Part of Whiteriver, Hon-Dah & Sunrise, our guide to visiting the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, home of the White Mountain Apache Tribe.
To fish, camp, boat, hike or even sightsee on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation you need a White Mountain Apache Tribe permit; Arizona state licences do not count there. As listed by the Tribe’s Game & Fish Department in October 2026, an adult daily fishing permit is $10, camping is $15 a vehicle a day and a boat permit is $10 a day.
Checked · Edited by Sam Ridley · Sources · How we check
Permit Prices
| Permit | Price |
|---|---|
| Fishing, adult 15+, daily / annual | $10 / $200 |
| Fishing, juvenile 10-14, daily / annual | $3 / $32 |
| Fishing, under 10 | No permit; must be with a permitted adult |
| Camping, per vehicle (8 people max) | $15 a day; $350 for 30 days |
| Boat or watercraft, incl. float tubes | $10 a day; $30 a year |
| Outdoor recreation (hiking, sightseeing, picnics), per vehicle of 4 | $10 a day |
| Black and Salt River special use, per adult | $25 a day (see below) |
| Salt River rafting, per person | $25 a day plus a waiver |
| Christmas Tree Lake fishing, any age | $30 to July 4, then $25; by reservation |
Permits are non-refundable and must be carried at all times. The Tribe’s own pages disagree on some prices: the Black and Salt River special-use permit appears as $15, $25 and $45, and the online permit shop was down and still showed 2020 prices. Confirm at the counter.
Where to Buy
| Vendor | Where | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Tribe Game & Fish office | 100 W. Fatco Rd., Whiteriver | (928) 338-4385 |
| Hon-Dah Ski & Outdoor Sport | SR 260, milepost 357 | (928) 369-7669 |
| Hon-Dah convenience store | SR 260 and SR 73 | (928) 369-4311 |
| Sportsman’s Warehouse | SR 260, Show Low | (928) 537-0800 |
| Western Drug | 106 E. Main St., Springerville | (928) 333-4321 |
| Sunrise General Store | SR 273 | (928) 735-7669 |
| Carrizo Store | US 60 and SR 73 | (928) 332-0058 |
The Tribe says the Hawley Lake store does not sell fishing or camping permits.
Rules Worth Knowing
- Fishing: one pole, one line, up to two hooks; no live baitfish, no chumming, no digging for worms and no cleaning fish in the water. Trout limit 5 a day for adults.
- Boating: a single electric motor only, except Sunrise Lake (gas up to 10 hp); life jackets required; no water-skiing, tubing or paddleboarding.
- Camping: first come, first served; at least 75 ft from water; no hookups; no guns or bows in camp.
- No fireworks anywhere, and no firewood or plants taken off the reservation.
- Hiking is allowed from designated campgrounds and along perennial streams; bikes only on established roads, not at night and not in hunting season.
More in Whiteriver, Hon-Dah & Sunrise
Questions People Ask
Do I need a permit to fish on the White Mountain Apache reservation?
Yes. A White Mountain Apache Tribe permit is required for fishing, camping, boating and other recreation; an Arizona state fishing licence is not required and does not cover tribal waters.
How much is a White Mountain Apache fishing permit?
As listed by the Tribe in October 2026: $10 a day or $200 a year for adults 15 and up, $3 a day for ages 10 to 14; under 10 is free with a permitted adult.
Where can I buy a tribal permit near Show Low?
At Sportsman’s Warehouse in Show Low, the Hon-Dah stores near Pinetop, or the Game & Fish office in Whiteriver, among others.
Sources
- White Mountain Apache Tribe Game & Fish: Permit pricing and vendors
- White Mountain Apache Tribe Game & Fish: FAQ
- White Mountain Apache Tribe Game & Fish: Fishing regulations
- White Mountain Apache Tribe Game & Fish: Camping regulations
- White Mountain Apache Tribe Game & Fish: Boating, hiking and other regulations
- White Mountain Apache Tribe Game & Fish: Special use area regulations
- White Mountain Apache Tribe Game & Fish: River rafting
- White Mountain Apache Tribe Game & Fish: Fishing report (May 21, 2026)
- Sunrise Park Resort: General Store
Checked October 22, 2026 by It’s Show Low. Cite this page: It’s Show Low (itsshowlow.com), checked October 22, 2026. Free to quote with a link; tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.