Can you reserve a site at Owl Creek Campground?

No. Owl Creek Campground is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Owl Creek Campground, Arizona — sites, fees and cancellation alerts

Located in the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area in Arizona, Owl Creek Campground has seven campsites, picnic tables, grills, ramadas, trash receptacles, and restroom facilities available to make your stay more enjoyable. There is no potable water available at the campground.

Three of the campsites are pull-through sites, and four are pull-in sites, making the campground suitable for trailers and RVS.

The campground is a stop on the Black Hills Back Country Byway, and it is also just a quarter mile from the Gila River Boat Put-In. A trail starts near the kiosk to provide a path down to the Old Safford Bridge Picnic Area or the Gila River Boat Put-In.

Owl Creek Campground provides visitors with a beautiful view of the riparian area and Guthrie Peak, one of the highest points in Greenlee County.

Visit recreation sites within or nearby the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area:

Riverview Campground
Dry Canyon Picnic Area
Spring Canyon Picnic Area
Lee Trail Picnic Area
Serna Cabin Picnic Area & Historical Site
Bonita Creek Watchable Wildlife Viewing Area
Safford-Morenci Trail
Flying W Group Day Use Area
Canyon Overlook Picnic Area
Gila River Boat Put-In
Old Safford Bridge Picnic Area

Getting there

Owl Creek Campground is located 7 miles south of Clifton, Arizona, within the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area. The campground is located at the east end of the Black Hills Back Country Byway, about 4 miles from the turn off from HWY 191. The campground is located at the edge of a plateau overlooking the historic Old Safford Bridge and the Gila River.

Please note that the byway is a winding, unpaved gravel road maintained by nearby counties and can be navigated with a two-wheel drive high clearance vehicle without undue difficulty. The BLM does not recommend traversing the entire byway with a vehicle and/or trailer length that exceeds 40 feet, as narrow hairpin turns exist that may be difficult to navigate.

Check with the Safford Field Office for up-to-date road conditions.

32.96600, -109.30700 · 32°57'57.6"N 109°18'25.2"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 100°F in Jul, down to 60°F in Dec.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	61	66	73	81	90	100	100	98	93	83	70	60
Low °F	35	39	45	51	59	69	74	72	66	55	42	35
Precip in	1.3	1.5	0.8	0.5	0.5	0.4	3.1	3.3	1.7	1.4	1.3	1.1

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 6.2 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Fees and stay limits

The fee for overnight use, with two vehicles per night, is currently $5. Per additional vehicle is $2. The Senior and Access “America the Beautiful” passes provide a 50% discount on expanded amenity campsite fees. A large color brochure with a map of the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area is available for free from the Safford Field Office.

Stay limit: In the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area, camping at developed sites — and primitive camping elsewhere — is limited to 14 consecutive days in a 28-day period.

From Recreation.gov, which is not always current. The operator's own page is the authority on what you will be charged.

Common questions about Owl Creek Campground

Can you reserve a site at Owl Creek Campground?: No. Owl Creek Campground is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.
How long can you stay at Owl Creek Campground?: In the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area, camping at developed sites — and primitive camping elsewhere — is limited to 14 consecutive days in a 28-day period.

Also listed by

Owl Creek Campground also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Owl Creek Campground's operator.

Bureau of Land Management — data as of Aug 24, 2026

Owl Creek Campground has 7 camping unit spaces, picnic tables, grills, ramadas, and restroom facilities available to make your stay more enjoyable. The campground is a stop on the Black Hills Back Country Byway.

Camping near Owl Creek Campground

Old Safford Bridge Picnic Area 0.1 mi · Facility
Gila River Boat Put-In 0.2 mi · Facility
Black Hills Rockhound Area 8.2 mi · Facility
Serna Cabin Picnic Area and Historical Site 11.1 mi · Facility
Riverview Campground 11.4 mi · Campground
Flying W Group Day Use Area 11.4 mi · Facility
Spring Canyon Picnic Area 11.9 mi · Facility
Dry Canyon Boat Take-Out and Picnic Area 11.9 mi · Facility
Bonita Creek Watchable Wildlife Viewing Area 13.2 mi · Facility
Lee Trailhead/Picnic Area 13.2 mi · Facility
Black Jack Campground 14.6 mi · Campground
Granville Campground 15.7 mi · Campground

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Owl Creek Campground