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Four Peaks — Tonto National Forest

Four Peaks Road · AZ
Tonto National Forest

Four Peaks — Tonto National Forest Camping Guide

Plan legal dispersed camping along the Four Peaks Road corridor while distinguishing day-use OHV staging areas, The Rolls permit zone, designated motorized routes and current fire or closure orders.

Area Planning Quick Facts

Four Peaks Road / Forest Road 143 corridor · Mesa Ranger District, Arizona

Planning Coordinates 33.6891° N, -111.3234° W — CIWILD community corridor reference, not an official or guaranteed legal campsite
Camping Location Camping may be allowed in eligible forest areas outside the OHV staging areas; do not block roads or trails and verify current orders, maps and signs
Staging Areas Four Peaks, Palo Fierro and Cottonwood OHV staging areas are day-use only; overnight camping and campfires are prohibited within them
Maximum Stay 14 days in eligible forest areas outside the staging areas, unless a current order or posted restriction is more restrictive
OHV Permit Not required solely for motorized travel on FR 143; required for motorized use inside The Rolls OHV Permit Zone, including covered travel south from the staging areas
Road Access The Forest Service recommends high-clearance 4WD for the approach to Four Peaks Trail via FR 143; conditions elsewhere on the corridor can vary and may change after storms
Maps Tonto National Forest reports that its formal MVUM is not yet available; use its Interactive Map, The Rolls permit-zone map, alerts and on-site route signs
Land Manager USDA Forest Service — Tonto National Forest / Mesa Ranger District
Corridor Planning Guide Staging Areas: Day Use Permit-Zone Check High-Clearance Planning

About Four Peaks Road Camping

This page covers planning for the Forest Road 143 corridor in Tonto National Forest, not one official campsite or campground. The corridor passes OHV staging areas and can connect visitors with The Rolls OHV Permit Zone, higher-elevation roads and access toward the Four Peaks Wilderness boundary.

The Forest Service states that camping may be allowed outside the staging areas where it does not block roads or trails. That statement is not permission to camp at every pullout. Current forest orders, permit-zone boundaries, designated motorized routes, resource protections and posted signs determine whether a location is lawful.

Staging Is Not Camping

The Four Peaks, Palo Fierro and Cottonwood staging areas provide day-use access. Overnight camping and campfires are prohibited inside these staging areas.

Permit Boundary Matters

FR 143 is outside The Rolls permit zone. Motorized travel into The Rolls—such as covered travel south from the staging areas—requires a Tonto National Forest OHV Permit.

Changing Road Conditions

The Forest Service recommends high-clearance 4WD for the FR 143 approach to Four Peaks Trail. Rain, snow, monsoon runoff, erosion and closures can change access.

Camping and Motor-Vehicle Rules

  • Do not camp overnight or build a campfire in any OHV staging area.
  • Outside staging areas, camp only where current forest rules and signs allow it, without blocking a road or trail.
  • The published stay limit for eligible forest areas outside the staging areas is 14 days.
  • FR 143 itself is outside The Rolls OHV Permit Zone and does not require the Tonto NF OHV Permit solely for travel on that road.
  • A permit is required for motorized use within The Rolls OHV Permit Zone. Vehicles merely parked in staging areas do not require that permit.
  • Follow the route designation, Arizona vehicle laws and all posted OHV equipment requirements. Wilderness areas prohibit motorized travel.
  • Pack out all waste. A disturbed-looking pullout is not automatically a legal campsite.

Fire Restrictions

Do not promise that campfires are allowed. Tonto National Forest lifted its 2026 Emergency Stage 2 restrictions effective July 20, 2026, and the forest reported no fire restrictions when this page was reviewed. Restrictions can return quickly as conditions change.

Campfires remain prohibited inside the OHV staging areas regardless of the broader forest restriction level. Check the current Alerts and Fire Restrictions pages immediately before using any flame. Fireworks and other incendiary devices are always prohibited on National Forest lands.

Maps, Roads and Seasonal Planning

Tonto National Forest states that a formal Motor Vehicle Use Map is still being drafted and is not yet available. Do not direct visitors to a nonexistent Tonto MVUM. Use the official Interactive Map, The Rolls permit-zone map, current forest alerts and signed route information.

“Year-round” on the official staging-area pages describes their general season of use, not a guarantee that FR 143 or every camping location is safely accessible every day. High heat, wildfire, winter weather, monsoon storms and washouts can alter or close access.

What to Bring

  • Offline copies of the official interactive and permit-zone maps.
  • Water, food and a sanitation plan for primitive conditions.
  • A full-size spare, recovery equipment and supplies appropriate to the selected route.
  • Weather protection for both desert heat and higher-elevation temperature changes.
  • A stove and contingency plan if campfires are restricted.
  • A backup communication plan; no official carrier-specific coverage guarantee was found.

Planning Coordinate

33.6891, -111.3234 is retained as a CIWILD community reference for the broader Four Peaks Road corridor. It is not an official Forest Service campsite, staging-area coordinate or guarantee that camping is lawful at the pin. Use official maps, current orders and signs to select a legal existing site outside prohibited areas.

Open Corridor Reference in Google Maps

Official Planning Resources

Use these specific Forest Service and Recreation.gov resources to check camping eligibility, staging restrictions, maps, permits, closures and fire conditions.

Forest Service — Four Peaks OHV Staging Area Rules & Contact Forest Service — Cottonwood Staging Area & FR 401 Permit Notice Forest Service — The Rolls OHV Permit Zone & Map Recreation.gov — Tonto National Forest OHV Permit Forest Service — Interactive Map & Visitor Maps Forest Service — Travel Management and MVUM Status Forest Service — Current Alerts, Closures & Orders Forest Service — Current Fire-Restriction Rules Forest Service — Mesa Ranger District

Official-source review completed: July 31, 2026. Mesa Ranger Station: 480-610-3300.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I camp in the Four Peaks OHV Staging Area?

No. It is day-use only, and both overnight camping and campfires are prohibited. The same restriction applies to the Palo Fierro and Cottonwood staging areas.

Is camping outside the staging areas automatically allowed?

No. The Forest Service says camping may be allowed outside, but visitors must avoid blocking roads and trails and must follow current orders, maps, resource restrictions and signs.

Does FR 143 require an OHV permit?

No Tonto NF OHV Permit is required solely for motorized travel on Four Peaks Road / FR 143 because it lies outside The Rolls permit zone.

When is an OHV permit required?

It is required for motorized vehicle use inside The Rolls OHV Permit Zone, including covered routes reached by traveling south from the staging areas. Check the official permit-zone map before entering.

Is the corridor always open?

No. “Year-round” is not an access guarantee. Weather, wildfire, washouts or closure orders may affect the road or surrounding forest.

Are campfires currently allowed?

Tonto National Forest reported no general fire restrictions when reviewed July 31, 2026, but campfires remain prohibited in the staging areas and restriction status can change. Recheck the official Alerts page before any flame use.

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