Rose Canyon Lake Campground — Coronado National Forest
Rose Canyon Lake Campground sits at about 7,000 feet on the Catalina Highway, wrapped around a small stocked trout lake inside Coronado National Forest. Sites are shaded by ponderosa pine and oak — legitimate shade, not the scraggly desert variety. The lake pulls families and anglers hard all summer, which means sites book out weeks in advance. Fire rings at each site, vault toilets, and a short trail around the lake. It’s not a solitude camp, but it’s a solid, reliable developed site close to the Santa Catalina back-road network.
Access is paved the whole way up Catalina Highway. The campground entrance road is short and manageable by any rig. Cell signal is weak to nonexistent — don’t count on it. Reserve on Recreation.gov well ahead for summer weekends. Off-season (October–March) the road can see snow and ice above 6,000 feet; check conditions before committing.
Trout lake camp at 7,000 feet in the Catalinas.
Place Details
| Type | Established Campground |
|---|---|
| Street address | East Organization Ridge Road, Arizona 85619 Get directions → |
| Elevation (ft) | 7000 ft |
| Nearest town | Tucson, AZ |
| Miles from pavement | 0.1 mi |
| Minimum vehicle | Any vehicle |
| Access road surface | Paved |
| Cell service | None |
| Cost (USD/night, 0 = free) | $22.00 / night |
| Reservation required | Yes — Reservation site |
| Stay limit (nights) | 14 nights |
| Best season | April-October |
| Land manager | USFS |
| Permit required | No |
| Amenities | Drinking water, Fire ring, Picnic table, Shade, Toilets, Trash service |
| Coordinates | Open directions |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |