Reynolds Creek Group Campground #2 (N, 0mi), Gila
Fishing in Arizona
Near Young, AZ in Arizona
What to Pack for Reynolds Creek Group Campground #2 (N, 0mi), Gila
The right gear makes all the difference — here's a packing list tailored to this area.
Your packing list for Reynolds Creek Group Campground should account for the Grassland terrain and Temperate.
Essential
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Water (minimum 2L) — Water sources marked on maps may be seasonal or dry; carrying enough to complete your route prevents a dangerous shortfall.
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Navigation (map/GPS/compass) — Getting lost is the leading cause of backcountry search-and-rescue calls; reliable navigation prevents the situation entirely.
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Sun protection (sunglasses, sunscreen) — Prolonged sun exposure causes headaches, fatigue, and heat exhaustion that can cut a trip short or create a medical emergency.
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First aid kit — Remote locations mean longer response times for help; a first aid kit bridges the gap between injury and professional care.
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Extra food — High-energy snacks weigh little but provide crucial fuel if you need to bushwhack out or wait for conditions to improve.
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Headlamp with extra batteries — Hands-free light is essential for navigating uneven terrain, setting up camp, or signaling for help at night.
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Fire starter — Waterproof matches or a ferro rod weigh almost nothing and can be the difference between a cold night and a survivable one.
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Emergency shelter (space blanket) — Wind and rain strip heat faster than most people realize; a compact emergency shelter blocks both.
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Knife or multi-tool — A multi-tool handles problems you can't predict: jammed zippers, tangled line, first-aid tape cutting, or gear fixes on the trail.
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Extra clothing layer — A lightweight fleece or puffy stuffs small but provides critical insulation if temperatures drop unexpectedly.
Wildlife Gear
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Hiking buddy (avoid solo) — A companion can help with first aid, signaling, and decision-making if a wildlife encounter turns serious.
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Noise maker — Group noise is especially important in dense brush or near berry patches where bears may be feeding and less alert.
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Gaiters — Thick gaiters deflect fangs before they reach skin, buying critical time in areas with rattlesnakes or copperheads.
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First-aid snakebite kit — Knowing how to immobilize a limb, mark swelling progression, and avoid harmful folk remedies can improve outcomes.
Terrain Gear
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SPF50 lip balm — High elevation, snow glare, and desert sun amplify UV exposure on exposed facial skin, especially lips.
Seasonal Gear
- Spring: Camera, Wildflower field guide
- Fall: Camera, Binoculars (foliage viewing)
- Winter: Microspikes/traction devices
Activities & Best Time to Visit Reynolds Creek Group Campground #2 (N, 0mi), Gila
The Grassland terrain here lends itself to a range of outdoor activities throughout the year.
Visitors come to Reynolds Creek Group Campground primarily for backpacking, though the Grassland terrain opens up other options too.
With a photography score of 55/100, Reynolds Creek Group Campground offers Good dark sky (Bortle 4) and 3 excellent meteor showers worth capturing.
Activities
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backpacking — Backpacking combines endurance, planning, and remote wilderness camping.
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camping — Camping offers campfires, starry nights, and mornings filled with birdsong.
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fishing — Fishing blends patience and skill with peaceful waterfront settings.
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hiking — Hiking ranges from gentle nature walks to challenging summit climbs.
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horseback_riding — Horseback riding offers a traditional way to travel through scenic terrain.
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photography — Golden hour and dramatic weather can transform ordinary scenes into striking images.
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picnicking — Picnicking turns a scenic overlook or shady grove into a memorable gathering spot.
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rv_camping — RV camping blends outdoor living with modern amenities.
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sightseeing — Sightseeing highlights iconic vistas, waterfalls, and unique rock formations.
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stargazing — Bring a blanket and let your eyes adjust to witness the Milky Way overhead.
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walking — Walking lets you slow down and notice details — wildflowers, birdsong, shifting light through trees.
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wildlife_viewing — Early mornings and dusk offer the best chances to quietly spot native wildlife.
Best months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Terrain: Grassland — Rolling plains or prairies provide wide visibility and expansive skies.
Wildlife Safety at Reynolds Creek Group Campground #2 (N, 0mi), Gila
Most wildlife encounters are positive, but a few potential hazards are worth knowing about.
The danger rating here is 25/10 — Mountain lions and Venomous snakes.
- Mountain lions
- Venomous snakes
- Far from city (70mi)
- Good dark sky (Bortle 4)
- 3 excellent meteor showers
- Fall foliage
- Spring wildflowers
Venomous Snakes
Watch your step — Western Diamondback, Mojave, Sidewinder, Arizona Coral Snake are present in the Grassland habitat around Reynolds Creek Group Campground.
Typically gray to brown with sharply defined dark diamonds bordered in pale scales.
Remove constrictive items and remain calm; do not cut, suck, or apply ice to the wound.
Color ranges from greenish-gray to brown, often blending with desert soils.
Keep the victim calm and monitor breathing while awaiting medical care.
Light tan or sandy coloration with darker blotches along the back.
Do not attempt to capture the snake; focus on reaching emergency care quickly.
Red bands touch yellow bands, a key identifying feature.
Keep the victim calm and still while awaiting treatment.
- Watch where you step and place hands
- Stay on trails
- Wear boots and long pants in snake country
- Do not reach under rocks or logs
- If bitten: stay calm, immobilize limb, seek medical help immediately
- Do NOT: cut wound, suck venom, apply tourniquet, ice, or alcohol
Nature & Wildlife at Reynolds Creek Group Campground #2 (N, 0mi), Gila
The Grassland terrain here supports a rich ecosystem worth noticing as you explore.
The forests and meadows around Reynolds Creek Group Campground support a diverse community of wildlife, from White-tailed Deer to Red-winged Blackbird and House Sparrow.
Trees (1)
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Arizona sycamore — Arizona sycamore is a riparian tree with mottled white and tan exfoliating bark.
Wildflowers (4)
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purple owl's-clover — Upright stems with finely divided leaves. -
pinkflower hedgehog cactus — Bright pink funnel-shaped flowers at stem tips. -
California poppy — Finely divided blue-green foliage forming low mounds. -
Coulter's lupine — Coulter's lupine is an annual with palmate leaves divided into narrow leaflets.
Shrubs (3)
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Brittlebush — Leaves are soft and pale gray, contrasting with long-stemmed golden blooms. -
Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus — Engelmann's hedgehog cactus is a low, clumping barrel cactus with cylindrical stems covered in dense radial spines. Flowers are large and showy, typically magenta to pink, blooming in late spring. -
Sonoran scrub oak — Sonoran scrub oak is a dense evergreen shrub with small leathery leaves.
Other Plants (5)
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saguaro
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Buckhorn Cholla
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jojoba
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Panamint liveforever
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ocotillo
Mammals (1)
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White-tailed Deer — Slender build with long legs and large dark eyes.
Birds (30)
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Red-winged Blackbird — Streaked brown female -
House Sparrow — Plain brown female with buff eyebrow -
European Starling — Spotted winter plumage with pale speckles -
Eurasian Collared-Dove — Black half-collar on nape -
Dark-eyed Junco — Oregon form with dark hood and brown back
Reptiles (7)
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Ornate Tree Lizard — Males may show bluish patches on the belly. -
Plateau Fence Lizard — Males show blue belly patches. -
Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake — Black-and-white banded tail ending in a rattle. -
Common Side-blotched Lizard — Distinct dark blotch behind the front legs on each side. -
Greater Short-horned Lizard — Color matches surrounding soil in browns and grays.
Amphibians (3)
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Canyon Tree Frog -
Red-spotted Toad -
Lowland Leopard Frog
Insects (6)
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Pipevine Swallowtail -
Queen -
Marine Blue -
Gray Buckeye -
Dainty Sulphur
Other Wildlife (1)
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Desert Blonde Tarantula
Nature Bingo at Reynolds Creek Group Campground #2 (N, 0mi), Gila
Can you spot them all? Check off each species as you find it on your visit.
Wildlife Challenge
Botany Challenge
Reynolds Creek Group Campground #2 (N, 0mi), Gila Climate & Sun
Month-by-month climate and daylight information for Reynolds Creek Group Campground.
Reynolds Creek Group Campground experiences Temperate conditions with average temperatures ranging from °F in to °F in .
Climate type: Temperate
Annual avg temp: 54.6°F
Annual precipitation: 26.6 in
With an average annual temperature of 54.6°F and 26.6 inches of precipitation, Reynolds Creek Group Campground has mild, moderate rainfall conditions. Summer highs average around 72°F, while winter lows drop to 40°F.
Best months to visit: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Sep, Oct.
| Month | Avg Temp | Precip |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 3.7 in |
| Feb | 42°F | 3.4 in |
| Mar | 46°F | 3.1 in |
| Apr | 52°F | 0.9 in |
| May | 58°F | 0.7 in |
| Jun | 68°F | 0.3 in |
| Jul | 72°F | 2.8 in |
| Aug | 71°F | 3.2 in |
| Sep | 66°F | 1.8 in |
| Oct | 56°F | 1.6 in |
| Nov | 47°F | 1.9 in |
| Dec | 39°F | 3.2 in |
Daylight & Sun Times
Daylight ranges from 9.9 hours in winter to 14.4 hours in summer — a difference of 4.5 hours.
Summer: 5:12 AM – 7:35 PM
Winter: 7:21 AM – 5:16 PM
Reynolds Creek Group Campground #2 (N, 0mi), Gila Trip Planning & Access
Ready to visit? Here's what to know about getting here and what it'll cost.
Getting to Reynolds Creek Group Campground means a 70-mile drive from Phoenix, the closest major city.
Visitor Friendliness
Visitor friendliness: families (excellent), dogs (likely_allowed), elderly (highly_suitable).
- Dogs: likely_allowed — No restrictions found
- Families: excellent
- Elderly: highly_suitable
- Strollers: excellent (100/100)
- Beginners: Perfect for beginners (Moderate difficulty (+5), Good information available (+5))
- Accessibility: Generally accessible to most visitors (90/100)
Places Near Reynolds Creek Group Campground #2 (N, 0mi), Gila
If you're in the area, these nearby destinations are worth considering too.
The area around Reynolds Creek Group Campground includes trails, campgrounds, and other destinations.
Nearby Trails
- Mcfadden Park Trail, Gila 0.15 mi
- Hells Hole Trail, Gila 1.33 mi
- Cienega Trail, Gila 1.4 mi
- Mcfadden Horse Trail, Gila 2.08 mi
- Center Mountain Trail, Gila 3.83 mi
Nearby Campgrounds
- Reynolds Creek Campground, Gila 0.16 mi
- Rose Creek Campground, Gila 2.93 mi
- Schoolhouse Campground (az) (N, 0mi), Gila 15.47 mi
- Schoolhouse Cg Campground, Gila 15.58 mi
Nearby Attractions
Stargazing & Night Sky at Reynolds Creek Group Campground #2 (N, 0mi), Gila
If you're staying past sunset, the stargazing conditions here are worth planning around.
With Bortle class 4 skies, Reynolds Creek Group Campground offers Rural/suburban transition conditions for observing the night sky.
Constellations
Look for Ursa Minor, Cepheus — all visible from this location depending on the season.
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Ursa Minor — This compact constellation contains Polaris at the end of its handle, a reliable guide to true north. -
Cepheus — Named for a mythological king, this constellation sits beside Cassiopeia and is circumpolar in northern latitudes.
Meteor Showers
For meteor viewing, the Geminids (December 13-14) offers the best show at this location.
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Geminids — peaks December 13-14 (excellent)Cold December air often means clear skies—look overhead after midnight for bright, slow-moving meteors.
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Quadrantids — peaks January 3-4 (excellent)Bundle up—January nights are frigid, but dark skies can produce bright fireballs.
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Perseids — peaks August 11-13 (excellent)Peak activity typically builds after midnight when Perseus climbs higher.
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Eta Aquariids — peaks May 5-6 (good)Southern U.S. observers often get better rates due to the radiant's position.
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Delta Aquariids — peaks July 28-29 (fair)This steady shower rewards patient observers in dark, moonless conditions.
Planets
Planets visible to the naked eye from this location:
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Venus — The brightest planet, often called the Morning or Evening Star -
Jupiter — The largest planet, bright and steady in the night sky -
Saturn — Famous for its rings, visible as a golden steady light -
Mars — The Red Planet, recognizable by its reddish-orange hue
Equipment Guide
- Naked eye: Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Mercury (with care)
- Binoculars: Jupiter moons, Uranus, Saturn rings (barely)
- Small telescope: Saturn rings, Jupiter bands, Mars surface features, Neptune
Viewing Tips
- Check planets rise/set times for your specific date
- Planets appear along the ecliptic (zodiac path)
- Planets don't twinkle like stars - steady light
- Venus and Jupiter are unmistakable - brightest objects after Moon
- Use a stargazing app to confirm planet positions
- Best viewing: when planet is highest in sky (transit)
Best Viewing Months
- Evening: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb
- Morning: Jul, Aug, Sep
Seasonal Highlights at Reynolds Creek Group Campground #2 (N, 0mi), Gila
Each season brings something different to this area.
What you'll see at Reynolds Creek Group Campground depends heavily on when you visit.
Spring Wildflowers
Peak bloom: March - April
Check local park websites for bloom reports
Fall Foliage
Peak color: October 15 – November 5
Best trees for color: Maple, Oak, Aspen
Higher elevations peak 1-2 weeks earlier
Bird Migration
Spring peak: March - April
Fall peak: October - November
Best spots: Wetlands, coastlines, mountain ridges
Indigenous Land at Reynolds Creek Group Campground #2 (N, 0mi), Gila
Long before trails were marked and campgrounds built, this land was home to Indigenous peoples.
This area is part of the ancestral territory of Pueblos, Ndee/Nnēē: (Western Apache), Hohokam.
Territories
Languages
1 Indigenous languages are associated with the peoples of this area: Dilzhę́’é (South).
Data from Native Land Digital
Reynolds Creek Group Campground #2 (N, 0mi), Gila Geology & Natural History
Beyond the trails and wildlife, Reynolds Creek Group Campground sits within a landscape shaped by millions of years of geological processes. Here's what researchers and surveys have documented about this area.
Bedrock Geology
- Rock Type
- Middle Proterozoic sedimentary rocks
- Formation
- Grand Canyon Supergroup; Chuar Group; Unkar Group; Apache Group; Troy Quartzite
- Lithology
- Major:{shale,sandstone,quartzite}, Minor:{limestone,basalt,black shale}, Incidental:{conglomerate}
- Age
- Proterozoic
Fossils
- Fossil Occurrences
- 3
- Unique Species
- 3
- Oldest
- 382.3 million years ago
Mineral Deposits
- Deposit Sites
- 178
- Richness
- Exceptional
- Minerals Found
- Asbestos, Uranium, Iron, Copper, Sand and Gravel, Construction, Fluorine-Fluorite, Semiprecious Gemstone
Endangered Species
- Species at Risk
- 1478
- ESA Endangered
- 29
- ESA Threatened
- 16
- Conservation Score
- 100/100
Temperature Records
- Record High
- 108°F (1905-07-28)
- Record Low
- -21°F (1979-01-30)
Wildfire History
This area has a relatively low wildfire risk, but always follow posted fire regulations.
- Recorded Fires
- 19
- Largest Fire
- Juniper (30,643.6 acres)
- Most Recent
- 2024
- Fire Risk
- Extreme
Caves & Karst Features
- Feature Types
- Carbonate rocks at or near the land surface in a humid climate
- Karst Score
- 40
Watershed
- Watershed
- Sloan Creek
- Water Quality (Good)
- 0%
- Impaired
- 0%
Reported Phenomena
- Bigfoot Reports
- 1 (BFRO)
- Eeriness Score
- 8/100
Reynolds Creek Group Campground #2 (N, 0mi), Gila Safety & Conditions
Conditions change fast outdoors — bookmark these official sources for your visit.
Real-time safety data for Reynolds Creek Group Campground — weather, fire, flood, and road conditions.
Coordinates: 33.872306, -110.977472