Renovated Rose Canyon campground now open for summer season

TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) - Visitors to the Rose Canyon Lake Campground in the Santa Catalina Mountains north of Tucson are now able to enjoy improvements to the campground. A reconstruction project has recently been completed, and the campground is now open for the summer season, as of Sunday, April 15.

"Visitors should be pleased with the renovated campground," said Tom Cassell, Coronado National Forest engineer who managed the project. "Each campsite was redesigned to maximize the site's potential."

The campground was originally built in the late 1950s. As part of the project, 68 campsites were renovated, one restroom building was replaced. All six loop roads were also reconstructed, as were paved parking areas at the Barnum Rock and Lizard Rock group areas.

Campsites also are now more accessible and feature new tables, grills, campfire rings, and bear-proof food storage lockers.

Many campsites have new retaining walls and steps were installed at some for safer access. Roads will now accommodate storm water with less maintenance, and parking areas are better defined. The project also relocated several campsites previously too close to the creek, according to Cassell.

Rose Canyon Campground is located between mile markers 17 and 18 on the Catalina Highway Scenic Drive near the summit of Mt. Lemmon.