Open Year-round
No
Reservations possible?
No
RV Hookups
No
Potable water
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

General Hitchcock Campground is a pleasant, quiet place to stay off of Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway. It gets its name from Frank Harris Hitchcock's efforts in 1933 to develop an improved road to the small town of Summerhaven near the top of Mount Lemmon. The Mount Lemmon Scenic Highway is also known as General Hitchcock Highway, Catalina Highway, Sky Island Scenic Byway, and Arizona Forest Highway 39. It's most commonly known as Catalina Highway, or Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway.

With only 11 campsites, it's much more peaceful than some of the other local campgrounds, like Rose Canyon Campground. Due to its small size, it is not recommended for RVs or trailers. It is also a Leave No Trace campground and has no garbage removal, so you will have to take out all of your own waste. There are restrooms located in the parking lot.

Each site has fire pits, bear boxes, shade, and plenty of flat space to put a tent. Any of the 11 sites is recommended. It's a beautiful little campground with lots of hiking nearby. Due to Bear Creek, there are a lot of mosquitos; bring bug spray. The creek only runs during raining seasons or during the spring snowmelt.

One of the more popular hikes is Green Mountain Trail #21. This trail will lead you from camp to Maverick Spring Trail #704, Bush Corral Shortcut Trail #21A, Bush Corral Trail #19, and Catalina Highway at mile post 18. Along the trail you will notice some areas affected by the Aspen Fire, but overall the hike is still very green and lush!

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Fall

Parking Pass

Sometimes

Open from

May 01 to November 01

Pros

Shaded campsites. Seasonal creek nearby. Hiking.

Cons

Small. No potable water. Lots of mosquitos.

Pets allowed

Allowed

Managed by

Santa Catalina Ranger District

Features

ADA accessible
Flushing toilets
Vault toilet
Picnic tables

Access

Vehicle

Total number of sites

11

Location

Nearby Lodging + Camping

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