Lost Dutchman State Park Camping: The Complete 2026 Arizona Guide

Lost Dutchman State Park camping puts you right at the foot of the Superstition Mountains, about 40 miles east of Phoenix in Apache Junction, Arizona. The campground sits in open Sonoran Desert among saguaros, with the Flatiron towering above it and trails leading straight from the loops into the Superstition Wilderness and Tonto National Forest. The park is open year round, and fall through spring is when it shines.

This guide covers the Lost Dutchman campground, electric and non-hookup sites, the camping cabins, group camps, the campground map, reservations, the trails and the rules worth knowing before you book.

Lost Dutchman State Park Camping: The Basics

• Address: 6109 N Apache Trail, Apache Junction, AZ 85119. Park phone: (480) 982-4485.
• Operator: Arizona State Parks & Trails. The park was established in 1957.
• Reservations: online or through the reservation desk at 1-877-MY-PARKS (1-877-697-2757), 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Arizona time.
• Season: open year round. Christmas Day is the one day the park is closed.
• Entrance fee: $10 per vehicle with one person, $20 per vehicle with 2–4 people, $5 for an individual or bicycle.
• Payment: only cash, Visa or MasterCard with a readable stripe. There is no chip reader or tap-to-pay, so bring exact cash for the self-pay station after hours.

Where is Lost Dutchman State Park? On the Apache Trail (State Route 88) just northeast of Apache Junction, at the western base of the Superstitions. It's a quick drive from the Phoenix metro area, which is why weekends fill up fast in the cooler months.

The Lost Dutchman Campground

The Lost Dutchman State Park campground has 135 sites (the park's homepage says 134) plus three group camping areas:

• 68 sites with electric and water. Electric service is listed as 50/30/20 amp.
• The rest are non-hookup sites on paved roads, open to tents or RVs.
• Every site has a picnic table and a fire pit with an adjustable grill grate.
• No size restrictions on RVs. Big rigs are welcome, but all tires must stay completely on the pavement.
• Showers: two restroom/shower buildings serve the campground and the cabin loop, open to registered campers year round. Bring your own toiletries.
• Dump station: free for registered campers and not open to the public.

The campground is laid out so many sites have a direct view of the mountains, and campers in online groups say the views from most sites are excellent. Hookup sites go first in the winter season, so book early if you need power.

Lost Dutchman Campground Map

Arizona State Parks publishes a Lost Dutchman campground map as a PDF on its reservation site and on the park's Maps page. It shows the campground, cabins, group camps, shower buildings, the dump station, the Cholla and Saguaro day-use areas and every trail. After hours, campers with a reservation can grab a paper map by the ranger station and drive straight to their site. Download the map before you go, and use the reservation site's interactive map to see exactly where each site sits.

Lost Dutchman Camping Reservations

• Reservation fee: $3.60 per campsite, non-refundable.
• Check-in: 2 p.m. Arriving early does not guarantee your site is ready.
• Check-out: noon on your departure date.
• Early arrival: campers arriving before noon on arrival day pay the park entrance fee.
• Second vehicle: $15 per night, paid at the park. It doesn't apply to a towed vehicle when the primary vehicle stays at the site.
• Multi-night stays: check in with the camp host or a ranger to get a vehicle tag.
• Stay limit: 14 nights in any 30-day period.

Nightly campsite rates are posted on the state's fee schedule and on each site's reservation page. Check them there, because they change by site type and season.

Lost Dutchman Camping Cabins

The park has five camping cabins, each with two covered porches facing the desert. They're a good choice if you want to skip the tent but still sleep at the trailhead.

• Price: $99 per night, plus a $5 reservation fee and a refundable $50 cleaning deposit.
• Inside: a queen bed, two sets of bunk beds, a counter and chairs, a ceiling fan, lights, electricity, heating and air conditioning.
• No plumbing. Restrooms and showers are a short walk away, and dishes can be washed at the sinks behind the restroom building.
• Bring your own linens or sleeping bags and pillows.
• Sleeps six, with at least one adult. Maximum two vehicles.
• Three-night minimum on holiday weekends, and a 14-night maximum.
• Check-in is 3 p.m. and check-out is 10 a.m. All cabins are wheelchair accessible. No tents or RVs at the cabin sites.

Group Camping and Ramadas

There are three group camping areas. Call the park at (480) 982-4485 to reserve one. Each needs a $5 reservation fee and a $25-per-night facility fee, and every vehicle pays a $25 nightly camping fee on top.

• Quail Group Camp: booked in groups of 12, 20 or 29 vehicles, with a lit ramada, electric outlet, water and a group grill.
• Roadrunner Group Camp: tents only, booked as a group of six or 12 vehicles.

For day groups, the Cholla and Saguaro group ramadas can be reserved up to 12 months ahead ($5 reservation fee and a $25 use fee).

Lost Dutchman Trails

Most trails start right from the campground or the day-use lots:

• Native Plant Trail: 0.25 miles, paved and accessible, near the visitor center.
• Discovery Trail: connects the campground to the day-use areas, with a wildlife pond and a bird feeder.
• Treasure Loop Trail (#56): 2.4 miles round trip, moderate, with about 500 feet of elevation change.
• Jacob's Crosscut Trail (#58): 0.8 miles of easy walking along the mountain's base inside the park, continuing 4.5 miles beyond it.
• Prospector's View Trail (#57): 0.7 miles, moderate, linking Siphon Draw and Treasure Loop.
• Siphon Draw Trail (#53): 4 miles round trip up into the canyon, with about 1,000 feet of gain to the basin.
• The Flatiron: experienced hikers can continue past the basin, but there is no maintained trail above it. The park says to allow five hours or more for the steep climb.
• Mountain bike loop: about four miles of beginner-to-intermediate singletrack.

Carry at least a gallon of water per person per day. Summer temperatures often pass 100°F, and the park doesn't recommend Siphon Draw in hot weather. A headlamp lets you start before sunrise and be off the trail before the heat.

Campground Rules Worth Knowing

• Generator hours are 8–10 a.m. and 5–7 p.m., and that includes idling vehicles.
• Quiet hours run 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.
• Main gate closes 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Campers can leave, but can't re-enter until 6 a.m. Day-use gates lock at 8 p.m.
• Two vehicles per site at most, and no more than 10 people (six adults).
• No walk-in entry and no hiker drop-off or pick-up, for safety reasons.
• Fires only in fire rings or grills, and no wood gathering. Check Arizona's fire restrictions before you go. If fires are allowed, our guide on how to start a campfire helps.
• Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet. See our tips for camping with dogs.

When to Camp at Lost Dutchman

Fall, winter and spring are the prime seasons. Days are mild, wildflowers can bloom in a wet spring, and migrating birds arrive in winter. Desert nights get cold, so read our winter camping guide for a January trip. In summer, plan very early hikes, use an electric site for air conditioning or book a cabin.

Not to Be Confused With

• Lost Dutchman RV Resort / RV Park in Apache Junction is a private RV park, not the state park.
• "Lost Dutchman Campground" listings on Hipcamp are private land, separate from the state park.
• The Superstition Mountain Lost Dutchman Museum is a separate museum on the Apache Trail, not part of the park.
• Lost Dutchman Days is Apache Junction's annual rodeo and festival, held in town.

The park is named for the legend of the Lost Dutchman Mine. Jacob Waltz, "the Dutchman," was said to have hidden gold somewhere in the Superstitions before he died in 1891. Nobody has proven it was found.

Dispersed Camping Near Lost Dutchman

If the campground is full, the surrounding Tonto National Forest allows camping outside developed sites in some areas. Rules and closures change, so check with the forest's ranger district first, and read our guide to dispersed camping.

More Desert Camping

Lost Dutchman pairs well with other Southwest desert trips. See our guides to Joshua Tree camping and Valley of Fire State Park camping.

Recommended Gear

Open desert sites call for a sturdy tent, a good light for early starts and a comfortable chair for watching the sunset on the Flatiron.

• Coleman Sundome Camping Tent: an easy, weatherproof tent for the non-hookup sites. Our how to set up a tent guide helps first-timers.
• Black Diamond Spot 400-R Rechargeable Headlamp: for pre-dawn starts on Siphon Draw and for finding your site after dark.
• GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker XL: a comfortable rocking chair for sunset views. Compare more options in our best camping chairs roundup.

Use our camping checklist to make sure nothing gets left at home, and pack extra water.