For Memorial Day weekend we wanted to skip the crowds and go to a more isolated dispersed camping area. Horsethief Basin was the perfect fit for a weekend of solitude and enjoying the outdoors.

Just a short drive up from Phoenix, you take the Bumblebee exit after Black Canyon City. From there you follow 32 miles of dirt road through Bumblebee, AZ - Cleator, AZ and finally Crown King, AZ to Horsethief Basin Recreation Area (dispersed camping is just outside the recreation area).

We spent the next couple days exploring the area and enjoying the beautiful views of lake from all around. There is some great information on the area on the Prescott National Forest website.