The 2025 AYC Summer Campout was a fun and cool time! The next Campout is scheduled for July 31 – August 2, 2026. Check back in June 2026 for info and registration. In the meantime, click below for the 2025 recap and photos.
The annual AYC Summer Campout is back! The Dairy Springs group campsite near Mormon Lake is reserved for the weekend of July 31 – Aug 2, 2026. Two nights of camping is only $25.00 per family! (Sorry, no refunds if you cancel). The two group sites can accommodate up to 16 vehicles, so sign up soon! Registration is for AYC members only until July 10th; at that time, if there are spots available, we will open registration for prospective members and nonmembers.
If you don’t want to camp but still want to join us for a cool day in the Pines, sign up for free as a day-tripper so we can contact you with the details.
There are lots of activities available in the area:
- Hiking – there are some great trails right from the campground
- Sailing or other boating – Upper Lake Mary is 10 miles from the campground
- Socializing
- Potluck Saturday night
- Horseback riding is available at nearby Mormon Lake Lodge
- Don’t like to camp? Check out the cabins at Mormon Lake Lodge or various hotels in Flagstaff. Feel free to join us for activities during the day and the Saturday potluck!
- Activities for the kids
- Games for everyone
The campground has vault toilets and water but no RV hookups. RVs are limited to 35 feet. Dogs are welcome on leash.
If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to help, please get in touch with Joanne.Aspinall@gmail.com.
Hope to see you there!!
HISTORY OF AYC CAMPOUT – KINNIKINICK (Click to view)
Al Lehman, Commodore 1980-1981, shares how the AYC campout began: “In the summer, Sandy and I liked camping up north with our friends Bill and Liz Rahr. They would go up early Friday and find a spot in the woods, and we drove up in the afternoon. Bill and I were both ham radio operators, and we would make contact on the ham net so Bill could guide us to the campsite.
‘We had camped a couple of times on the road to Kinnickinnick Lake and thought having our AYC friends join us and sail our dinghies on the lake would be fun. Thus we organized the first event in 1983. Afterward, Sandy wrote this article for the Compass Points member newsletter.”
Tom Ohlin shared this about the campout, “The Kinnikinick Campout started in the early 80’s with three or four couples camping for the weekend. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the break from the heat and the relaxed social atmosphere and it just grew every year. I think we peaked at about 120 folks and have had as few as a dozen or so.
The location was PRIMITIVE! You packed out what you packed in, except AYC provided the required Porta-Johns. The area was bounded by meadows and road, so it was very difficult for kids to get lost if they never crossed a road or meadow. The trees in the area are large Ponderosa pines, so there was some relief from the sun.”
Like most good things, the camping at Kinnikinick has changed. It is now designated as a day-use-only location. The Annual AYC Summer Campout will continue to be held at the nearby Dairy Springs Campground by Mormon Lake. The accommodations are still whatever you bring, from a pup tent to a motor home. We usually have a potluck dinner on Saturday night and have horseshoes, pasture golf, bocce ball, Liar’s Dice, kids’ games, and BS to fill in the day. Some folks come up as early as Wednesday, several on Thursday, but most on Friday.
This is a really fun event and gives new members and long-timers a great opportunity to socialize and enjoy the cool pines. The weather is always cooler in the high country but can be a bit wet. Plan to bring a dish to share for the Pot Luck and come up for a great time!
