Blue Ridge Reservoir, Arizona: The Complete Guide (Kayaking, Camping & More)
If you’re looking for a summer destination in Arizona that feels nothing like Arizona, Blue Ridge Reservoir needs to be on your list. Tucked up on the Mogollon Rim about 2.5 hours from Phoenix, this stunning reservoir sits at over 6,000 feet surrounded by ponderosa pines and honestly looks more like Colorado than anything you’d expect to find in the same state as Scottsdale.
The best part? Most people still don’t know about it. You can kayak, paddleboard, cliff jump, swim, hike, camp, and off-road all in the same trip — and unlike a lot of Arizona’s popular summer spots, it doesn’t feel completely overrun on a Saturday morning.
I’ve been multiple times and it’s one of my favorite places in the state. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your trip.
This post contains affiliate links that I do profit from, if you choose to support my business. These links are at no cost to you.
What to Do at Blue Ridge Reservoir?
Blue Ridge Reservoir is one of those rare spots where you can fill an entire weekend without ever feeling like you’ve run out of things to do. Here’s a quick overview of everything on the table:
Kayaking & Paddleboarding — The reservoir stretches 8 miles, which means you can paddle for hours and still feel like you’re discovering new corners of it. No rentals on site, but you can rent from Rim Country Recreation in Payson and tow them up.
Swimming & Cliff Jumping — There are several spots to swim, including flat rocks accessible from a short trail near the parking lot and more secluded areas you can kayak or SUP to. The cliff jumping spots range from mild to moderate, so it’s accessible for most people.
Hiking — Three solid trail options ranging from a short creek crossing hike to a section of the Arizona Trail with rim views. Best saved for a multi-day trip rather than a day visit.
Camping — Two developed campgrounds plus dispersed camping off FR 751B, which is honestly the best option if you want space and quiet. More on all of this below.
OHV & Off-Roading — A network of forest roads starting from FR 751B connects to a fire lookout and the highway near Happy Jack. The 2 miles of road past the boat launch leads to the BRR Dam and some of the most beautiful views in the area — but you’ll need high clearance.
Where is Blue Ridge Reservoir?
Blue Ridge Reservoir is located in the Coconino National Forest in Northern Arizona, about 2 hours and 24 minutes from Phoenix, 41 minutes from Strawberry, and 1 hour 22 minutes from Flagstaff. It sits at over 6,000 feet on the Mogollon Rim, which is why it feels so different from the rest of the state.
To get there, take AZ-87 north and look for the turn-off just past mile marker 295 on the right side of the highway if you’re coming from Strawberry. There’s a forest service sign marking it so it’s hard to miss. From there you’ll drive about 6 miles on a dirt road to reach the boat launch — it’s not a rough road and sedans can make it, but a mid-size vehicle or higher is ideal. In my Jeep I cruise it at 30-40 mph no problem.
One important thing to note: Blue Ridge Reservoir is not open year-round. The boat launch is open from Memorial Day through mid-fall, weather dependent. The area is open longer, but can close due to weather. Always check the Forest Service website for current conditions and whether it’s open before making the drive.
No permits or fees are required to visit.
Best Time to Visit Blue Ridge Reservoir
Time of Year
Blue Ridge Reservoir is open from Memorial Day through mid-fall, so summer is the primary season. That said, not all summer months are created equal out here. June through August it’s still warm — typically 10-15 degrees cooler than Phoenix, but that can still mean 85-90° on a hot day. If you’re visiting in peak summer, plan to arrive early or go at sunset.
My honest recommendation is late May, early June, or September. You get the best of everything — the reservoir is open, the temperatures are genuinely comfortable, and the crowds are thinner than Fourth of July weekend. Fall is also beautiful out here if you want a quieter camping trip with cooler nights.
Avoid hiking the longer trails in the heat of the day June through August. The kayaking and swimming are perfect in summer heat, but a 3.5 mile hike in 90° with limited shade is a different story.
Time of Day
For day trips, arrive early — ideally before 9am on weekends. I’ve shown up late morning before and hit a long line just to get into the parking area at the boat launch. It fills up fast on summer weekends. If an early start isn’t happening, golden hour in the evening is genuinely stunning out here and worth planning around.
If you’re camping, you have the advantage of being there before anyone else rolls in — which is one of the best reasons to stay overnight.
Getting There: Directions & What to Expect
From the Highway
The turn-off to Blue Ridge Reservoir is just past mile marker 295 on AZ-87, on the right side if you’re heading north from Strawberry. There’s a Forest Service sign marking it clearly and there aren’t many confusing side roads or forks once you turn off, so navigation is pretty straightforward.
From the highway you’ll drive about 6 miles on a dirt road to reach the boat launch. The road is generally in decent shape — I drive it at 30-40 mph in my Jeep Wrangler without any issues. Sedans can make it but a mid-size or higher clearance vehicle is more comfortable, especially after rain.
What to Expect When You Arrive
The boat launch area is obvious when you get there — it’s marked and has a vault toilet nearby. After launching your watercraft you drive up the hill to park, so keep that in mind if you’re dropping gear. Day use visitors should know that the parking area fills up fast on summer weekends, which is why arriving early matters.
A short trail starting right next to the bathroom leads down to a flat rock swimming area — it’s steep but only a few hundred feet. This is your access point if you don’t have a kayak or SUP and still want to get to the water.
Important Things to Know Before You Go
- No vendors or rentals on site — bring everything you need or arrange rentals from Rim Country Recreation in Payson ahead of time
- Limited to no cell service in the area — download your maps offline and let someone know where you’re going
- No permits or fees required
- America the Beautiful Pass gives you 50% off the nearby campgrounds if you’re staying overnight
Things To Do at Blue Ridge Reservoir
Kayaking & Paddleboarding
Kayaking and paddleboarding are hands down the best way to experience Blue Ridge Reservoir. The water stretches 8 miles and you genuinely can’t appreciate how beautiful it is until you’re out on it — paddling past canyon walls and pine trees with nobody around is one of those Arizona experiences that doesn’t feel real.
One important thing to know: there are no vendors or rentals on site. You’ll need to bring your own equipment or rent ahead of time. If you don’t own a kayak or SUP, Rim Country Recreation in Payson rents them out and can even provide a trailer to tow multiple boats up — which is what we did when we went with a bigger group. Worth calling ahead to confirm availability before your trip.
The launch area is clearly marked when you arrive. From there you can paddle in either direction — the reservoir goes about 4 miles each way, so there’s plenty to explore.
Swimming & Cliff Jumping
There are a few ways to access the water for swimming depending on what you have with you. If you have a kayak or SUP, you can paddle to some of the best cliff jumping spots on the reservoir — they range from mild to moderate so most people can find something comfortable. If you don’t have water equipment, there’s a short steep trail right next to the bathroom at the parking area that leads down to a beautiful stretch of large flat rocks. It’s only a few hundred feet but it’s steep, so take it slow. The rocks are perfect for laying out, jumping in, and swimming.
We went at golden hour on one of our trips and it was absolutely stunning. If you can time your swim for late afternoon you won’t regret it.
OHV & Off-Roading
Blue Ridge Reservoir has two solid off-roading options that most visitors don’t even know about.
The first is the network of forest roads starting from FR 751B — you’ll see the turn-off marked on a large board shortly after you turn off the highway. These roads connect to the highway near Happy Jack and wind up to a fire lookout, so you can just drive around and explore. Dispersed camping is also available off this road if you want to stay overnight away from the developed campgrounds.
The second option is the 2 miles of dirt road that continues past the boat launch. Most people skip it but it’s worth doing if you have high clearance — ideally 4×4. The road ends at the BRR Dam, which is beautiful, and every pullout along the way has incredible views. Some of my favorite photos from Blue Ridge came from this stretch of road.
Safety reminder: cell service is extremely limited out here. Download your maps offline before you leave home and always let someone know where you’re going. I bring a Garmin InReach Mini on every trip to this area so I can communicate and call SOS if needed — it’s worth every penny for remote destinations like this.
Hiking at Blue Ridge Reservoir
Honest take before we dive in: if you’re coming to Blue Ridge for a day trip, you probably don’t need to hike. The kayaking, swimming, and cliff jumping will fill your day and you’ll already be in the most beautiful part of the area. Where hiking makes the most sense is if you’re camping for two or more nights and want to stretch your legs on day two. That’s exactly how we’ve done it and it works perfectly.
That said, there are three solid trail options out here depending on what you’re looking for.
Arizona Trail — Blue Ridge Segment
The Arizona Trail is an 800-mile through hike spanning the entire state from Mexico to Utah, and it winds right past Blue Ridge Reservoir. You don’t need to commit to any specific distance — just hike until you hit the rim views and turn around. We camped off FR 751B and were right across from one of the AZ Trail gates, which made it incredibly convenient. The full segment stats are below if you want to go longer.
- Length: 14.8 mi RT
- Elevation: 1,781 ft
- Time: 5+ hr
- Dog-friendly: yes on a leash
- Fees: none
- Conditions: some elevation gain, forested, epic rim views
Rock Crossing Trail
This trail starts before the boat launch on the side of the dirt road and is only 2.2 miles total — but it crosses the reservoir twice, which makes it a unique one. If you just want a taste of it, the first 0.5 miles down to the water is beautiful on its own. If you want to do the full thing, kayaking or swimming across the reservoir and continuing on the other side would be a really cool way to do it.
- Length: 2.2 mi RT
- Fees: none
- Conditions: creek crossings, reservoir crossings
Kinder Crossing Trail
I haven’t personally done this one yet, but it’s on my list. You access it by driving down FR 751B and then another forest road. It’s steep and drops into a canyon with beautiful views and a swimming hole at the bottom — which sounds worth every step of the elevation loss. Best for experienced hikers and dogs who are comfortable on steep terrain.
- Length: 2.9 mi RT
- Elevation: 751 ft
- Time: 2-3 hr
- Dog-friendly: experienced dogs only
- Fees: none
- Conditions: steep, canyon, sun exposed, water at the bottom
Camping at Blue Ridge Reservoir
Camping is honestly the best way to experience Blue Ridge Reservoir. Getting there before the day crowds roll in, watching the sunrise over the water, and having the whole evening to yourself once everyone leaves — it’s a completely different experience than a day trip. There are three options depending on what kind of camper you are.
Rock Crossing Campground
Rock Crossing is the closest developed campground to the reservoir, sitting just 2 miles from the boat launch. It’s a mix of reservable sites and first-come, first-served spots, so if you want to guarantee your site book ahead especially for summer weekends. Cost is $20 per night and your America the Beautiful Pass gets you 50% off, which makes it $10 — a steal for how beautiful this area is.
One thing to know: you cannot camp on the shoreline of the reservoir itself, so Rock Crossing is your closest option for a developed site.
Blue Ridge Campground
Blue Ridge Campground is about 7.5 miles from Rock Crossing via the highway, or roughly 4 miles if you cut through on FR 138 and FR 751B. It’s a developed campground with picnic tables, fire rings, and bathrooms, same price as Rock Crossing. The difference is there are no reservations here — it’s entirely first-come, first-served with only 10 sites, so arrive early if you have your heart set on it.
Dispersed Camping- FR 751B
If you’re not familiar with the term, dispersed camping means there are no designated camping spots. No bathrooms, no picnic tables, fire rings, etc. I prefer this type of camping honestly! It’s much more quiet, you can be farther from neighbors, etc. Please LEAVE NO TRACE (trash, waste, etc), and KNOW THE CURRENT FIRE RESTRICTIONS. We couldn’t do a fire when we went- it’s a bummer but you need to respect the rules. I have a map I created above that you can reference for the location of FR 751B. It’s a mile or so in once you turn off the highway, to your left.
FAQ: Blue Ridge Reservoir, Arizona
Is Blue Ridge Reservoir free? Yes — there are no permits or fees required to visit Blue Ridge Reservoir for day use. The nearby campgrounds do have a fee ($20/night) but the America the Beautiful Pass gets you 50% off. No day use fee at the reservoir itself.
Can you swim at Blue Ridge Reservoir? Yes. There’s a short trail next to the parking area bathroom that leads down to flat rocks perfect for swimming, and additional swimming and cliff jumping spots accessible by kayak or SUP further out on the water.
Can you cliff jump at Blue Ridge Reservoir? Yes. There are several cliff jumping spots ranging from mild to moderate that you can paddle out to on a kayak or SUP. They’re not accessible on foot so you’ll need water equipment to reach the best ones.
How far is Blue Ridge Reservoir from Phoenix? About 2 hours and 24 minutes from central Phoenix. Take AZ-87 north past Strawberry and look for the turn-off just past mile marker 295 on the right.
Do you need a permit for Blue Ridge Reservoir? No permits or fees are required for day use. Just note that the reservoir is not open year-round — it opens around Memorial Day and closes in mid-fall, weather dependent. Always check the Forest Service website for current conditions before making the drive.
Can you rent kayaks or paddleboards at Blue Ridge Reservoir? No — there are no vendors or rentals on site. You’ll need to bring your own equipment or rent from Rim Country Recreation in Payson before you head up.
Is Blue Ridge Reservoir open year-round? No. It’s open from Memorial Day through mid-fall, weather dependent. Check the Coconino National Forest website for current status before your trip.
Final Thoughts on Blue Ridge Reservoir
Blue Ridge Reservoir is one of those places that reminds you why living in Arizona is actually incredible. It doesn’t look like the state you think you know — it looks like somewhere you’d plan a trip to, not somewhere you can reach in an afternoon from Phoenix. That contrast is exactly what makes it so special.
Whether you’re coming for a day of kayaking and cliff jumping or a long weekend of camping and exploring forest roads, Blue Ridge delivers every single time. Just come prepared — bring your gear, download your maps offline, and get there early if you’re visiting on a summer weekend.
If this guide helped you plan your trip, save it for later and share it with someone who needs a summer adventure. And if you’ve been to Blue Ridge and have a favorite spot or tip, drop it in the comments — I’d love to hear about it.