HikeArizona.COM

I would like to start targeting the long forgotten cowboy cabins of Arizona. I have been to Taylor Cabin on the Dogie trail (I think that's what it was...I just remember a big mountain with snow and mud on the second day). What else is out there? I ran across Tony's Cabin and might try to get out there in the next couple months. What else is out there waiting for exploration?

tonys cabin is super cool, tewa and i raided the pantry and he hung from the ancient rafters.. i was waiting for the place to fall in on us in the middle of the night, but all was good.. o and the wood burning stove inside was a life saver when lows were in the teens..

Dirt4dinner wrote:What else is out there waiting for exploration?

Here is an excellent choice for a full day trip to our seldon visited Tonto NF- Salome Wilderness with four reasons/options to go: a scenic 4x4 drive to/from(can do a loop drive too); a Historic Boyer Cabin complex area exploration and visit; a Boyer Cabin Trail#148 Hike.. http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=1463 , and a Boyer Ridge Hike.. http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=2380 ;

Eric(ssk44) and I were just here this past weekend on Sat-3/20 to visit the Boyer Cabin Complex to document via pics and GPS Routes(hiking and driving) this area and to hike the entire Boyer Ridge hike and also time for me to hike some of the Boyer Cabin TR148 so I could clean up and re-post the correct details (via my newly posted 3/20 GPS Route). All you need is time, desire, and a standard 4WD vehicle (edit: with upgraded tires) to make this a super day outing choice or a full weekend!

club cabin burned down right? ballantine would be good, there is still water and temps are perfect. what about the old one in the Oak flat area? maybe fritzski would know.. or lizard.

Besides Boyer Cabin as Hank (Grasshopper) has mentioned above, I also highly recommend Fred Pranty Cabin. Both destinations are extremely remote and pristine. You cant go wrong with either.

http://www.hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=2178

Power's Garden has a couple of neat old structures/cabins...definitely gives you that feeling of remoteness!
http://www.hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=637

And there's an old cowboy shack on the Towel Creek Trail to the Verde River...http://www.hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=387

Do you want to sleep in a roofed over cabin, or do you just want the historic ambiance? Grant Creek cabin is just a ruin, but is a fun hike, neat area, Blue Primitive Area.

There is a cabin on FR85 in the Apache-Sitgreaves, Springerville RD you can jeep to, or ride a mtn. bike to. http://hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=8558

How about the cabin atop Kendrick Peak? It won't be in season until June, late May if lucky. There are three trails that can access the cabin: Kendrick Peak Trail, Pumpkin Trail, Bull Basin Trail. Pumpkin and Bull Basin are usually done as a loop. Rumor is there is also a cabin up on Doyle Peak, which is also a summertime excursion, but an alpine off-trail adventure.

writelots wrote:Power's Garden has a couple of neat old structures/cabins...definitely gives you that feeling of remoteness!
http://www.hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=637

That's one of my favorite hikes. A trip there is incomplete without also visiting the shootout cabin. There's also half-ruined cabin on the way, by the ball mill.

Historic homestead locations...

Pioneer stone dwellings: http://www.hikearizona.com/dexcoder.php?dex=4&PID=351

Wooden dwellings: http://www.hikearizona.com/dexcoder.php?dex=4&PID=350

You're the man Eric, I looked for that wooden dwellings one but couldn't remember what it was called. That's your ticket Tyler, go to that page and click the map for the unique listing.

Wow. We need to update the "wooden dwellings" tags.

None of the "Cabin Loop" cabins are on there ... General Springs, Pinchot, Buck Springs. (Plus a corral structure near Aspen Springs)

There's a ruin at Double Springs up on the Rim as well.

Also the Lamar Haines cabins at Viet Springs on the San Francisco Peaks...

Those things are everywhere up here. There are several at Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area (G&F) plus the one I put the link to, which is very close to those (road 85) which is still intact, mostly. Then there is Grant Creek, the cowboy line shack. There are a couple along the Overland Trail. There is one (still in use) at Rudd Knoll. They are all over Eagar and Springerville, in people's yards, in various stages of decay. There is the G&F White Mountain Grasslands Area, with a whole intact ranch with log buildings: http://www.hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=7508

Liz- Isn't the ASNF destroying these cabins on purpose? I thought there was a thread or something I read a while back stating that they are safety hazards and the cost to repair/restore/preserve is too high so they are burning them down instead to eliminate the public safety liability?

Yes, there is a concern that they have done this to Thompson cabin (although they won't admit it) and they did do it to Pat Knoll cabin.

Apache-Sitgreaves does maintain one guest cabin, Caldwell, near Hannagan. I am hoping to do a family gathering up there this summer.

I guess I need to do some letter writing about historic preservation. Also, the G&F dept. does not budget to keep cabins standing. Therefore, Rudd Creek cabin which had a roof 10 years ago, is now roofless and falling down. Roofs (or rooves, if you prefer) are an essential in cabin preservation.

Knowing the budget issues right now, as well as liability problems and the like, I seriously doubt there will be a change in the policy of "letting it go". Personally, I find the way that the earth reclaims our pitiful attempts at creation quite interesting. However, I'm also in favor of historic preservation (I just find the ruins fascinating either way).

I wonder if there is enough interest to create a "friends of historic Arizona cabins" group - one that can raise money to restore roofs or do routine maintenance on structures as other groups do on trails or invasive weed removal.

"invasive weed removal".. kinda reminds me of that old joke..
Q: "how do you know if a Deadhead has been to your house?"

A: "he's still there"

Hmmm, Tewa...come to think of it, my husband resembles that remark!

azbackpackr wrote:Hmmm, Tewa...come to think of it, my husband resembles that remark!

OUCH! We hope he dosen't read your posts.