ABOUT WHITEWATER DRAW WILDLIFE AREA, DRY CAMPING: Below is a quote about Whitewater Draw: from the Arizona Game & Fish Department brochure: “Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area is one of southeastern Arizona’s best places to view wildlife. Purchased by the AZ Game & Fish Dept. in 1997, this former cattle ranch lies within Chihuahuan Desert grassland habitat. Extensive open-water areas, marshlands and mudflats attract birds throughout the winter. In spring & fall, migratory birds are seen. A variety of mammals (mule deer, javelina, coyote, bobcat, desert cottontail and black-tailed jackrabbit), reptiles, and amphibians (plains leopard frog, toads, Mohave & western diamond-backed rattlesnakes, coachwhip, gophersnake, kingsnake, western hog-nosed snake, and the Texas horned lizard) live here year-round. Walking trails, viewing decks with scopes, and interpretive signs make this a natural place for an outing. Many people visit Whitewater Draw each winter to experience the memorable sights & sounds of more than 20,000 Sandhill Cranes. These birds spend the night standing in Whitewater Draw’s shallow waters to evade predators, then fly out each morning to feed and socialize in the surrounding areas. They return to Whitewater Draw in the afternoon & evening.”
We initially parked at the lot at the entrance to Whitewater Draw. It is a small, circular lot with a restroom with pit toilets. People are allowed to camp along the outer rim of this circular drive. When we were there, we grabbed a spot right at the entrance; there was barely room for the RV and we couldn’t open the bedroom slide for fear of it being hit by vehicles as they entered the lot. We had to park the Honda separately from us by the restrooms. In front of us was a small trailer and in front of that were two cars, then the roadway continued to the area for birdwatching where camping was not allowed. Coming back to the circular road, there was an RV parked, larger than ours, followed by a pick-up truck and small trailer, another small trailer, and a camper on a truck – that’s all there was room for – and everyone going into or out of the birdwatching area had to pass through this roundabout.
There was a sign for Overflow Camping, 1 mile up the dirt road. We decided to give it a try. The minute we left our camping spot, a Van pulled in and took it. What a zoo! We drove to the Overflow Camping. It was wonderful and we stayed three nights. It is a square lot a little off the dirt road. The first night there were 3 campers other than us. The second night there were 4 campers other than us. The last night there were 3 campers other than us. The only noise or “disturbance” we heard the entire time was the Sandhill Cranes flying overhead – lots of them, and often. Darnit.
There are no amenities of any kind at either camping site. Camping is free. You can stay three nights out of seven. We would definitely stay here again. But we came with not enough fresh water and already had partially-full tanks. We ran out of propane in the RV tank. NOTE: when dry camping like this, arrive with full propane tanks, a full fresh water tank, and empty gray/black tanks.
Other: 1,500 acres; closest town is McNeal, AZ.; we got good phone & internet signals; gas and restaurants are NOT nearby; the closest amenities are in Douglas, AZ.
- 2022 – 01/14-01/17