Juniper Basin Campground

Juniper Basin is a primitive, three-site campground in the Rincon Mountains' juniper woodland, about 6,000 feet up. This is an overnight backpacking destination, not a drive-up camp. The Tanque Verde Ridge approach is about 6.9 miles each way with roughly 3,000 feet of climbing, so come ready for a long uphill hike. It suits backpackers who want to spend a night in Saguaro's roadless high country; skip it if you need vehicle access or dependable water.

A backcountry reservation and permit are required. The campground has a vault toilet, but no dependable tap water: its natural source is seasonal and often dry in spring, summer and fall. Carry at least a gallon of water per person per day, and treat or filter anything collected. Check the water report before you start. Don't count on a phone signal at camp, and bring all food and gear from the trailhead. If a fire is allowed under current restrictions, use only dead, downed wood. High-country weather can bring winter snow or summer storms with lightning and flash flooding.

The campground sits in a full stand of juniper at the point where the climb moves from desert scrub through oak savanna into pine and juniper woodland. The Rincon Mountains rise as a roadless sky island above the Sonoran Desert; the 57,930-acre Saguaro Wilderness was designated in 1976. The park describes exceptional views along the Tanque Verde Ridge route, while the campground itself is mainly a shaded woodland stop.