Thank you for choosing to learn more about this gorgeous Sonoran Desert park! Picacho Peak State Park is home to a wide variety of plants, birds, and animals that have adapted to life in the Sonoran Desert. There are a number of great hiking trails here for you to explore the beauty of this desert playground. Our campgrounds are available for those of you that would like to extend your stay for maximum adventure potential! See below to learn more about the facilities offered at this park, then plan a trip and enjoy! 

Facilities available at Picacho Peak State Park

Visitor Center

The Visitor Center has public restrooms, a gift shop, plus vending machines with energy drinks and snacks. The building is currently LEED Gold Certified which means that this facility operates under stringent qualifications set forth by LEED to be a green location. 

Park Store

The gift shop, inside the Visitor Center sells maps, bottled water, magnets, collectibles, hiking books, souvenirs, and more. There are also vending machines with energy drinks and snacks. Hours vary, but are typically 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Camping & RV Sites

Picacho Peak State Park’s campground has a total of 85 electric sites for both tent and RV camping. Sites are suitable for RVs and/or tents. No more than six adults and 10 people total per site. No more than two vehicles per site. Only one motorhome/RV per site. Four sites are accessible. No water or sewer hookups are available. Access to all sites is paved. Sites are fairly level and are located in a natural Sonoran Desert setting. Both back-ins and pull-throughs are available. No maximum size limit (except no tractor trailers allowed). All sites offer a picnic table and barbeque/fire ring. Many sites also offer ramadas, and some of the sites are handicapped-accessible. Use of the dump station is included in the price for camping. Potable water is available at the dump station. Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Generator use is not permitted. There are two modern, handicapped-accessible restroom and shower buildings available at no additional charge for campers.

Second Vehicle Fee: There will be a per night fee for second vehicles. The fee will be paid upon arrival at the park. The fee does not apply to vehicles towed behind a primary vehicle when the primary vehicle remains at the site and the towed vehicle is used for transportation.

Important Note: Entrance gate is are closed nightly from 10 p.m.-5 a.m. Trails are closed from sunset to sunrise.

New: High-Speed WiFi internet access available at all campsites, provided by Airebeam. Additional fees required for access.

Campground Information

Group Reservations: Camping

All group camping areas are available only by reservation. Group reservations can be made up to one year in advance. To make group reservations, call the park directly.

Raven Group Area: Tents only with 10 people minimum and six units (vehicles) maximum. Three campsites with picnic tables and fire-rings. Walking distance to restroom/showers and water. Group fire-ring, small ramada. $25.00 Use Fee plus camping fee.

Roadrunner Group Area: Tents only with 10 people minimum and six units (vehicles) maximum. Three campsites with picnic tables and fire-rings. Walking distance to restroom/showers and water. Group fire-ring, small ramada. $25.00 Use Fee plus camping fees.

Quail Group Area:

• Four, four-table ramadas with group grill
• Electrification to ramadas
• Large group fire-ring
• Eight scattered campsites with picnic tables & fire rings
• Portable toilets & a water source
• Access to campground's restroom/shower buildings
• Set within all natural Sonoran Desert environment
• Minimum of 15 units (vehicles) required for camping
• $35.00 plus camping fees.

Jackrabbit Group Area:

• Group Area is divided into two reservable sections, EAST & WEST
• Large group fire-ring with group grill per section
• Large group ramada per section
• Scattered campsites with picnic tables and fire rings per section
• Portable toilets per section
• Access to campground's restroom/shower buildings
• Set within all natural Sonoran Desert environment
• Minimum of seven units (vehicles) required for camping, maximum 14 units per section
• 15 units minimum for exclusive use of the entire area
• $30.00 plus camping fees.

Picnic Areas/Shelters

Ramadas and other picnic areas with tables and barbecue grills are located throughout the park. Most picnic areas also offer shade roofs. Some are handicapped-accessible. Group reservations for day use are available.

Group Reservations: Day Use Areas

Reservations can be made up to one year in advance. Group reservation: day use areas may also be used on a first come, first-served basis if not reserved by another group, ask about current availability at Visitor Center.

Accessible Day Use Areas

Cholla Ramada: Four picnic tables and grills, water source. Maximum of 40 people. Wheelchair accessible. Electric (lighting and 110 volt outlets). Close proximity to parking, restrooms, hiking trails, and playground. $25.00 plus daily entrance fee.

Ocotillo Ramada: Four picnic tables & grills, water source. Maximum of 40 people. Wheelchair accessible. Electric (lighting and 110 volt outlets). Close proximity to parking, restrooms, hiking trails, and playground. $25.00 plus daily entrance fee.

Ironwood Ramada: Four picnic tables, group grill, fire ring & water source. Maximum capacity 40 people. Wheelchair accessible Electric (lighting and 110 volt outlets). Close proximity to parking, restrooms, hiking trails. $25.00 plus daily entrance fee.

Non-Accessible Day Use Areas

Mesquite Ramada: Four picnic tables, grills. Maximum capacity 40 people. Not Wheelchair accessible. Electric (lighting and 110 volt outlets) & water source. Close proximity to parking, restrooms, hiking trails. $25.00 plus daily entrance fee.

Restrooms/Showers

Two modern, accessible restroom buildings (one is subject to seasonal closures) with hot showers. Restrooms are located at the Park Visitor Center, plus the Hunter and Calloway trailheads and in the campground. Campground restrooms are handicapped-accessible. Portable toilets are available at Sunset Vista Day Use area. Our staff works hard to ensure the cleanliness of every restroom and shower within the park and take pride in offering our visitors a safe place to stay. 

Dump Station

Located at the entrance to the campground. Use of dump station is included in the price for camping. Not available to non-campers.

Activities and Experiences

Hiking Trails

Experience the very best the Sonoran desert has to offer right from our various hiking trails within the park. Choose strenuous or easy going options to suit your ability or mood. Please get a park map upon your arrival to find out where you can access this beautiful slice of desert and explore the trails. 

Wildlife and Bird Watching

The Sonoran desert is home to a wide variety of birds and wildlife specially adapted to life in the harsh desert environment. There are tons of resident and migrating birds that call the park home, and you might even catch glimpse of a desert mule deer, javelina, or fox from the campgrounds or the trails! Don’t forget to bring your binoculars and please remember to give the animals some space. 

Dark Skies

Dark skies are a natural resource! Many people now live in areas where there is so much "light pollution" stars, constellations, and the Milky Way are no longer visible. This is a growing global concern.

Picacho Peak State Park is currently looking into a formal designation as an International Dark Sky Park to protect our dark skies and allow visitors to enjoy the expansive views at the park, even at night. Our current goal is to allow for needed, purposeful lighting while reducing the glare that is detrimental to experiencing the night sky.

Many artificial sources of light exist for convenience and for ambiance rather than for safety. Unnecessary and/or poorly designed lighting can decrease the brightness of the stars and impair the ability of the human eye to adapt to natural darkness. A lack of darkness also affects wildlife as it has the potential to disrupt their night/day cycle. Many animals rely on darkness to hunt – or to be hidden from predators!

Please help by using the following guidelines:

• Temporary lights such as RV porch lights, step lights, etc. in the campground may not be left on overnight and should only be used on an as-needed basis, especially after 10 p.m. “Dark hours” are between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., same as quiet hours.
• All outside lights, including lights mounted on RVs, should be pointed toward the ground or shielded against the sky with a cover, screen, hood, or awning. Lights should not should not reach any adjacent campsites.
• Lights, including LED strings and seasonal decorations, can be mounted on poles, posts, or similar structures up to 5ft above ground. However, any such lights should still be shielded.
• Lighting on flagpoles is not permitted at any time, regardless of direction.
• Any type of blinking, flashing, pulsating, color-changing, or similar lights, images or characters are not permitted at any time.
• Low-lumen decorative awning lights such as LEDs, string lights, etc. are permitted as long as they are attached underneath the awning and don’t emit light past the horizontal.
• Small individual camping-type lanterns, headlamps and flashlights are permitted at any time for safety.

Park Rules

• Gates are closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
• Campers arriving before 12 noon on the day of arrival will be charged the park entrance fee.
• Trails closed from sunset to sunrise.
• Littering is unlawful.
• Damaging or removing the natural rocks, vegetation, native wood, or public property is prohibited.
• For your own safety, stay on designated trails.
• Drive and park only on designated paved surfaces. DO NOT pull off on side of road. 
• Obey posted speed limits and all other signs.
• Keep pets on a leash. Clean up after your pet.
• Camping in designated areas only.
• Quiet hours are observed 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• Check out time for campers is 12 noon.

Agency Rules & Regulations 

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