Rose Canyon Campground has one of the prettiest names in this book, and it’s well deserved. On the banks of both Rose Creek and Rose Canyon Lake, the campground is a riparian oasis, especially after heavy rain.
Popular among anglers, it features 74 individual sites and two group areas. It’s big, but not so big that a true outdoors experience gets lost in a sea of RVs and pavement. Trout are prevalent in the lake, which lures a variety of bird species. Bring your binoculars and while away the afternoon with a little bird-watching. Take a walk through the woods. Sit lakeside with a book.
No matter what you do, you’ll want to keep coming back to Rose Canyon Campground — partly for its proximity to Tucson, partly for its beauty.
Elevation: 7,000 feet
Directions: From Tucson, travel north on the Catalina Highway for 18 miles to the campground.
Information: Santa Catalina Ranger District, Coronado National Forest, 520-749-8700 or www.fs.usda.gov/coronado
Season: Year-round
Fee: $18 per night
Reservations: Yes
Amenities: Toilets, Pets, Water
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