Apache Maid Mountain Southeast of Sedona, Arizona

by Will
(Arizona)

Apache Maid Mountain is a beautiful area with tall ponderosa pine forest, green meadows, and ponds at around 6500 feet. It's a perfect destination when summer temperatures bake the desert lowlands. The mountain is located 15 miles southeast of Sedona in the Coconino National Forest. Stoneman Lake, one of Arizona's natural lakes, is only 3 miles to the northeast. There are dozens of good free RV campsites off Forest Road 229 which runs east of Apache Maid Mountain. There are also many more good campsites near Stoneman Lake, and along other forest roads in the area. This is a rather popular camping area and there's no shortage of good campsites.

For more information and photos see my Apache Maid Mountain Picture Tour.

RV Campsite Directions: From Camp Verde take I-17 north to Forest Road 213 (exit 306). Take FR 213 east and turn right onto FR 229. Follow FR 229 south past FR 229F and to my campsite on the right. It's a large site, suitable for any size RV. FR 229 is a bit rough, so take it slow. This is just one of many campsites along this road.

GPS: N 34 44.099’ W 111 31.685’

Elevation: 6455 feet

Apache Maid Mountain RV Camping Journal

6-20-2010

The weather at this elevation is perfect during this time of year. It’s been in the 70s and sunny almost everyday. The only downside is the no-see-ums, or juniper gnats as the locals call them. They bite and leave red welts on the skin that puss up later. If you keep moving, or if the wind is blowing, they aren’t a problem. They do form swarms when it’s sunny and calm to slightly breezy. Also, be careful when cooking as this is when they start flying through your window screens. If it were not for the gnats and the 14 day camping limit I would definitely enjoy a longer stay here.

It’s amazing how much things change when going up a few thousand feet in elevation. It’s obvious that with the snow there is much more moisture up here and it shows with the plant life and tall pines.

Apache Maid Mountain Picture Slideshow