Christmas Recreation Site
Facility · Arizona ·
Managed by the Bureau of Land Management
Tucson Field Office (Bureau of Land Management AZ) · Open Access
- 2,058 ft
- Elevation
The Christmas Recreation Site is along the Gila River approximately 6½ miles upstream from the Town of Winkelman, and 3½ miles upstream from the Shores Recreation Site.
The site is minimally developed to provide access for river-related recreation opportunities such as sightseeing, wildlife viewing, picnicking, camping, fishing and small craft floating. The site has gravel surfaced driveways, unimproved campsites, and a toilet.
The site is in the riparian area in mesquite-willow and cottonwood woodland, in a Sonoran Desert canyon with saguaro, mesquite and palo verde covered hills.
CAUTION RIVER FLOATERS: The river channel has many navigation hazards that make it unsafe and practically impossible to float downstream to the Shores or Winkelman and river floating is not recommended. Hazards may include a fence across the river, trees and branches overhanging the river or blocking passage, steep river banks and dense vegetation preventing portage, swift current at high flows, blind river bends.
Getting there
The Gila River recreation area is located along the 9 mile section of the Gila River and SR 77 between the Town of Winkelman and Globe in Gila County, AZ, approximately 70 miles north of Tucson and 100 miles southeast of Phoenix. From Winkelman, take SR77 east to milepost 144.6 to the Christmas Recreation Site.
33.06038, -110.72265 · 33°3'37.4"N 110°43'21.5"W
Typical weather
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Low °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Precip in | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 1.3 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 11 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
Fees and stay limits
The Shores and Christmas recreation sites are available at no cost on a first come, first served basis. A permit is not required for private, non-commercial use of the sites. Use of public lands in connection with commercial recreational use requires a BLM Special Recreation Permit. A valid Arizona fishing license is required for Arizona resident and non-resident anglers 10 years of age or older fishing any publicly accessible water in Arizona. Youth under the age of 10 and blind residents do not need to purchase a state fishing license to fish in Arizona. More information, including about how to purchase a license, can be found on the Arizona Game and Fish Department website.
From Recreation.gov, which is not always current. The operator's own page is the authority on what you will be charged.
Member photos
Common questions about Christmas Recreation Site
- Can you reserve a site at Christmas Recreation Site?
- No. Christmas Recreation Site is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.
Also listed by
Christmas Recreation Site also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Christmas Recreation Site's operator.
Bureau of Land Management — data as of Aug 24, 2026
- The site has gravel surfaced driveways, unimproved campsites, and a toilet.
Camping near Christmas Recreation Site
- Kellner Group Campground 19.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Peppersauce 36.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Schoolhouse Campground (AZ) 44 mi · Campground · we watch it
- TIMBER CAMP RECREATION AREA and GROUP CAMPGROUNDS 44.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Shores Recreation Site 2.8 mi · Facility
- Pioneer Pass Camping Area 15.8 mi · Campground
- Pinal & Upper Pinal Campgrounds 16.5 mi · Campground
- Sulphide Del Rey Campground 18.1 mi · Campground
- Oak Flat Campground 25.6 mi · Campground
- Fourmile Canyon Campground 27.1 mi · Campground
- Jones Water Campground 37 mi · Campground
- Spencer Canyon Campground 44.3 mi · Campground
Contact
- Phone (520) 258-7200
- Email blm_az_tfoweb@blm.gov
- Info 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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