Big Lake Howliday Campout Weekend 2019

Morning bird walk at Big Lake 2013 photo by Jean Ossorio
August 9, 10, & 11, 2019

Join the Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project for a fun-filled weekend learning about and celebrating the return of Mexican wolves to the wild. This year marks the 21 year anniversary of the first releases of Mexican wolves back into the wild in the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area.

Where: Apache Trout Campground Fir Group site at Big Lake in the Apache National Forest, Arizona.
When: Friday, August 9th, 2019 starting at 3:00 pm through Sunday, August 11th at noon.

Registration is now closed for the 2019 event. There are no on-site registrations accepted.

Suggested Donation for the registration fee is $75 per person and $50 per youth ages 18 and younger* (to help us cover the cost of the meals and the camp ground group site). All activities during the weekend are free. Weekend registration is required through the registration form. *Please note that the suggested donation is cheaper than what it would cost to reserve a camp site and pay for food for a weekend trip on one's own, but we may have some limited sponsorships available to help cover the costs for participants who may not be able to afford the suggested donation. Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

Please bring your own personal camping equipment and comfortable clothes for hiking in and appropriate for high elevation weather during the Monsoon season.  Here is a list of pdfRecommended Personal Camping Supplies to bring with you.

Meals included in the weekend for registered participants: Dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings, breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and a pack-your-own brown bag lunch spread for lunches on Saturday and Sunday.  All the meals served will be vegetarian and we will make an effort to accommodate vegan options and food allergies that are indicated by filling out our registration form (registration is now closed for 2019). Please Bring Your Own Beverages of choice. Note there are strict orders from the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest on bear resistant food, trash, and personal hygiene product storage for the Big Lake area. Read the special order here, and be prepared to lock all food and personal hygiene items you bring with you in your vehicle.

Optional Weekend Activities include:
- morning bird walks
- wildlife tracking workshops with wildlife tracking experts
- a hike to the "Green Fire" site where Aldo Leopold had his epiphany about wolves
- hikes on the Paseo del Lobo trail
- evening talks by wolf conservationists and biologists

Sorry, no dogs are allowed (besides service dogs) to join us at the campground or on the activities at the Big Lake Campout Weekend. We are huge fans of companion dogs, but because we will be sharing a group camp site and will be camping and hiking in areas occupied by Mexican wolf packs and other wildlife, we want to minimize our disturbance to the wolves and their new pups. Thank you for your understanding!

Please contact Emily at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (928) 202-1325 if you have any questions.

Please note that camp sites spots and meals will only be provided to those people who register! The registration form closed on August 5th, 2019 at 11:59 pm AZ Time. Thank you!

 Many thanks to these sponsors for helping to support the Big Lake Howliday weekend!

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Please contact Emily at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would be interested in helping to sponsor this great campout!