A gray 4x4 Sprinter with a roof rack on a two-track through a wildflower meadow, cloud sitting on the mountains behind.

Forest Service group campground

Long Valley Group Campground

Forest Service group campground in Coconino National Forest Recreation, Coconino County, Arizona. 6,950 feet. 19.2 miles from Payson.

Managed by
Forest Service Coconino National Forest Recreation
Elevation
6,950 ft As the Forest Service states
Sites
1 1 group standard non-electric
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov

Overview

The Long Valley Work Center Group Campground sits among stately ponderosa pines at an elevation of 6,950 feet offering a cool respite from the summer heat of the valley below. It is also the site of a historic Forest Service work center. The campground is designed to meet the needs of large groups and can accommodate 300 people, offering picnic tables, grills, and a large fire pit. There are vault toilets. For every 25 people after the first 50, the group will need to provide additional port-a-pots.

Recreation

Many visitors spend time relaxing and exploring the area. The nearby C.C. Cragin Reservoir and Knoll Lake offer opportunities for water based recreation, while the Arizona National Scenic Trail, General Crook National Recreation Trail, and historic Cabin Loop Trail System offer opportunities for hikers, bicyclist, and equestrian users. There are also several Fire Lookout Towers in the area.

Facilities

The group campground is in a primitive setting on 5 acres. The site has grills, picnic tables, a large fire ring, trash collection and vault toilets. It is important to know that for every 25 people after the first 50, the group will need to provide additional port-a-pots. The site can accomodate up to 300 people and 50 vehicles.

Natural Features

The campground is in a forested setting adjacent to a meadow. The nearby Mogollon Rim is one of the most striking geologic features in the state. This steep escarpment, measured in thousands of feet, stretches from New Mexico diagonally across two thirds of Arizona and offers sweeping views of the landscape.

Nearby Attractions

The community of Happy Jack, Arizona has a gas station, two convenience stores and two restaurants.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • camping
  • canoeing
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • kayaking
  • mountain biking
  • photography
  • star gazing
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Long Valley Group Campground

The ringed pin is this group campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.