Cherry Creek/McMillan campgrounds

Cherry Creek campground, 22 miles, SH15N, improved site (toilets, trash, tables, fire rings); McMillan campground is one mile further up the road; Cherry Creek crosses both campground entrances

Google Maps view

Cherry Creek is one of the more (if not most) popular campgrounds in the Gila, with a dozen tables, two toilets, and trails heading both directions out of camp. McMillan has only three tables and a trail near the toilet. The creek runs alongside SH15, though both sites, and can change very suddenly from dry rock bed to trapping you inside the campgrounds. Smaller trailers can get in and out of Cherry Creek pretty good, but the creek crossing at McMillan has a sign advising trailers not enter.

9/1/2021, Cherry Creek entrance

 

McMillan entrance
 

Cherry Creek, settled down

Breakfast at Cherry Creek

Lunch at McMillan

On the trail of the mountain spirits

 

These campgrounds are in a canyon, and it takes some time for the sun to get high enough to warm up during cooler weather. Site #1, closest to the first toilet, has two tables, but they're not very level. The party sites are at the back of the campground near a second toilet.

 

trail south from Cherry Creek

trail from McMillan  

former pirated campsite at south trail, now closed off for good