Upper Hospital Flat Dispersed Camping Area
Upper Hospital Flat Dispersed Camping Area is a great place to escape the summer heat of surrounding deserts and retreat to a scenic meadow in the Pinaleño Mountains of southeastern Arizona. The area is known for camping, scenic driving, picnicking, birding, wildlife viewing, hiking, mountain biking, and history. There are no amenities at this site. Hospital Flat is so named because in the 1880s it served as a site for a field hospital for ailing soldiers from Fort Grant. That frontier outpost is located along Grant Creek on the south slope of the Pinaleños.
More like this: first-come in Arizona · tent only in Arizona
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | April 15 to November 14 |
| Forest | Coronado National Forest |
| Booking | Reservations are not accepted. Dispersed camping only. |
| Rules | Vehicles (including trailers) longer than 22 feet are not recommended because of the difficulty of negotiating the switchbacks on AZ 366. This dispersed camping area is not accessible by vehicle from November 15 to April 15 when the Swift Trail is closed for the winter. Early or late snow may extend the inaccessible season. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 32.6669° N, 109.8744° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Gila Outdoor ↗ | 14.2 mi |
| RV sales & service | Trek RV ↗ | 15.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miBig Creek1.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miGrant Hill Loop A1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miGrant Hill Loop3.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.4 miGrant Hill Loop C0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.5 miCunningham Loop ↗5.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.5 miGrant Hill Loop B0.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.3 miGrant Hill Loop Trailhead ↗Coronado National Forest
- 0.5 miCunningham Loop Trailhead ↗Coronado National Forest
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Other campgrounds nearby
Historic landmarks nearby
Guidebooks for Arizona
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- Best Backpacking Trips in Utah, Arizona, and New MexicoMike White and Douglas Lorain, 2016Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Upper Hospital Flat Dispersed Camping Area?
No. Upper Hospital Flat Dispersed Camping Area is first-come, first-served. Reservations are not accepted. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
Is Upper Hospital Flat Dispersed Camping Area open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season April 15 to November 14.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Upper Hospital Flat Dispersed Camping Area?
Upper Hospital Flat Dispersed Camping Area is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Upper Hospital Flat Dispersed Camping Area is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Upper Hospital Flat Group Site (under 0.1 mi), Treasure Park - East (0.3 mi), and Treasure Park - North (0.3 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby