Photo: Scottb211 from Gaylord, Michigan, U.S.A. / CC BY 2.0

Campgrounds 5,666 ft Bortle 4 Solitude: 70/100 (secluded)

Eagle Ridge Group Campground sits within a tall ponderosa pine forest of Prescott National Forest. The site lies in the Bradshaw Mountains along Lynx Lake and is convenient to the historic town of Prescott, Arizona. Summer visitors seeking relief from the hot weather in Phoenix frequent the recreation area to camp, fish, picnic, hike and mountain bike. To make reservations click on the availability button to the right to book this site or call 1 (877) 444-6777. For general campground questions contact the Bradshaw Ranger District at 1 (928) 443-8000. Recreation The Lynx Lake Recreation Area is a popular fishing spot, with crappie, trout, bluegill, bass and catfish available, and anglers have the convenience of a boat ramp (motor boats less than 10 horsepower allowed). Swimming and wading are not allowed, though campers can rent canoes, kayaks, paddle boats and electric row boats at the campground concessionaire. Trails in the area allow for a variety of uses, including hiking and mountain biking. An easy, family-friendly, two-mile trail loops around the lake. The Bradshaw Mountains are known for their history of mineral mining. Visitors can still pan for gold in Lynx Creek, and many historic mining sites lie in the area. Facilities Two group campsites, Osprey and Peregrine, are located adjacent to each other and provide plenty of space for church groups, family reunions and other social gatherings. Osprey holds 26 to 75 people, while Peregrine can accommodate 15 to 25. Access to Peregrine is via Osprey and one group may reserve both sites. The sites are equipped with campfire rings and picnic tables. Group facilities are accessible, and the lake recreation area can be easily access by car or foot. An on-site host is available to assist campers with visitor information and gates. A small store at the north end of the lake offers boat rentals, firewood and a restaurant. Natural Features At an elevation of 5,700 feet, Eagle Ridge offers visitors pleasant summer temperatures and cool breezes. It is surrounded by a dense ponderosa pine forest mixed with juniper and oak. Lynx Lake covers 55 acres and is just 0.25 mile. The area's animal residents include the osprey, coyote, deer, javelina, squirrel, fox, badger and mountain lion. Temperatures are pleasant during the camping season, though the area experiences a monsoon season from late June through mid-September that may result in afternoon thunderstorms.

Near Dewey, AZ in Arizona

What to Pack for Eagle Ridge Group Campground (N, 0mi), Yavapai

Being properly equipped turns potential hazards into manageable situations.

Pack for Desert terrain, Unknown, 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.

Terrain Gear

Wide-brim hat — A wide brim shades your face, ears, and neck simultaneously, reducing UV exposure and lowering heat stroke risk.
Sunscreen SPF50+ — Reflected UV from water, sand, and snow can burn exposed skin even on overcast days; SPF50+ blocks 98% of UVB rays.
Extra water (desert) — Desert water sources are unreliable and often seasonal; carry all the water you need rather than counting on finding more.
SPF50 lip balm — Lips lack melanin and burn faster than other skin; cracked, sunburned lips at altitude are painful and slow to heal.

Seasonal Gear

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

Activities & Best Time to Visit Eagle Ridge Group Campground (N, 0mi), Yavapai

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

Whether you're here for boating or looking to try something different, Eagle Ridge Group Campground has options.

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

Activities

boating — Explore lakes, rivers, or coastal waters by motorboat or sailboat.
camping — Spend the night outdoors in a tent or campsite under open skies.
canoeing — Paddle lakes and gentle rivers in an open canoe.
horseback_riding — Explore trails and open landscapes from the saddle.
kayaking — Paddle through calm lakes, winding rivers, or coastal inlets in a small, maneuverable craft.
mountain_biking — Ride off-road trails that wind through forests, deserts, and mountain terrain.
paddleboarding — Stand or kneel on a board while paddling across calm water.
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.
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: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr

Terrain: Desert — Desert terrain features sparse vegetation, exposed soils, and wide temperature swings between day and night.

Wildlife Safety at Eagle Ridge Group Campground (N, 0mi), Yavapai

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

Most visitors at Eagle Ridge Group Campground 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 (76mi)

Altitude risk: mild

UV risk: extreme (Southern latitude (35N), Elevated (5,666ft), Desert (exposed))

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. 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.

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 Eagle Ridge Group Campground (N, 0mi), Yavapai

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

The Desert environment here supports 43 documented species across mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

Trees (3)

Southwestern Ponderosa Pine — Needles grow in bundles of three and cluster toward branch tips.
Gambel Oak — The bark is gray and furrowed, while acorns develop singly or in small clusters.
white fir — Cones stand upright on upper branches and break apart at maturity.

Wildflowers (2)

Arizona mariposa lily — White to pale pink petals with deep purple markings.
Stansbury's Cliffrose — Evergreen shrub with finely divided gray-green leaves.

Other Plants (5)

Echinocereus bakeri
great mullein
quaking aspen
alligator juniper
western blue flag

Mammals (8)

Abert's Squirrel — A gray tree squirrel with distinctive long ear tufts in winter.
Mule Deer — A large deer with oversized mule-like ears and a black-tipped tail.
Gunnison's Prairie Dog — A stout, burrowing rodent with tan to brown fur and short tail.
Wapiti — Also known as elk, this large deer has a tan body with dark neck and pale rump patch.
Rock Squirrel — A large ground squirrel with mottled gray-brown fur and bushy tail.

Birds (30)

Red-winged Blackbird — Male black with red and yellow shoulder patch
House Sparrow — Male with gray crown and black bib
European Starling — Glossy black with iridescent green and purple sheen
Eurasian Collared-Dove — Pale gray-beige body
Dark-eyed Junco — Slate-gray form with white belly

Reptiles (5)

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

Amphibians (2)

American Bullfrog
Arizona Tree Frog

Insects (10)

Convergent Lady Beetle
Gray Buckeye
Carolina Grasshopper
White-lined Sphinx
Spotted Pine Sawyer

Fungi (1)

lobster mushroom

Other Wildlife (2)

Common Pill Woodlouse
Virile Crayfish

Nature Bingo at Eagle Ridge Group Campground (N, 0mi), Yavapai

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

Wildlife Challenge

Common Raven (bird)
Abert's Squirrel (mammal)
Plateau Fence Lizard (reptile)
American Bullfrog (amphibian)
Southwestern Ponderosa Pine (plant)

Botany Challenge

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

Eagle Ridge Group Campground (N, 0mi), Yavapai Climate & Sun

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

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

Climate type: Unknown

Winter 0°

1.7"

Spring 0°

0.3"

Summer 0°

3.6"

Fall 0°

0.8"

Month	Avg Temp	Precip
Jan	0°F	1.7 in
Feb	0°F	1.6 in
Mar	0°F	1.2 in
Apr	0°F	0.3 in
May	0°F	0.6 in
Jun	0°F	0.2 in
Jul	0°F	3.6 in
Aug	0°F	2.5 in
Sep	0°F	1.6 in
Oct	0°F	0.8 in
Nov	0°F	1.0 in
Dec	0°F	1.8 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: 5:16 AM – 7:43 PM

Winter: 7:28 AM – 5:20 PM

Winter Solstice: Sunrise 7:28 AM, Sunset 5:20 PM Golden hour from 4:41 PM

Summer Solstice: Sunrise 5:16 AM, Sunset 7:43 PM Golden hour from 7:05 PM

Spring Equinox: Sunrise 6:41 AM, Sunset 6:36 PM Golden hour from 6:03 PM

Fall Equinox: Sunrise 6:11 AM, Sunset 6:38 PM Golden hour from 6:04 PM

Eagle Ridge Group Campground (N, 0mi), Yavapai Trip Planning & Access

Here's the practical side of visiting Eagle Ridge Group Campground.

Eagle Ridge Group Campground is 76 miles from Phoenix — here's what to budget for the trip.

Nearest city: Phoenix (76 mi)

Estimated fuel cost: $18.88 (28 mpg, $3.5/gallon)

Carbon footprint: 61 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: Perfect for beginners (Moderate difficulty (+5), Good information available (+5))
Accessibility: Generally accessible to most visitors (90/100)

Campground Details

Reservable

Places Near Eagle Ridge Group Campground (N, 0mi), Yavapai

The area around Eagle Ridge Group Campground has plenty more to offer.

If you're exploring this part of Arizona, these nearby spots complement a visit to Eagle Ridge Group Campground.

Nearby Trails

Nearby Campgrounds

Hilltop Campground (az) (N, 0mi), Yavapai 0.31 mi
Hilltop Campground, Yavapai 0.39 mi
Lynx Campground (N, 0mi), Yavapai 0.53 mi
Fdr23-enchanted Forest Trail-designated Disp. Campground, Yavapai 1.14 mi

Stargazing & Night Sky at Eagle Ridge Group Campground (N, 0mi), Yavapai

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

On clear nights, the Bortle class 4 skies above Eagle Ridge Group Campground reveal constellations and bright planets.

Bortle 4 Rural/suburban transition

Constellations

From Eagle Ridge Group Campground, 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 Eagle Ridge Group Campground (N, 0mi), Yavapai

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

Timing your visit to Eagle Ridge Group Campground 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 Eagle Ridge Group Campground (N, 0mi), Yavapai

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 Hohokam, Yavapai Apache.

Territories

Languages

Indigenous languages connected to this territory include Yavapai.

Yavapai

Data from Native Land Digital

Eagle Ridge Group Campground (N, 0mi), Yavapai Geology & Natural History

Beyond the trails and wildlife, Eagle Ridge Group Campground 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: Crooks Canyon Granite
Formation: Crooks Canyon Granodiorite
Age: Paleoproterozoic

Fossils

Fossil Occurrences: 75
Unique Species: 44
Oldest: 23 million years ago

Mineral Deposits

Deposit Sites: 604
Richness: Exceptional
Minerals Found: Gold, Copper, Silver, Lead, Zinc, Sand and Gravel, Construction, Iron

Endangered Species

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

Temperature Records

Record High: 105°F (2021-06-16)
Record Low: -21°F (1937-01-22)

Wildfire History

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

Recorded Fires: 83
Largest Fire: Battle (31,801.8 acres)
Most Recent: 2024
Fire Risk: Extreme

Watershed

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

Reported Phenomena

UFO Sightings: 38 (NUFORC)
Bigfoot Reports: 2 (BFRO)
Haunted Places: 7 (Shadowlands)
Eeriness Score: 86/100

Eagle Ridge Group Campground (N, 0mi), Yavapai Safety & Conditions

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

Before visiting Eagle Ridge Group Campground, verify current conditions through these authoritative sources.

Flood zone: Not in a flood zone

Nearest weather station: PRESCOTT 2.6 E, AZ US (2.3 mi)