| There are six campgrounds in Apache National | | | | sun light is limited to late morning thru |
| Forest along the East Fork of the Black River | | | | early afternoon. If you prefer more sunlight, |
| - all within a few miles of each other. We | | | | try Horse Springs or Buffalo Crossing |
| visited these campgrounds in late November, | | | | campgrounds. |
| 2006. The Black River is more of a stream | | | | |
| than a river - but it's beautiful, remote and | | | | Horse Springs is the largest campground of |
| pristine. If you're coming from Alpine, AZ, | | | | the six with two loops (Polecat and |
| as you head south on Forest Route 276, the | | | | Porcupine). Each loop has several rows of |
| campgrounds are in the following order: | | | | camp sites with one of the rows situated |
| Diamond Rock, Aspen, Deer Creek, Raccoon, | | | | along the river. Camp sites in this |
| Horse Springs and Buffalo Crossing. | | | | campground are a little less secluded and |
| | | | private than those in the other five. Views |
| All six of these campgrounds are in a canyon | | | | of the canyon walls are very pretty and |
| that starts off narrow with beautiful steep | | | | several sites have excellent views of the |
| canyon walls. As you pass the fourth | | | | river. |
| campground (Raccoon), the canyon starts to | | | | |
| spread out and the canyon walls become less | | | | The canyon walls at Buffalo Crossing |
| steep. The canyon continues to spread out and | | | | campground are shallow and the area between |
| the canyon walls continue to taper off and | | | | the walls is much wider than the other five |
| become very shallow at Buffalo Crossing | | | | campgrounds in this area. Some of the sites |
| campground with views of an open expansive | | | | are in a beautiful open meadow between the |
| meadow and the river. | | | | canyon walls and some hug the edges of one of |
| | | | the canyon walls forested by tall majestic |
| The views from the first four of these | | | | ponderosa pine. Several of the sites in the |
| campgrounds are very similar. Each of these | | | | meadow have views of the Black River. Because |
| four campgrounds is small with less than 12 | | | | of the open meadow, this campground has lots |
| camp sites. As the sun hits the canyon walls, | | | | of sun. |
| the views are gorgeous and the tall ponderosa | | | | |
| pine trees that spread out along the canyon | | | | If you like shade, pick a camp site that is |
| walls are majestic. As you look out between | | | | along the shallow canyon wall -- you'll still |
| the canyon walls, you'll see beautiful views | | | | have a view of the meadow. The sites located |
| of the narrow canyon floor, often dotted with | | | | in the meadow have no shade but are closest |
| small meadow-like areas and beautiful tall | | | | to the river. We thought that each of the six |
| ponderosa pine. Some of the camp sites | | | | campgrounds in this area had beautiful views; |
| overlook the river, but river views are | | | | but our favorite was Buffalo Crossing because |
| obstructed from most of the sites by | | | | of the wide-open expanse of the beautiful |
| surrounding trees and vegetation along the | | | | meadow between the canyon walls that allows a |
| river banks. | | | | lot of sunshine. |
| | | | |
| Most of the camp sites are well separated. | | | | Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Since |
| Even though many of the camp sites don't have | | | | all six campgrounds are so close together, I |
| views of the river, you can still hear the | | | | recommend that if you visit this area for |
| sound of the moving water which enhances the | | | | camping, look at all six. I'm sure you'll |
| sense of beauty of the area. The overall | | | | find a camp site that you will think has a |
| feeling of the campgrounds is rustic, | | | | beautiful view. We really liked this area and |
| pristine and beautiful. The only downside to | | | | I'm sure you will too. |
| these first four campgrounds is that because | | | | |
| the canyon is narrow with steep walls, direct | | | | Happy camping! |