Roper Lake State Park is an Arizona state park located a few miles south of Safford offering RV camping and a wide array of recreational facilities. The gorgeous state park lies within the enormously beautiful Gila River Valley which adds a show-stopping charm to its scenery. This RV state park is surrounded by the 32-acre Roper Lake which is home to recreational offerings like swimming, boating, and fishing. Picnic sites and campgrounds also have been arranged on the lakeside to let the RV campers enjoy these scenic lake views throughout their stay.
Formerly used as a ranch, this 338-acre land was transformed into a state park in 1972. The park is prominent for its water activities, primarily a stone hot tub. The Jacuzzi is widely famous among the visitors and RV campers hitting the park. The park is also an excellent birdwatching and hiking destination. Dankworth Pond, found at the southern end of the park, also offers quality water recreation, some picnic sites, and a few miles of hiking trails nearby.
The park is ideal for a visit between October to May when the raging temperature has cooled down. Nonetheless, the park is open year-round between 6 am to 10 pm. There are abundant opportunities for RV camping covered in ultimate convenience and outstanding amenities including electric and water hookups.
Located in Graham County off US Route 191, Roper Lake State Park is located in Gila River Valley. The park is easy to access via car or RV from Safford as it is located at a distance of just five miles from the city. You will face no significant difficulty in driving to the park. Upon arriving at the park, you will find a spacious parking area at the entrance. There are six other parking options in the rest of the park at various locations. The parking lots are quite spacious. Seven parking lots can be found at different locations: West Hill Day Use Area, East Mesa Day Use Area, Ranger Station, fishing dock at Roper Lake, Cottonwood Campground, and Hacienda Campground.
The park roads are well cared for as they are well-paved, and you will easily drive along. Some problems may arise due to narrow windings at some roads. Winters are pleasant, so there is rarely a chance of road blockages due to snow. The campground features asphalt and gravel campsites large enough for rigs as big as 45 feet in length. There are no strict driving restrictions for RVs and cars, but drivers are instructed to keep their vehicles on roads and not drive elsewhere.
Hacienda Campground features 20 campsites with electric (20- and 30- amp) and water hookups. The campground is located on the lakeside offering refreshing views of the 32-acre waterbody and the incredible surroundings. The campsites can be reserved for up to one year in advance. Bookings can be made online or by contacting the park office. Each site is large enough for families comprising up to 12 members including a maximum of six adults. Campsites can only be obtained for 14 days within a span of 30-day. The campground is not suitable for RVs larger than 45 feet in length.
Quiet hours are observed between 10 pm to 6 am. Generators must not be operated during these hours. Pets are allowed but on a leash. There are facilities for people with disabilities. Campsites are a combination of back-in and pull-through sites. Complimentary picnic tables and fire rings are offered. A modern restroom with hot showers can be found near the entrance of the campground.
The largest campground in the park, Cottonwood campground consists of 25 partial hookup sites (electric and water), a small shaded porch, and bathrooms with hot showers. Soak in the gorgeous lake views from inside your RV or by standing in the shaded Ramada that’s up to you. The electric sites offer hookups of 20, 30, and 50 amp. The sites are back-in and accommodate RVs up to 45 feet in length. Up to two vehicles are permitted with an additional fee for the second vehicle. Twelve people with a maximum of six adults can accommodate an individual campsite for up to 14 days in one month. Bookings can be made up to one year in advance. A sewage dump station can be found nearby the campground. Generators must not be operated between the quiet hours. The sites are pet-friendly and offer picnic tables and fire rings complimentarily.
Gila Campground, yet another lakeside campground, consists of five non-electric RV sites. The non-electric sites also come with complimentary picnic tables and fire rings. Water is available. A sewage station is located nearby. Generator use is prohibited during quiet hours. Leashed pets are allowed, but guests are directed to clean the pet litter before check out. Reservations can be made by calling the park office or you may also book online.
Gila Campground is also the park’s group camp area. The group camp includes 14 individual group campsites. Reservations can be made up to one year in advance and only by contacting the park. Minimum ten vehicles are required to reserve the group camp area.
All campsites offer picnic tables and fire rings. A large porch with six picnic tables, a group fire ring, sink, and barbecue grills is the visitors’ most famous spot in the entire group camp area.
Fishing is at its absolute best in Roper Lake State Park. The 32-acre Roper Lake offers RV campers loads and loads of fishing opportunities in the form of its largemouth bass, rainbow trout, crappie, sunfish, bluegill, and catfish species.
If you find the lake crowded, drive your RV towards the southern end of the park at Dankworth Pond. The pond is stocked with large amounts of trout November through March. Other game species that you can try your luck with include largemouth bass, crappie, and bluegill to name a few.
You will find ample opportunities for wildlife viewing here during your RV camping stay. You may catch a glimpse of bobcats preying on wild birds, rabbits and squirrels hopping around, and excessively cute raccoons in a large tree hole. Don’t forget to put your binoculars in the RV as you may sight a redwing blackbird, Gamble’s quail, great horned owl, egrets, herons, flycatchers, kingfisher, mallard and ruddy duck, and many other delightful species any time at the park.
There is no better way to enjoy the heart-stopping scenery of Roper Lake than to sit peacefully on a picnic table laid by the lakeside. Picnic tables are offered on a complimentary basis to campers bring their RVs or pitching their tents at the park. Roper Lake offers a spectacular picnic setting where you can simultaneously enjoy gorgeous views while grilling your barbecue with friends or family. Picnic tables can be found all over the lake – choose whichever you like the best.
If you are an avid swimmer, you would not like to miss the chance of splashing in the park’s 32-acre Roper Lake. The park features a gorgeous sandy beach at Roper Lake just across the west of Island Day Use. Roper Lake’s swimming beach is guaranteed to fulfill your swimming needs on a hot summer day and make you feel refreshed. So, don’t forget to take a dip in the Roper Lake during your RV vacation at Roper Lake State Park.
If you like paddling in the water, Roper Lake State Park allows both motorized and non-motorized watercraft in its Roper Lake. The park has no renting facilities for boats, but kayaks are available. There is also a boat ramp at the lake. Campers get the luxury of parking their RVs on a parking lot available towards the lake’s east. Remember not to launch any gas motors in the lake as the park prohibits its use.
Five miles of hiking trails showcasing the park’s natural scenery and its wildlife set a very delightful ambiance. We recommend you to check the nearly one-mile Mariah Mesa Trail off your checklist as soon as your RV enters the park. Mariah Mesa Trail is Roper Lake’s primary hiking trail and will offer you more than any other hiking trail in the park. We bet hiking this trail will be among your best RV camping experiences at the park. During the year’s hottest months, these hiking trails are a blissful relief from the scorching heat.
