The best river, stream, or creek glamping near Cactus Forest, Arizona

If you're looking for a camping experience that combines luxury and nature, glamping might just be your thing. With over 200 options available near Cactus Forest, Arizona, Hipcamp has got you covered. You can enjoy a serene riverside stay at Pinnacle Farms South (468 reviews), Dark Sky Camping and Glamping (115 reviews), or Southern Arizona Guest Ranch (105 reviews). These glamping sites offer popular amenities such as potable water, pet-friendly policies, and showers, and allow for activities like swimming, boating, and visiting nearby historic sites. With an average price of $58 per night and options as low as $20, glamping by the river has never been more accessible.

100% (28)

Top-rated campgrounds near Cactus Forest

1. Boulder hideout

100%

(26)

13mi from Cactus Forest · 1 site · Lodging

In the middle of the vast Florence desert lies the most beautiful, enormous granite boulders that you have ever seen! This majestic place has also been home to the Hohokam indian tribe thousands of years ago, with pottery and arrowheads scattered throughout the property to carved out holes in rocks used for cooking, The Boulders is rich with history. We welcome you to an unforgettable glamping experience right in the middle of these granite giants!

2. Gila River View

100%

(5)

37mi from Cactus Forest · 2 sites · Lodging

Savor the sounds of nature along the Gila River without your phone distracting you! This is a hidden retreat behind a locked gate where you can relax and reset away from technology and people. Your main visitors will be our cattle, horses, and wildlife. Feel free to fish or swim at the Gila River 300 yards from the campsite. Enjoy a mesquite fire to sit around or even cook on! Wood is provided! Enjoy a beautiful overlooking view of the river! Escape from the hustle and bustle and recharge! We do currently have a rented camper on location but you won’t even notice each other. it’s away from the site and there’s plenty of space to enjoy.

If you're looking for a camping experience that combines luxury and nature, glamping might just be your thing. With over 200 options available near Cactus Forest, Arizona, Hipcamp has got you covered. You can enjoy a serene riverside stay at Pinnacle Farms South (468 reviews), Dark Sky Camping and Glamping (115 reviews), or Southern Arizona Guest Ranch (105 reviews). These glamping sites offer popular amenities such as potable water, pet-friendly policies, and showers, and allow for activities like swimming, boating, and visiting nearby historic sites. With an average price of $58 per night and options as low as $20, glamping by the river has never been more accessible.

100% (28)

Top-rated campgrounds near Cactus Forest

1. Boulder hideout

100%

(26)

13mi from Cactus Forest · 1 site · Lodging

In the middle of the vast Florence desert lies the most beautiful, enormous granite boulders that you have ever seen! This majestic place has also been home to the Hohokam indian tribe thousands of years ago, with pottery and arrowheads scattered throughout the property to carved out holes in rocks used for cooking, The Boulders is rich with history. We welcome you to an unforgettable glamping experience right in the middle of these granite giants!

2. Gila River View

100%

(5)

37mi from Cactus Forest · 2 sites · Lodging

Savor the sounds of nature along the Gila River without your phone distracting you! This is a hidden retreat behind a locked gate where you can relax and reset away from technology and people. Your main visitors will be our cattle, horses, and wildlife. Feel free to fish or swim at the Gila River 300 yards from the campsite. Enjoy a mesquite fire to sit around or even cook on! Wood is provided! Enjoy a beautiful overlooking view of the river! Escape from the hustle and bustle and recharge! We do currently have a rented camper on location but you won’t even notice each other. it’s away from the site and there’s plenty of space to enjoy.

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

David

December 2025

5 nights at Gila River View

This was one of the best places we've ever stayed! The host, Amber, was incredible and made sure we had everything we needed. The area is secluded and private and we never heard any noise other than nature. We loved that it's a working cattle ranch with horses, cattle, and pigs. The animals were all friendly and never bothered us. Oh, there was a very friendly barn cat that did snuggle with us a bunch! The camper was an amazing accommodation that offered everything we needed for an indoor experience and sleeping. The hiking opportunities are endless here! With just a 10 minute hike you can be on the top of a mountain overlooking 2 different valleys that the Gila river runs through. In about a 20-25ish minute hike you can make it from the camp clear into a hidden valley on the back side and make it right up to a secret spot next to the Gila river. We spent half a day at this spot relaxing and enjoying the weather and nature! It's about a 10 minute drive to the nearest town for any supplies or if you want a restaurant. We only went once to get more drinking water and we were back at camp within the hour! We will definitely stay here again! We love the place and it's less than 2 hours from our house! A+++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Thank you so much Amber! We appreciated everything you did to make our stay wonderful! : )

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Amanda

November 2025

With kids

1 night at Boulder hideout

Super private and beautiful location. It was awesome to be able to see all the stars at night. The place was clean and cozy and perfect for what we needed. I do recommend bringing extra lighting, if you want to move around at night. Thankfully we did. I would return

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Cody

October 2025

With pets

3 nights at Gila River View

Huge open, peaceful ranch along the river made for an amazing stay for my family of 5 with 2 dogs in tow. Amber was very responsive and welcoming, would definitely recommend!

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Tony

May 2025

1 night at Boulder hideout

Cabin and Land were Amazing... Loved the Peace and Tranquility! Good break from the daily routine in a unique surreal atmosphere.. Cole was a great host! As described and then some... Thanks again for Sharing your property!

Cool view atop a boulder about 3 minutes away from the cabin

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Josh

April 2025

Weekend Trip to Boulder hideout

We absolutely loved our stay! The location was beautiful and unique, surrounded by scenic views and huge boulders that made the whole experience feel extra special. The cabin itself was cozy and perfect for a peaceful overnight getaway with my wife and our dogs. Cole, the host, went above and beyond by providing thoughtful amenities like fresh well water in a barrel, firewood, a lighter, a grill with propane, and even small but super helpful items like paper towels and dishes. It’s clear that a lot of care was put into making the place comfortable and welcoming. Highly recommend this spot for anyone looking to relax and enjoy nature with a few comforts included.

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Ian

April 2025

With kids

Weekend Trip to Gila River View

Our family absolutely loved staying here. This will be one we look forward to staying at frequently. Everything was clean, and provided. It was a good stay at the ranch. We enjoyed seeing the animals and sitting in the creek even though it was pretty cold! Don’t think twice about booking this place ! Our host went above and beyond and the experience was great.

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Will

March 2025

With kids

3 nights at Boulder hideout

Beautiful location, simple accommodations, if you love nature you'll be in love with The Boulders!

Deb

March 2025

2 nights at Boulder hideout

If you are searching for a hideaway to unplug from the world, I recommend The Boulders as your next escape. We were there midweek and it was sooo quiet. We heard an airplane occasionally but little else. Photos do not do justice to the stunning landscape. This was an amazing experience I hope to revisit again.

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Bernadette

March 2025

Weekend Trip to Boulder hideout

I spent two glorious nights at the Boulders. It's clear that Cole has put a lot of thought and passion into this cabin. I loved the attention to detail; the salvaged wood, the western style bedding, decorative ceramics, and the photos showcasing the work that went into building this one-of-a-kind treasure. On a personal note, it was shocking to see the Starlink satellite when I sat on a boulder marveling at the night sky (had to research it once I got cell service, as I thought I was observing a extraordinary astronomical event or an alien landing😆). The one thing I think some may want to know about is that there is a UTV raceway somewhat nearby. During daylight hours, you can hear it. It didn't bother me at all, but someone looking for complete silence may want to take note. Overall an extraordinary stay and I am thankful to Cole and Hipcamp for making it possible.

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Max

March 2025

1 night at Boulder hideout

Incredible views and winding trails for hiking through the open desert. The boulders were otherworldly. We had such a magical time here!

Peter

March 2025

Group trip

1 night at Boulder hideout

Always a treat staying here and some nice new additions. thanks Cole.

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Elizabeth

February 2025

2 nights at Boulder hideout

Boulder Hideout was just as wonderful as the pictures looked. It's nestled in the boulders and invisible from outside. Quiet, comfortable, peaceful. Verizon was a bit sketchy, but I got it to work. Just a joy to be there.

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Jorge

January 2025

2 nights at Boulder hideout

Beautiful, clean, private, romantic, just awesome overall. My fiancé and I stayed 2 nights and had such an amazing peaceful time. Cole made sure we had the directions and gate code ahead of time, he also responded super quick to any questions we had. We did explore a bit but mostly stayed around the cabin. There is no power but we brought a large power bank and it was enough to power our projector and phones. Hopefully we get to bring our kiddos next time! 10/10 would recommend to anyone wanting a cozy, private experience.

Nicole

January 2025

With pets

1 night at Boulder hideout

I had a great time staying at this unique property with my family. The tiny home is clean and comfortable- a little tight for 4 of us but we brought a blow-up mattress and made it work. Appreciated the wood burning stove on a cold night and the big deck for lounging and marveling at the awe-inspiring views.

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Brian

January 2025

3 nights at Boulder hideout

Was looking for a place to getaway from it all and this was it. This little cabin had all the comforts I was looking for after camping in a tent for a week. Plenty of fresh water and firewood was provided. Cole, the host, was very responsive to my questions and helped make sure I had a good time. The sunsets from the deck over the rocks and cactus were epic. Would definitely recommend.

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Karen

December 2024

1 night at Boulder hideout

Just Wow! Cozy accommodation surrounded by gorgeous scenery run by nice a family ( thanks Cole ! ) perfect stay.

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Claire

December 2024

Weekend Trip to Boulder hideout

Amazing experience! A cozy, private spot on beautiful land. Perfect if you are wanting a nice quiet night with a campfire under the stars!

Shealyn

December 2024

1 night at Boulder hideout

We loved our stay at the Boulder Hideout! Our dogs had the best time exploring around all the rocks and the little cabin was so cozy. We spent hours at night laying in our truck bed looking at the stars and felt so lucky to be the only ones out there for miles! Thank you Cole! We hope to come back one day.

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Jennifer

December 2024

2 nights at Boulder hideout

This is the most amazing spot I’ve spent time at during my entire journey across the country. Extremely beautiful surroundings and although we had to be careful, my dog enjoyed her time there too! Cole was incredibly helpful in every way! Highly recommend Cole’s property and if I’m ever back in that part of the country, I’ll definitely return to the boulders!