There are six campgrounds in the Apache National Forest along the East Fork Black River – all just a few miles of each other. We visited these camps in late November 2006. The Black River is a river current – but is beautiful, remote and unspoiled. If you're coming from Alpine, AZ, and southward over the Forest, Route 276, the campsites are located in the following order: Diamond Rock, Aspen, Deer Creek, Raccoon, Horse and Buffalo Springs Crossing.

All six of these camps are in a narrow canyon with steep beginning beautiful canyon walls. In passing camp session (raccoon), the canyon becomes extended and the canyon walls to be less pronounced. The gun is out and the canyon walls continue to decrease and become very superficial in Buffalo camp crossing a meadow overlooking the river open and expansive.

The opinions of the first four of these camps are very similar. Each of these camps is small, less than 12 camp sites. As the sun hits the canyon walls, the views are magnificent and high ponderosa pine trees that stretch along the Canyon walls are majestic. When you look out from the canyon walls, you will see beautiful views of the narrow canyon floor, often dotted with small meadows and beautiful as areas of high ponderosa pine. Some camp sites overlook the river, but river views are obstructed in the majority sites by the surrounding trees and vegetation along the river banks.

Most camp sites are well separated. Although many camps do not have river views, you can hear the sound of moving water that increases the sense of the beauty of the area. The general feeling is rustic campsites, crystal clear and beautiful. The only disadvantage of these first four campgrounds is that because the canyon is narrow with steep walls, direct sunlight limited to late morning through the afternoon. If you prefer more sunlight, or in case of horse camps Buffalo Springs Crossing.

Horse Springs is the largest camp of six with two loops (Turon and Porcupine). Each cycle has several rows of camp sites in a row along the River. Campsites at this camp are a little less secluded and private that the other five. Views of the canyon walls are very pretty and several sites have excellent river views.

Canyon walls in Buffalo Crossing camping are shallow and the area between the walls is much larger than the other five camps in this area. Some of sites are in a meadow between the canyon walls and some hug the edges of one wall of the canyon of tall majestic pine forests ponderosa. Several of the sites in the meadow with views of the Black River. Because of the prairie, this campsite has lots of sun.

If you like shade, choose a campsite that is along the shallow canyon wall – still have a view of the prairie. The sites located in the prairie, no shade, but are closest to river. We that each of the six campsites in this area have beautiful views, but our favorite was Buffalo Crossing because of the wide open expanse of the beautiful meadow between the canyon walls that allows a lot of sunlight.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. From six camps are so close, I recommend if you visit this area for camping, watching the six. I'm sure you'll find a campsite that has a beautiful view. We liked this area and I am sure you will too.

Happy Camping!

About the Author:

Carl Zimmerman is owner and webmaster of Camping with a View, dedicated to finding campgrounds with beautiful views. Visit the section of the site for photos, reviews and more information on campgrounds discussed in this article.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Six Campgrounds with Beautiful Views Along the East Fork of the Black River – Apache National Forest

Aspen Campground on the East Fork of the Black River