Photo: Seabamirum on Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Campgrounds 4,189 ft Bortle 4 Solitude: 75/100 (remote)

Devils Canyon Campground in Arizona near Superior offers moderate solitude with 4 mammal and 30 bird species present. Spring and fall visits are best with 61°F average temperatures.

Near Superior, AZ in Arizona

What to Pack for Devils Canyon Campground, Pinal

Being properly equipped turns potential hazards into manageable situations.

Pack for Forest terrain, Temperate, and the wildlife considerations above.

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.

Seasonal Gear

Spring: Camera, Wildflower field guide
Fall: Camera, Binoculars (foliage viewing)

Activities & Best Time to Visit Devils Canyon Campground, Pinal

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

Whether you're here for camping or looking to try something different, Devils Canyon has options.

Photographers rate this area 55/100, with Good dark sky (Bortle 4) and 3 excellent meteor showers being a major draw.

Activities

camping — Spend the night outdoors in a tent or campsite under open skies.
hiking — Follow marked trails through forests, deserts, or alpine terrain for a deeper connection with nature.
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.
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: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Terrain: Forest — Forests are dominated by dense tree cover, layered canopies, and shaded understories. Ground conditions vary from leaf litter to mossy soils, with limited visibility off trail.

Wildlife Safety at Devils Canyon Campground, Pinal

Part of visiting responsibly is understanding the wildlife safety considerations for this area.

Most visitors at Devils Canyon never have a wildlife incident, but a danger score of 25/10 means preparation matters.

Danger rating: 25/100 (based on terrain difficulty, wildlife presence, weather exposure, and remoteness) moderate

Mountain lions
Venomous snakes
Far from city (60mi)

UV risk: moderate (Southern latitude (33N), Forest canopy (shade))

Photo score: 55/100

Good dark sky (Bortle 4)
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.

Remove constrictive items and remain calm; do not cut, suck, or apply ice to the wound.

Mojave

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

Keep the victim calm and monitor breathing while awaiting medical care.

Sidewinder

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

Do not attempt to capture the snake; focus on reaching emergency care quickly.

Arizona Coral Snake

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

Keep the victim calm and still while awaiting treatment.

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 Devils Canyon Campground, Pinal

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

The Forest environment here supports 45 documented species across mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

Wildflowers (2)

California poppy — Bright orange cup-shaped flowers with silky petals.
blackfoot daisy — White ray flowers with yellow central disks.

Shrubs (5)

Creosote Bush — Bright yellow flowers bloom after rain.
Brittlebush — Leaves are soft and pale gray, contrasting with long-stemmed golden blooms.
Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus — Bright cup-shaped flowers open in sunlight and are followed by spiny fruits. It thrives in rocky desert slopes and well-drained soils.

Other Plants (5)

saguaro
Chain-fruit Cholla
Graham's nipple cactus
ocotillo
Arizona Hedgehog Cactus

Mammals (4)

White-nosed Coati — A raccoon-like mammal with long ringed tail and white facial markings.
Cliff Chipmunk — A small striped rodent with gray-brown fur and bold facial markings.
Rock Squirrel — A large ground squirrel with mottled gray-brown fur and bushy tail.
Desert Cottontail — Gray-brown rabbit with large ears and white underside to tail.

Birds (30)

Brewer's Blackbird — Glossy black male with pale eye
Red-winged Blackbird — Male black with red and yellow shoulder patch
Sandhill Crane — Tall gray body
Chipping Sparrow — Rusty cap
Yellow-headed Blackbird — Black body

Reptiles (11)

Ornate Tree Lizard — A small spiny lizard with gray to brown coloration and subtle patterning.
Greater Earless Lizard — A small lizard lacking visible external ear openings.
Common Side-blotched Lizard — A small slender lizard with mottled brown or gray coloration.
Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake — A heavy-bodied rattlesnake with bold diamond-shaped dorsal blotches.
Desert Spiny Lizard — A robust lizard with rough spiny scales and gray to brown coloration.

Amphibians (3)

Red-spotted Toad
Sonoran Desert Toad
Lowland Leopard Frog

Insects (18)

Queen
Pipevine Swallowtail
Empress Leilia
American Snout
Sleepy Orange

Nature Bingo at Devils Canyon Campground, Pinal

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

Wildlife Challenge

Northern Cardinal (bird)
White-nosed Coati (mammal)
Ornate Tree Lizard (reptile)
Red-spotted Toad (amphibian)
saguaro (plant)

Botany Challenge

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

Devils Canyon Campground, Pinal Climate & Sun

Reference data: temperatures, precipitation, and daylight hours by month.

The annual average temperature here is 60.6°F, with 22 inches of precipitation.

Climate type: Temperate

Annual avg temp: 60.6°F

Annual precipitation: 22 in

With an average annual temperature of 60.6°F and 22 inches of precipitation, Devils Canyon has warm, moderate rainfall conditions. Summer highs average around 79°F, while winter lows drop to 44°F.

Best months to visit: Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov.

Winter 44°

3.2"

Spring 58°

0.8"

Summer 79°

2.2"

Fall 63°

1.2"

Month	Avg Temp	Precip
Jan	44°F	3.2 in
Feb	46°F	2.9 in
Mar	51°F	2.3 in
Apr	58°F	0.8 in
May	66°F	0.4 in
Jun	76°F	0.2 in
Jul	79°F	2.2 in
Aug	78°F	2.6 in
Sep	73°F	1.8 in
Oct	63°F	1.2 in
Nov	52°F	1.5 in
Dec	43°F	2.9 in

Daylight & Sun Times

Daylight ranges from 10 hours in winter to 14.3 hours in summer — a difference of 4.3 hours.

Summer: 5:13 AM – 7:34 PM

Winter: 7:20 AM – 5:18 PM

Winter Solstice: Sunrise 7:20 AM, Sunset 5:18 PM Golden hour from 4:40 PM

Summer Solstice: Sunrise 5:13 AM, Sunset 7:34 PM Golden hour from 6:57 PM

Spring Equinox: Sunrise 6:36 AM, Sunset 6:31 PM Golden hour from 5:58 PM

Fall Equinox: Sunrise 6:06 AM, Sunset 6:32 PM Golden hour from 5:59 PM

Devils Canyon Campground, Pinal Trip Planning & Access

Here's the practical side of visiting Devils Canyon.

Devils Canyon is 60 miles from Phoenix — here's what to budget for the trip.

Nearest city: Phoenix (60 mi)

Estimated fuel cost: $15.08 (28 mpg, $3.5/gallon)

Carbon footprint: 48.7 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 (Moderate difficulty (+5))
Accessibility: Generally accessible to most visitors (90/100)

Places Near Devils Canyon Campground, Pinal

The area around Devils Canyon has plenty more to offer.

If you're exploring this part of Arizona, these nearby spots complement a visit to Devils Canyon.

Nearby Trails

Nearby Campgrounds

Oak Flat Campground, Pinal 1.03 mi
Warnica Springs Campground, Gila 9.8 mi
Sulphide Del Rey Campground, Gila 10.11 mi

Nearby Attractions

Beat the Heat Wayside, Tonto National Monument 22.77 mi
Sown in the Field Wayside, Tonto National Monument 22.85 mi
Revealing Layers Wayside, Tonto National Monument 22.85 mi

Stargazing & Night Sky at Devils Canyon Campground, Pinal

After a day outdoors, the evening sky here is worth a look.

On clear nights, the Bortle class 4 skies above Devils Canyon reveal constellations and bright planets.

Bortle 4 Rural/suburban transition

Constellations

From Devils Canyon, 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 Devils Canyon Campground, Pinal

The time of year you visit changes what you'll see and do.

Timing your visit to Devils Canyon around seasonal highlights can make a major difference in what you experience.

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 Devils Canyon Campground, Pinal

Before planning your trip, it's worth recognizing the Indigenous peoples connected to this land.

Before this became a recreation area, this land belonged to Pueblos, Ndee/Nnēē: (Western Apache), Hohokam.

Territories

Languages

Indigenous languages connected to this territory include San Carlos, Pima.

Data from Native Land Digital

Devils Canyon Campground, Pinal Geology & Natural History

Beyond the trails and wildlife, Devils Canyon 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: Early Proterozoic metasedimentary rocks
Formation: Pinal Schist; Yavapai Supergroup; Tonto Basin Supergroup; Vishnu Schist
Lithology: Major:{metasedimentary,schist}, Minor:{conglomerate,carbonate,sedimentary}
Age: Statherian

Mineral Deposits

Deposit Sites: 220
Richness: Exceptional
Minerals Found: Copper, Perlite, Gold, Sand and Gravel, Construction, Silver, Lead, Manganese

Endangered Species

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

Temperature Records

Record High: 119°F (1985-07-03)
Record Low: 11°F (1913-01-06)

Wildfire History

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

Recorded Fires: 44
Largest Fire: Sawtooth (24,733.5 acres)
Most Recent: 2024
Fire Risk: Extreme

Watershed

Watershed: Cottonwood Canyon
Water Quality (Good): 0%
Impaired: 0%

Reported Phenomena

UFO Sightings: 4 (NUFORC)
Eeriness Score: 8/100

Devils Canyon Campground, Pinal Safety & Conditions

The weather data above tells you what's typical — these links tell you what's happening right now.

Before visiting Devils Canyon, verify current conditions through these authoritative sources.

Nearest weather station: BOYCE THOMPSON ARBORETUM, AZ US (7.38 mi)