Horsethief Cabin
Horsethief Cabin is situated in a clearing of Ponderosa pines at an elevation of over 6,000 feet in the Bradshaw Mountains of the Prescott National Forest. The original cabin was built in 1939 as quarters and a staging area for Forest Service crews charged with protecting the southern end of the Bradshaw Mountains against wildfires. The cabin was remodeled and modernized over the years, but eventually fell into disuse by the 1980s. The historic structure now enjoys a second life as a rental cabin, providing a unique recreation opportunity for visitors to the Prescott National Forest.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins with electric | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| CABIN | Full | 6 / 2 |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
The cabin can accommodate up to six people and is furnished with four beds, including, two twin beds, one queen bed, and one double futon. The cabin is equipped with running water, electricity, propane heater, and fans for cooling. The kitchen has all the basic amenities including a sink, propane stove/oven, refrigerator, toaster, coffee maker, and table with five chairs. The bathroom has a flush toilet, sink, and shower. There is a fire pedestal grill, fire ring, and picnic table on site. Although the cabin has several amenities, guests must also provide a few of their own supplies, including food, sleeping bags, linens, towels, dish soap, matches, first aid kit, and garbage bags. It is recommended that you carry a well prepared Emergency Kit for any emergency.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Phoenix, Arizona: When traveling Northbound on I-17 take the Bumble Bee Exit 248 and continue North on the dirt road, taking Forest Road (FR) 259 to Crown King. From Crown King, take (FR) 259A south for 0.5 mile to the junction of 52. Take FR 52 southeast for about 5 miles to the Horse Thief Basin Recreation Area.
| Nearest town | Prescott, Arizona |
| Coordinates | 34.1614° N, 112.2925° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 20.7 mi |
| Outdoor gear | REI ↗ | 28 mi |
| RV sales & service | Little Dealer Little Prices ↗ | 29.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
Horsethief Lookout Tower as well as Hazlett Hollow and Turney Gulch Campgrounds are in close proximity to the cabin.
- 11 miBlack Canyon City Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 12 mi
Trails nearby
- under 0.1 miHorsethief Lookout2.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.4 miTip Top2.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 0.9 miHorsethief Recreation3.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.2 miTwin Peaks ↗6.8 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 1.2 miKentuck1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.3 miJim Creek2 mi trail · hiking, horse
Trailheads within three miles
- 1.3 miKentuck Springs Trailhead ↗Prescott National Forest
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Castle Creek Wilderness.
- inCastle Creek Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 25,457 acres
- 8.1 miAgua Fria ↗National Conservation Lands unit · Bureau of Land Management · 72,510 acres
- 13.4 miPrescott National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,411,550 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Crown King Ranger StationBuilding · Crown King · 4.2 mi
Natural features
The nearby Castle Creek Wilderness is defined by rugged and diverse terrain ranging from lower elevations with saguaro cactus, palo verde, mesquite, jojoba, cat claw, and grasslands to higher elevations dominated by piñon pine and juniper. Dense populations of mule deer and javelina inhabit this area, along with a few mountain lions, bobcats, black bears, coyotes, rabbits, foxes, skunks, and badgers. Snakes and lizards live here, and numerous birds soar overhead, including doves, quail, hawks, owls, ravens, jays, and many smaller species. The area is rich in history, including early Native American inhabitants and later in the 1860s, home to horse thieves and rustled livestock. Evidence of historical mining activity abounds in this area, especially in the nearby community of Crown King.
Recreation
Anglers will appreciate the short hike from the cabin to Horsethief Basin Lake, stocked with largemouth bass, channel catfish and sunfish. Non-motorized boating is also available at the lake. Hikers have plenty of opportunities to explore the area on trails leading to Horsethief Canyon, Twin Peaks, Castle Creek and Jim Creek. Off-highway vehicles have several roads and trails available for travel, and a Forest Service fire lookout tower and a campground are in close proximity.
Guidebooks for Arizona
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Best Backpacking Trips in Utah, Arizona, and New MexicoMike White and Douglas Lorain, 2016Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Horsethief Cabin?
Sites at Horsethief Cabin are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Horsethief Cabin?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Horsethief Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin with power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Horsethief Cabin?
The bathroom has a flush toilet, sink, and shower.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Horsethief Cabin?
Anglers will appreciate the short hike from the cabin to Horsethief Basin Lake, stocked with largemouth bass, channel catfish and sunfish. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Horsethief Cabin?
Prescott, Arizona. Horsethief Lookout Tower as well as Hazlett Hollow and Turney Gulch Campgrounds are in close proximity to the cabin.
Source: Getting there
What if Horsethief Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Hazlett Hollow Campground (0.7 mi, first-come), Turney Gulch Group (1 mi), and Upper Wolf Creek Group (22.3 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby