Spencer Canyon Campground — Santa Catalina Mountains
Spencer Canyon sits up high on the Catalina Highway near Mount Lemmon, tucked into ponderosa and mixed conifer at roughly 8,000 feet. It’s a proper developed campground with defined sites, toilets, and fire rings — a real basecamp for anyone running the Santa Catalina back roads. Summers draw Tucson heat refugees hard, so expect company on weekends from May through September. Fire restrictions are common mid-summer; check current Coronado NF postings before you roll in with a load of wood.
Access is entirely via the Catalina Highway (aka Sky Island Scenic Byway) — paved all the way, so any rig makes it. The campground sits close enough to the Sawmill Canyon and back-road network to use as a launch point. Sites fill fast on summer weekends; reserve ahead or show up Thursday.
Cool ponderosa camp above 8,000 feet.
Place Details
| Type | Established Campground |
|---|---|
| Street address | Butterfly Trail #16, Soldier Camp, Arizona 85619 Get directions → |
| Elevation (ft) | 8000 ft |
| Nearest town | Tucson, AZ |
| Miles from pavement | 0.2 mi |
| Minimum vehicle | Any vehicle |
| Access road surface | Paved |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| 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 | Fire ring, Picnic table, Shade, Toilets, Trash service |
| Coordinates | Open directions |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |