- Elevation
Overview
Brookchar Campground is tucked on the banks of Big Lake in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona. The campground is a small, tent-only facility comprised entirely of walk-in sites. Of the lake's five campgrounds, Brookchar is nearest to the water. The stocked lake draws anglers, and boat rentals and a boat ramp make it easy for campers to enjoy the lake's blue waters.Recreation
Big Lake is one of Arizona's top trout fishing lakes, with rainbow, cutthroat, brook and Apache trout being the most sought-after species. The recreation area is also popular for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, birding and wildlife viewing.Facilities
The facility is small, with 12 tent-only, walk-to campsites. Campfire rings and restrooms are provided. A campground host resides on-site for visitor assistance.A dump station, store, firewood, gas, food and boat rentals are located a short, half-mile drive away, and showers are just 1 mile away.
Natural Features
The campground sits in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest at an elevation of 9,100 feet. The area is scenic, forested with ponderosa pine, fir, spruce and aspen, interspersed with high elevation meadows.Summer temperatures are pleasant and cool, a nice respite from the heat of lower deserts. Visitors should come prepared for afternoon thunderstorms and cool nighttime temperatures.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (928) 537-8888.Nearby Attractions
Several other lakes can be found in the surrounding area. Visitors can also explore endless vistas and take part in many outdoor activities in the surrounding Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, which encompasses 2 million acres of magnificent mountain country in east-central Arizona and New Mexico.The facts
- 12 bookable sites
- 13 sites in total, including non-bookable
- Up to 8 people per site
- Loops: BROO, MANAGEMENT SITES
Site types
- 12 Walk To
- 1 Management
Amenities
- Shade
- Pets allowed
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, campfires allowed, fire pits, picnic tables, grills.
13 campsites at Brookchar
Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 1:00 PM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 002 | BROO | Walk To | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 003 | BROO | Walk To | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 004 | BROO | Walk To | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 005 | BROO | Walk To | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 006 | BROO | Walk To | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 007 | BROO | Walk To | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 008 | BROO | Walk To | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 009 | BROO | Walk To | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 010 | BROO | Walk To | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 011 | BROO | Walk To | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 012 | BROO | Walk To | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 013 | BROO | Walk To | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 001 | MANAGEMENT SITES | Management | — | Gravel | — | 8 |
Getting there
From Pinetop, Arizona, take Highway 260 east 25 miles to Highway 273 south. Follow Highway 273 south 19 miles to Forest Road 8115 (Big Lake Entrance). Turn right and travel 2 miles.
33.87556, -109.41306 · 33°52'32.0"N 109°24'47.0"W
Typical weather
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Low °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Precip in | 2.8 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 2.8 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 4.1 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Brookchar
- Can you reserve a site at Brookchar?
- Yes, Brookchar is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Brookchar have?
- 13 sites in total, of which 12 can be booked.
- Are pets allowed at Brookchar?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Brookchar.
Also listed by
Brookchar also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Brookchar's operator.
USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026
- Per vehicle per night $16.00 Additional Camp Unit fees collected at the campground. *Additional Camp Unit $16.00 Interagency/Senior Discount $8.00 EZ Camping Tent Sites Per night $55.00 Reservation Fee $10.00
Camping near Brookchar
- Grayling 0.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Cutthroat 0.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Apache Trout Campground 0.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Rainbow (Az) 0.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Winn 7.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Big Lake Recreation Area 0.1 mi · Facility
- Big Lake Dam Parking Fishing Site 1.1 mi · Facility
- Buffalo Crossing Campground 6.6 mi · Campground
- Horse Springs Campground 7.1 mi · Campground
- Raccoon Campground 7.2 mi · Campground
- Deer Creek Campground 7.2 mi · Campground
- Aspen Campground - East Fork Black River 7.4 mi · Campground
Contact
- Phone 928-735-7313
- Email camping@rrmofa.com
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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