The best camping near Prescott National Forest

You decide if this place is a desert or pine forest in central Arizona. It depends on where you visit. See brown scrub vegetation and desert surroundings at lower elevations. Hike, drive, or climb upwards to find a mountainous landscape dominated by Ponderosa pines.

This vast area offers plenty to do. Drive to Palace Station, just south of Crooks Canyon. You won't find many people here because it's a ghost town in the Bradshaw Mountains. One lone building remains, and it's pretty much in the same condition as it was in the early 1900s.

Pan for gold in Lynx Creek to appreciate what pioneers went through. You might see one tiny flake of gold in an afternoon. Call ahead as Lynx Creek may not be open during inclement weather.

Camp underneath tall pine trees for some shade at upper elevations. This forest features RV, tent, and equestrian sites, as well as cabins.