Cutthroat
Campground · Arizona · 18 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
Apache National Forest (NF) · Open Access
- 18
- Bookable sites
- up to 8
- People per site
- 9,065 ft
- Elevation
Overview
Cutthroat Campground lies at an elevation of 9,000 feet in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona. It sits on the shoreline of Big Lake and affords visitors many recreational opportunities in a quiet, scenic setting. Popular activities include trout fishing and hiking.Recreation
Named after a species of trout, Cutthroat is adjacent to 450-acre Big Lake, one of Arizona's top fishing lakes. The lake is known for its trout fishing, with rainbow, cutthroat, brook and Apache being the most sought-after species. The recreation area is also popular for hiking, mountain biking, birding and wildlife viewing.Facilities
Sites for tent camping only are scattered throughout this small facility and spaced a good distance apart. Some are directly on the waterfront. The basic amenities of restrooms, picnic tables and drinking water are provided, and anglers and boaters have the convenience of a boat ramp. An RV dump station is one mile away.Natural Features
The campground is located in a very scenic area, forested with ponderosa pine, spruce, Douglas fir, and aspen trees, which provide ample shade. Summer temperatures are pleasant and cool, a nice respite from the heat of lower deserts. Visitors should come prepared for cool nighttime temperatures and occasional summer rain storms.Nearby Attractions
Visitors can 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.Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (928) 537-8888.The facts
- 18 bookable sites
- Up to 8 people per site
- Loops: CUTT
Site types
- 18 Tent Only Nonelectric
Amenities
- Pets allowed
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, campfires allowed, fire pits, picnic tables, grills, shade.
18 campsites at Cutthroat
Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 1:00 PM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | CUTT | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 002 | CUTT | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 003 | CUTT | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 004 | CUTT | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 005 | CUTT | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 006 | CUTT | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 007 | CUTT | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 008 | CUTT | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 009 | CUTT | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 010 | CUTT | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 011 | CUTT | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 012 | CUTT | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 013 | CUTT | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 014 | CUTT | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 015 | CUTT | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 016 | CUTT | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 017 | CUTT | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 018 | CUTT | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | 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 to Cutthroat Campground.
33.87222, -109.41833 · 33°52'20.0"N 109°25'6.0"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 Cutthroat
- Can you reserve a site at Cutthroat?
- Yes, Cutthroat is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Cutthroat have?
- 18 sites.
- Are pets allowed at Cutthroat?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Cutthroat.
Also listed by
Cutthroat also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Cutthroat's operator.
USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026
- Per vehicle per night $16.00 *Additional Camp Unit $16.00 Interagency/Senior Discount $8.00 EZ Camping Tent Sites Tent Package-Per night $55.00 Reservation Fee $10.00 Additional Camp Unit fees collected at the campground.
Camping near Cutthroat
- Apache Trout Campground 0.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Grayling 0.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Brookchar 0.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Rainbow (Az) 0.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Winn 7.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Big Lake Recreation Area 0.4 mi · Facility
- Big Lake Dam Parking Fishing Site 1.3 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 7.3 mi · Campground
- Aspen Campground - East Fork Black River 7.5 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.
Comments