Photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture Lance Cheung/Multimedia PhotoJournalist/USDA Photo by Lance Cheung. / Public domain

Fishing 9,107 ft Bortle 2 Solitude: 90/100 (remote)

Cutthroat Campground lies at an elevation of 9,000 feet in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona. It sits on the shoreline of Big Lake and affords visitors many recreational opportunities in a quiet, scenic setting. Popular activities include trout fishing and hiking. Recreation Named after a species of trout, Cutthroat is adjacent to 450-acre Big Lake, one of Arizona's top fishing lakes. The lake is known for its trout fishing, with rainbow, cutthroat, brook and Apache being the most sought-after species. The recreation area is also popular for hiking, mountain biking, birding and wildlife viewing. Facilities Sites for tent camping only are scattered throughout this small facility and spaced a good distance apart. Some are directly on the waterfront. The basic amenities of restrooms, picnic tables and drinking water are provided, and anglers and boaters have the convenience of a boat ramp. An RV dump station is one mile away. Natural Features The campground is located in a very scenic area, forested with ponderosa pine, spruce, Douglas fir, and aspen trees, which provide ample shade. Summer temperatures are pleasant and cool, a nice respite from the heat of lower deserts. Visitors should come prepared for cool nighttime temperatures and occasional summer rain storms. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (928) 537-8888. Nearby Attractions Visitors can explore endless vistas and take part in many outdoor activities in the surrounding Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, which encompasses 2 million acres of magnificent mountain country in east-central Arizona and New Mexico.

Near Greer, AZ in Arizona

What to Pack for Cutthroat, Apache

Given these conditions, here's what to pack for a safe and comfortable visit.

The right gear turns potential problems into non-issues. Here's what Cutthroat demands.

Essential

Water (minimum 2L) — Dehydration impairs judgment and endurance long before you feel thirsty; 2L is the minimum for a moderate day hike.
Navigation (map/GPS/compass) — Phone batteries die, cell service disappears, and trail signs get vandalized; a paper map and compass always work.
Sun protection (sunglasses, sunscreen) — UV exposure intensifies at elevation and near reflective surfaces like water and snow; sunburn can happen in under 30 minutes.
First aid kit — Blisters, cuts, and sprains happen on even the easiest trails; basic supplies let you treat problems before they force a retreat.
Extra food — A wrong turn or unexpected storm can extend any outing by hours; extra calories prevent fatigue and poor decision-making.
Headlamp with extra batteries — Trails that seem short in daylight can take twice as long with route-finding or elevation; a headlamp keeps you moving safely after dark.
Fire starter — Hypothermia can set in even during summer at higher elevations; a reliable fire starter provides warmth and a signal for rescuers.
Emergency shelter (space blanket) — A space blanket weighs under two ounces and reflects up to 90% of body heat, buying time in an unplanned overnight.
Knife or multi-tool — From cutting cord to preparing food to improvising gear repairs, a knife is the most versatile tool you can carry.
Extra clothing layer — Mountain weather can shift from sunshine to sleet within an hour; an extra layer prevents dangerous heat loss.

Wildlife Gear

Hiking buddy (avoid solo) — Groups of three or more are almost never involved in serious bear incidents; larger groups make more noise and appear more intimidating.
Noise maker — Clapping, whistling, or using an air horn warns wildlife of your approach, preventing surprise encounters on blind corners.
Gaiters — Snake-proof gaiters provide a physical barrier against venomous bites below the knee, where most strikes occur.
First-aid snakebite kit — While evacuation to a hospital is the priority, a snakebite kit helps you stay calm and follow proper first-aid protocols.

Climate Gear

Insulated layers — Body heat escapes rapidly when you stop moving; an insulated layer traps warmth during breaks and at camp.
Hand warmers — Cold fingers lose dexterity fast, making it harder to operate zippers, buckles, and navigation devices when you need them most.
Thermos — A hot drink on a cold trail restores core temperature and morale faster than any other comfort item.

Terrain Gear

Headlamp (extra) — Remote terrain often takes longer than expected to navigate; a backup headlamp prevents being stranded in darkness if your primary fails.
Emergency bivy — An emergency bivy sack weighs 4-8 ounces and provides wind and rain protection if an injury, storm, or navigation error forces an unplanned night out.
PLB/satellite messenger — A Personal Locator Beacon sends your GPS coordinates to search-and-rescue via satellite, working anywhere on Earth with no cell signal needed.
SPF50 lip balm — Lips lack melanin and burn faster than other skin; cracked, sunburned lips at altitude are painful and slow to heal.
Extra hydration — Altitude increases respiration rate and urine output, depleting fluids faster than at sea level; carry more water than you think you need.
Slow acclimatization advice — Ascending too quickly above 8,000 feet triggers altitude sickness in many people; gaining no more than 1,000-1,500 feet of sleeping elevation per day reduces risk.

Seasonal Gear

Spring: Camera, Wildflower field guide
Fall: Camera, Binoculars (foliage viewing)
Winter: Microspikes/traction devices

Activities & Best Time to Visit Cutthroat, Apache

The Grassland terrain here lends itself to a range of outdoor activities throughout the year.

Cutthroat draws visitors for birdwatching, but the 12 available activities mean there's more here than most expect.

Photographers rate this area 65/100, with Exceptional dark sky (Bortle 1-2) and 3 excellent meteor showers being a major draw.

Activities

birdwatching — Spot and identify birds in forests, wetlands, grasslands, and coastal habitats.
boating — Explore lakes, rivers, or coastal waters by motorboat or sailboat.
camping — Spend the night outdoors in a tent or campsite under open skies.
ice_fishing — Drill through frozen lakes to fish beneath the ice during winter.
ice_skating — Glide across frozen ponds or maintained outdoor rinks during winter months.
photography — Capture landscapes, wildlife, and changing light across trails, coastlines, and mountain vistas.
picnicking — Spread a blanket, unpack a meal, and enjoy food outdoors surrounded by fresh air and open views.
rv_camping — Travel with the comforts of home while staying in campgrounds or RV parks.
sightseeing — Take in scenic overlooks, landmarks, and natural features at a relaxed pace.
stargazing — Far from city lights, the night sky reveals constellations, planets, and meteor showers.
walking — A simple way to explore trails, shorelines, and park paths at your own pace while taking in the scenery.
wildlife_viewing — Observe animals in their natural habitats, from grazing deer to soaring raptors overhead.

Best months: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Terrain: Grassland — Grasslands are open landscapes dominated by grasses with few trees.

Wildlife Safety at Cutthroat, Apache

While the wildlife here is part of the experience, some species require caution and preparation.

Awareness is the best safety tool at Cutthroat. Here are the wildlife considerations for this area.

Danger rating: 35/100 (based on terrain difficulty, wildlife presence, weather exposure, and remoteness) moderate

Mountain lions
Venomous snakes
Elevated (9,107ft)
Remote (156mi from city)

Altitude risk: moderate

UV risk: extreme (Southern latitude (34N), High elevation (9,107ft))

Photo score: 65/100

Exceptional dark sky (Bortle 1-2)
3 excellent meteor showers
Fall foliage
Spring wildflowers

Venomous Snakes

Venomous snakes here include Western Diamondback, Mojave, Sidewinder, Arizona Coral Snake. They're most active during warm months.

Western Diamondback

A heavy-bodied rattlesnake with bold diamond-shaped blotches along the back and a black-and-white banded tail ending in a rattle.

Seek emergency medical care immediately and keep the bitten limb immobilized at heart level.

Mojave

A large rattlesnake with diamond-like dorsal blotches and a banded tail similar to the Western Diamondback.

Call emergency services immediately and limit movement to slow venom spread.

Sidewinder

A small pale rattlesnake with horn-like scales above each eye and a sidewinding mode of travel.

Seek immediate medical attention and immobilize the affected limb.

Arizona Coral Snake

A small slender snake with red, yellow, and black rings around the body.

Seek emergency medical care immediately.

Watch where you step and place hands
Stay on trails
Wear boots and long pants in snake country
Do not reach under rocks or logs
If bitten: stay calm, immobilize limb, seek medical help immediately
Do NOT: cut wound, suck venom, apply tourniquet, ice, or alcohol

Nature & Wildlife at Cutthroat, Apache

The Grassland terrain here supports a rich ecosystem worth noticing as you explore.

11 bird species have been documented near Cutthroat, alongside 7 mammals and a rich variety of native plants.

Trees (2)

Gambel Oak — The bark is gray and furrowed, while acorns develop singly or in small clusters.
Southwestern Ponderosa Pine — Needles grow in bundles of three and cluster toward branch tips.

Wildflowers (6)

upright prairie coneflower — Tall central cone surrounded by drooping yellow rays.
Woods' rose — Pink five-petaled flowers with yellow centers.
golden columbine — Bright yellow nodding flowers with long straight spurs.
manyflowered gromwell — Clusters of small yellow tubular flowers.
cutleaf coneflower — Tall stems with drooping yellow rays and greenish cones.

Other Plants (5)

western blue flag
Scarlet Gilia
great mullein
MacDougal verbena
scarlet cinquefoil

Mammals (7)

Wapiti — Also known as elk, this large deer has a tan body with dark neck and pale rump patch.
Bighorn Sheep — Stocky mountain sheep with tan coat and white rump.
Mule Deer — A large deer with oversized mule-like ears and a black-tipped tail.
Pronghorn — A slender tan-and-white ungulate with distinctive black facial markings.
Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel — Chipmunk-like rodent with golden shoulders and white eye ring.

Birds (11)

Wild Turkey — Large dark bird with iridescent bronze sheen
Canada Goose — Large brown waterfowl with black neck and white chinstrap
Dark-eyed Junco — Slate-gray form with white belly
Mountain Bluebird — Bright sky-blue male
Bufflehead — Small duck with large white head patch

Reptiles (5)

Western Terrestrial Garter Snake — A slender snake with longitudinal yellow or cream stripes over a dark brown, gray, or greenish body.
Greater Short-horned Lizard — A stout-bodied lizard with short horns on the back of the head.
Ornate Tree Lizard — A small spiny lizard with gray to brown coloration and subtle patterning.
Southwestern Fence Lizard — A medium-sized spiny lizard with gray to brown coloration and dark crossbands.
Plateau Fence Lizard — A medium lizard with spiny scales and gray to brown coloration.

Amphibians (3)

Arizona Tree Frog
Western Tiger Salamander
Arizona Toad

Insects (12)

Blue Fungus Beetle
Ridings' Satyr
Nokomis Fritillary
Common Ringlet
Ruddy Copper

Fungi (6)

lobster mushroom
Barrow's Bolete
Kaibab Jack
Spring Polypore
Floccularia albolanaripes

Other Wildlife (1)

Speckled Dace

Nature Bingo at Cutthroat, Apache

Can you spot them all? Check off each species as you find it on your visit.

Wildlife Challenge

Western Bluebird (bird)
Wapiti (mammal)
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake (reptile)
Arizona Tree Frog (amphibian)
western blue flag (plant)

Botany Challenge

Achnatherum Pinetorum
Aquilegia Coerulea Var. Pinetorum
Arabis Holboellii Var. Pinetorum
Asclepias Engelmanniana
Echinocereus Engelmannii
Almutaster

Cutthroat, Apache Climate & Sun

For detailed planning, here's the climate data for this area.

The weather at Cutthroat follows a Alpine pattern — here's the monthly breakdown.

Climate type: Alpine

Annual avg temp: 43.5°F

Annual precipitation: 26 in

With an average annual temperature of 43.5°F and 26 inches of precipitation, Cutthroat has cool, moderate rainfall conditions. Summer highs average around 60°F, while winter lows drop to 29°F.

Best months to visit: Jun, Sep. Consider avoiding: Jan, Feb, Dec.

Winter 29°

2.6"

Spring 40°

1.1"

Summer 60°

3.8"

Fall 45°

1.9"

Month	Avg Temp	Precip
Jan	29°F	2.6 in
Feb	30°F	2.2 in
Mar	35°F	2.1 in
Apr	40°F	1.1 in
May	48°F	0.8 in
Jun	58°F	0.5 in
Jul	60°F	3.8 in
Aug	59°F	4.2 in
Sep	54°F	2.2 in
Oct	45°F	1.9 in
Nov	37°F	1.9 in
Dec	29°F	2.7 in

Daylight & Sun Times

Daylight ranges from 9.9 hours in winter to 14.4 hours in summer — a difference of 4.5 hours.

Summer: 5:05 AM – 7:29 PM

Winter: 7:15 AM – 5:10 PM

Winter Solstice: Sunrise 7:15 AM, Sunset 5:10 PM Golden hour from 4:32 PM

Summer Solstice: Sunrise 5:05 AM, Sunset 7:29 PM Golden hour from 6:52 PM

Spring Equinox: Sunrise 6:29 AM, Sunset 6:24 PM Golden hour from 5:51 PM

Fall Equinox: Sunrise 6:00 AM, Sunset 6:26 PM Golden hour from 5:53 PM

Cutthroat, Apache Trip Planning & Access

Planning your trip to Cutthroat — here's the practical information you'll need.

From Phoenix, Cutthroat is a drive covering 156 miles.

Nearest city: Phoenix (156 mi)

Estimated fuel cost: $38.88 (28 mpg, $3.5/gallon)

Carbon footprint: 125.7 kg CO2 (round trip by car)

Visitor Friendliness

This location rates likely_allowed for dogs, excellent for families, and highly_suitable for elderly visitors.

Dogs: likely_allowed — No restrictions found
Families: excellent
Elderly: highly_suitable
Strollers: excellent (100/100)
Beginners: Good starting point (Good information available (+5))
Accessibility: Generally accessible to most visitors (95/100)

Places Near Cutthroat, Apache

There's more to explore in this part of Arizona.

Here's what else is nearby if you want to expand your itinerary beyond Cutthroat.

Nearby Trails

Big Lake Nature Trail, Apache 0.76 mi
Rainbow Connector, Apache 1.05 mi
Indian Springs Connector, Apache 1.31 mi
Big Lake Lookout Trail, Apache 1.36 mi
West Fork (br) Trail, Apache 2.27 mi

Nearby Campgrounds

Apache Trout Campground (N, 0mi), Apache 0.25 mi
Grayling Campground, Apache 0.31 mi
Brookchar Campground, Apache 0.38 mi
Rainbow (az) Campground, Apache 0.88 mi

Stargazing & Night Sky at Cutthroat, Apache

Once you're geared up and settled in, the night sky here offers its own rewards.

Cutthroat sits under Bortle class 2 skies — Typical truly dark site for stargazing in Arizona.

Bortle 2 Typical truly dark site

Constellations

From Cutthroat, you can trace Ursa Minor, Cepheus across the sky on clear nights.

Ursa Minor — Home to Polaris, the North Star, Ursa Minor forms a small dipper shape that circles the northern sky year-round.
Cepheus — Cepheus appears as a faint house-shaped pattern near Polaris in the northern sky.

Meteor Showers

Time your visit around December 13-14 for the Geminids, the strongest meteor shower visible from this latitude.

Geminids — peaks December 13-14 (excellent)
One of the most reliable and active showers of the year; best viewed after 10 PM when Gemini rises higher in the sky.
Quadrantids — peaks January 3-4 (excellent)
This brief but intense shower peaks before dawn; early morning hours offer the best chance to see multiple meteors.
Perseids — peaks August 11-13 (excellent)
A summer favorite with warm nighttime viewing; look northeast after 10 PM.
Eta Aquariids — peaks May 5-6 (good)
Best seen before dawn in the southeastern sky as Aquarius rises.
Delta Aquariids — peaks July 28-29 (fair)
Best viewed after midnight when Aquarius is higher in the southern sky.

Planets

Planets visible to the naked eye from this location:

Venus — The brightest planet, often called the Morning or Evening Star
Jupiter — The largest planet, bright and steady in the night sky
Saturn — Famous for its rings, visible as a golden steady light
Mars — The Red Planet, recognizable by its reddish-orange hue

Equipment Guide

Naked eye: Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Mercury (with care)
Binoculars: Jupiter moons, Uranus, Saturn rings (barely)
Small telescope: Saturn rings, Jupiter bands, Mars surface features, Neptune

Viewing Tips

Check planets rise/set times for your specific date
Planets appear along the ecliptic (zodiac path)
Planets don't twinkle like stars - steady light
Venus and Jupiter are unmistakable - brightest objects after Moon
Use a stargazing app to confirm planet positions
Best viewing: when planet is highest in sky (transit)

Best Viewing Months

Evening: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb
Morning: Jul, Aug, Sep

Seasonal Highlights at Cutthroat, Apache

The sky isn't the only thing that changes with the seasons at Cutthroat.

Cutthroat is a year-round destination, but each season has its own character and highlights.

Spring Wildflowers

Peak bloom: March - April

Check local park websites for bloom reports

Fall Foliage

Peak color: October 15 – November 5

Best trees for color: Maple, Oak, Aspen

Higher elevations peak 1-2 weeks earlier

Bird Migration

Spring peak: March - April

Fall peak: October - November

Best spots: Wetlands, coastlines, mountain ridges

Indigenous Land at Cutthroat, Apache

This area sits on land with a deep human history that predates modern recreation.

The 2 Indigenous groups connected to this land include Pueblos, Ndee/Nnēē: (Western Apache).

Territories

Languages

Indigenous languages connected to this territory include White Mountain.

White Mountain

Data from Native Land Digital

Cutthroat, Apache Geology & Natural History

Beyond the trails and wildlife, Cutthroat sits within a landscape shaped by millions of years of geological processes. Here's what researchers and surveys have documented about this area.

Bedrock Geology

Rock Type: Pliocene to middle Miocene volcanic rocks
Lithology: Major:{rhyolite,dacite,andesite}
Age: Cenozoic

Mineral Deposits

Deposit Sites: 29
Richness: Moderate
Minerals Found: Volcanic Materials, Pumice, Sand and Gravel, Construction

Endangered Species

Species at Risk: 1478
ESA Endangered: 29
ESA Threatened: 16
Conservation Score: 100/100

Temperature Records

Record High: 91°F (2021-06-13)
Record Low: -40°F (1971-01-07)

Wildfire History

This area has a relatively low wildfire risk, but always follow posted fire regulations.

Recorded Fires: 44
Largest Fire: Turkey (9,002.8 acres)
Most Recent: 2024
Fire Risk: Extreme

Watershed

Watershed: Ord Creek
Water Quality (Good): 0%
Impaired: 0%

Reported Phenomena

UFO Sightings: 3 (NUFORC)
Bigfoot Reports: 1 (BFRO)
Eeriness Score: 24/100

Cutthroat, Apache Safety & Conditions

Before heading out, check these real-time safety resources for current conditions.

Check these official resources for current conditions at Cutthroat before you go.

Flood zone: Not in a flood zone

Nearest weather station: SUNRISE MOUNTAIN, AZ US (10.84 mi)