There Is a Peaceful Place Hidden Within the White Mountains That Is Perfect for Day Trips

Did you know that you can enjoy a slice of Arizona’s White Mountain region from a beautiful campsite? It doesn’t really matter whether you are coming solo or if you are bringing your family along. Everyone will definitely enjoy the whole day looking at the beautiful scenery, cool water, and quietness. Check out Fool Hollow Lake located in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.

Once You Visit Fool Hollow Lake, You Will Always Find Yourself Itching to Go Back Here

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Fool Hollow Lake may have a negative connotation because of its name, but you will love every inch of the place because you are closer to nature. For a bit of history about the area: everything started in 1885. Thomas Jefferson Adair moved into the area with the intention of farming. Some locals found the idea funny and said “only a fool would try and farm the place.” Since then, the name stuck. The tiny town of Adair was covered by the lake, but it was Thomas Jefferson Adair himself who was responsible for the name of the area.

You can find the park along the lake located in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. It was only opened in 1994 as a result of the cooperation between the Arizona State Parks, U.S. Forest Service, Arizona Game and Fish, and the city of Show Low. The organizations also collaborated with Arizona Public Service and McCarty Construction Company.

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The visitors of this place will find the gentle breeze blowing through the pine boughs comforting. They have the option to camp among the tall pines or go out and hike along the lake because it is cool with a 6,300 feet elevation. If you ask us, we think this place is one of the most magical lakes in Arizona!

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Campers flock to Fool Hollow Lake all-year-round and they busy themselves with various activities such as boating, fishing, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. You can also swim in the cool and refreshing waters with your family and friends. If you cannot stay here for the night, don’t worry! This is still the perfect place for a fun day trip.

Feel the Cool Northern Arizona Chill When You Camp Out

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You’ve already seen the cool Grand Canyon glamping experience that we’ve covered before. If you want something more raw and natural, why not spend a day or two at Fool Hollow Lake? You can just watch the big white fluffy clouds grace the sky, and watch a herd of elk feeding lakeside. This is the perfect venue to reconnect with nature, clear your mind, and meditate. All you have to do is show up and make plenty of amazing memories!

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We bet you will fall in love with the dreamy sunset views from your campsite. The sky is mirrored into the waters, making it much more mesmerizing.

Reservations are available online if you want to camp out, provided that you can immediately pay a $5 non-refundable reservation fee per reserved site. You can also call the staff at the reservation desk because they can assist you seven days a week. There are non-hook-up (tent only) sites with the maximum number of two vehicles and six adults per site. The areas have a fire ring and picnic table, restroom and showers. You should also note that RVs are not allowed in non-hook-up (tent only) sites.

On the other hand, there are electric RV sites that can accommodate up to 40-foot rigs. The maximum is two vehicles and six adults each, 12 people total.

Make Your Day Trip Unforgettable: Watercraft Users Will Have a Blast at the Lake

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Of course, this area has a lake! Naturally, visitors would want to do some watercraft activities when they come here. Lucky for you, Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area allows visitors to enjoy their time in the waters. The management also encourages everyone to do it responsibly. This means that the watercraft should meet all of the state’s regulations for both motorized and non-motorized watercraft. Guests should also follow the Leave No Trace principle by throwing their trash in the proper places.

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Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area only allows watercraft with a maximum of 10 H.P. gasoline engines. You can also use the single-lane boat launch ramps available on the east and west sides of the lake.

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If you don’t have your own boat, you can rent kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards from the concessionaire store located near the east boat launch ramp. You should check J&T’s Wild-Life Outdoors website for updates because the watercraft rental is seasonal and is currently only available in summer. We highly suggest that you don’t pass up on fun water activities when you are here for a day trip.

Note: Please check the Arizona Game and Fish’s watercraft information page if you are not sure about the registration, usage, and what type of safety equipment you need when boating.

Why Do People Love Fool Hollow Lake So Much?

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If you are tired of visiting fascinating museums  or perhaps, training in a ninja gym, then this is another fun place to visit and spend the day. You can just rent a fishing boat and explore the lake. Guests can also try paddleboarding and of course, swimming!

You will appreciate the quietness of the place because that is its main charm. The weather is almost always nice and you are kept away from the hustle and bustle of everything. A lot of guests want to camp out at Fool Hollow Lake, so make sure you book early if you want to secure a spot. Given that this is a peaceful and calm place, there’s no wonder why many families think this is the perfect weekend getaway venue.

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There is a flower field in the area and you can take lots of Instagrammable photos! You just need to strike your best pose.

The campground is very well-organized. You’ll find that the hosts are doing a great job of keeping the area clean. Just make sure that if you come here, you will also contribute to the cleanliness of the place. The shower room, albeit simple, is also super clean.

Fool Hollow Lake isn’t very big, but it is big enough for boating. You can buy and rent bait or fishing supplies from the concessionaire store located near the east boat launch ramp!

Park and Facility Hours

Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area is open year-round. You can come here from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm daily, while the gates are closed from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am. The park also operates for a half-day during Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve.

Park Entrance Fee
Monday to Thursday: $7.00 per vehicle (1-4 adults)
Friday to Sunday, and holidays: $10.00 per vehicle (1-4 adults)
Individual/bicycle: $3.00

Note: Please remember that masks are absolutely required when visiting the ranger stations, restrooms, stores, or historic buildings. RV users should also use their own facilities. Lastly, double campsites are now restricted to one side.

Location: 1500 Fools Hollow Rd, Show Low, Arizona 85901
Website: https://azstateparks.com/fool-hollow/

Have you been to Fool Hollow Lake before? How was your experience?