[Az-Geocaching] Camping on the Rim?

[Lisa G.]

I apologize if this is considered off-topic; please feel free to reply 
privately to prevent cluttering other people's inboxes.

We've gone on several geocaching expeditions up on the Mogollon Rim.  We 
take Highway 87 north out of Payson, through Pine/Strawberry, and take 
the Rim Road/Forest Rd. 300 turnoff.  While up there we've seen people 
camping off of the forest service roads up there.  There's a small creek 
up there that runs (sometimes; I'm assuming only when it's rained or the 
snow is melting).  I'm not talking about a designated camping area 
(we've seen those, too).  The area I'm talking about would be just 
across the forest road from this cache: 
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GCWN3P&Submit6=Go 
(GCWN3P if the link didn't work).

Does anyone know where I'm talking about?  If so, do you know how/where 
I would find out what I need to be able to legally camp there in terms 
of permits, etc.?  I know just because I saw other people doing it 
doesn't mean it was ok.  Also would like to know how to find out what 
fire bans may be in place.  I tried doing some Google searches, but 
could only seem to find information about specific campgrounds.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Just took a look at my cache log 
and it's been nearly 2 years since I logged a find.  Very, very sad.  I 
want to get the kids up to do some caching and camping this summer.

Thanks,
-Lisa "PoledraDog"