Christmas Recreation Site

BLM Bureau of Land Management · Tucson, AZ · Dispersed

View on Recreation.gov Google Maps

Conditions

Road Access Not recorded

Season Not recorded

Campfires Not recorded

Boondock Access Not recorded

The managing agency hasn't published road access, season or campfire rules for this campground. The description and directions below often mention it — and it's worth calling the agency before a long drive.

Features

Campground Stats

Total Sites

Location

33.060375, -110.72265 · Tucson Field Office , Tucson , AZ 85756

Description

The Christmas Recreation Site is along the Gila River approximately 6½ miles upstream from the Town of Winkelman, and 3½ miles upstream from the Shores Recreation Site.

The site is minimally developed to provide access for river-related recreation opportunities such as sightseeing, wildlife viewing, picnicking, camping, fishing and small craft floating. The site has gravel surfaced driveways, unimproved campsites, and a toilet.

The site is in the riparian area in mesquite-willow and cottonwood woodland, in a Sonoran Desert canyon with saguaro, mesquite and palo verde covered hills.

CAUTION RIVER FLOATERS: The river channel has many navigation hazards that make it unsafe and practically impossible to float downstream to the Shores or Winkelman and river floating is not recommended. Hazards may include a fence across the river, trees and branches overhanging the river or blocking passage, steep river banks and dense vegetation preventing portage, swift current at high flows, blind river bends.

Directions

The Gila River recreation area is located along the 9 mile section of the Gila River and SR 77 between the Town of Winkelman and Globe in Gila County, AZ, approximately 70 miles north of Tucson and 100 miles southeast of Phoenix. From Winkelman, take SR77 east to milepost 144.6 to the Christmas Recreation Site.

Activities

CAMPING Camping Area FISHING PICNICKING WILDLIFE VIEWING

Details

Fee	The Shores and Christmas recreation sites are available at no cost on a first come, first served basis. A permit is not required for private, non-commercial use of the sites. Use of public lands in connection with commercial recreational use requires a BLM Special Recreation Permit. A valid Arizona fishing license is required for Arizona resident and non-resident anglers 10 years of age or older fishing any publicly accessible water in Arizona. Youth under the age of 10 and blind residents do not need to purchase a state fishing license to fish in Arizona. More information, including about how to purchase a license, can be found on the Arizona Game and Fish Department website .
Phone	(520) 258-7200
Email	[email protected]
ADA Access	The toilets are accessible, but the paths on the grounds are uneven and present barriers.

Nearby Campgrounds

Shores Recreation Site 2.8 mi · BLM

Kellner Group Campground 20.0 mi · FS · 1 sites

Fourmile Canyon Campground 27.1 mi · BLM

Peppersauce 36.1 mi · FS · 1 sites

Schoolhouse Campground (AZ) 44.0 mi · FS · 40 sites

TIMBER CAMP RECREATION AREA and GROUP CAMPGROUNDS 44.2 mi · FS · 15 sites

Grapevine Group Campground 44.4 mi · FS · 9 sites

Whitetail Campground 44.8 mi · FS · 5 sites