Blue Ridge Campground

Coconino National Forest, Pine

You’ll fall asleep on top of a car at Blue Ridge Campground. Seriously. Smashed, recycled cars compose the renovated sites here.

That’s just one of the interesting facts about this destination, which is 5 miles north of Blue Ridge Reservoir (popular among water recreationists) along the Mogollon Rim. Other tidbits? Plenty of squirrels populate the campground, as do ponderosa pines. Fish are aplenty in the reservoir, making this a great camping destination for anglers. If you prefer hiking, trails are numerous. This is Rim Country, so no matter your recreational preference, you’ll be able to do what you love while surrounded by some of Arizona’s finest scenery.

Back at the campground, the $8 fee you’ll pay to stay here does some good. Thanks to the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, the Mogollon Ranger District uses 95 percent of the fees collected at Blue Ridge to maintain and improve the site, thus the recycled cars — and the awesome campground.

Campfire Tale: The recycled-car material used to renovate the site pads at Blue Ridge Campground is known as impact post, which is created by turning the smashed cars into a powder. The powder is then combined with gravel to create a durable, compacted surface.