There’s a new place to escape the heat in Arizona’s high country!
Village Camp is really in Bellemont, 13 miles west of Flagstaff and pretty much dead center in between Flagstaff and Williams. They opened in May, 2023 and we were here their first Memorial Day. Much has changed since that first trip. What was just a handful of spaces is now a sprawling park with a beautiful clubhouse and lots of amenities.
A forest service road for trail access is right out of the park. There are two trail access points out of the west side of the park for hikers and mountain bikers.
The last visit was a fun weekend of trail riding in the RZR. This visit was about hiking. I’ve been dealing with a back injury and was itching to get out and do something, anything really. Mark’s big Kilimanjaro hike was just around the corner and he needed to get some high elevation time. He climbed Mount Humphrey’s, Arizona’s tallest peak at 12,633 feet while I walked the campground with Daisy. We added in a trip down into the Lava Cave, Veit Springs Hike and a Bearizona visit. I’m happy to report my back did just fine. I might be finally turning the corner. Finally.
The clubhouse is the center of the activity besides just check-in. You’ll find a store and café with a large dining area. The glass doors open to a large covered patio area and an equally large grass area that is perfect for playing cornhole, bocce and more. The pool is adjacent to the patio and was a great way to end each hiking day.
There are two large grass areas next to the clubhouse. One is a great size for play. The other faces the amphitheater. Friday was movie night and rows of blue beach chairs lined the grass while people watched Ghostbusters. A local band played on Saturday night. Many people enjoyed the grassy areas, it was fun seeing so many families together outside.
A nice pickleball court and half-basketball court are located next to the dog park a little north of the clubhouse. We were surprised to find a frisbee golf course! We’ve played it a few times and it’s a lot of fun. You’ll find another play area here that kids were really enjoying.
For all you walkers, a lap around the property is .97 miles with a small elevation gain to work your heart. I bet if I go to the absolute edge and hit every corner square I can get it to 1 mile on the dot.
The sites are long and wide, making for an easy backup. Our truck fit parked lengthwise with the motorhome with room to spare. It’s nice to not be able to pass your shampoo to your neighbor. While there are officially no pull-thru sites, four can be used as such. Check out sites 31, 32, 47 and 48 if you require a pull-thru. Most sites have a larger gravel/rock mix as the base which makes for easy water drainage in a monsoon storm. The majority of sites have a picnic table and some even have an outside kitchen with fireplace. Juniper bushes and a tree or two are on each site. The juniper will grow to be a nice privacy hedge.
They also have many park models for rent or purchase. For us, this works well for our friends/family that want to join us for the fun and don’t have an RV. We utilize parks with these set ups for our “cousin reunion” so everyone can come.
We’re officially adding Village Camp to our “high country” campground rotation. We hope to see you at the campsite!