Cabin rental · U.S. Forest Service · Coconino National Forest Recreation · Flagstaff, AZ

Fernow Cabin

Fernow Cabin offers a quaint, forested retreat near Flagstaff and Sedona, in central Arizona. The rustic, three-bedroom log cabin is a retired U.S. Forest Service guard station constructed in the 1970s to house firefighters during wildfire season. Now, it offers groups of up to eight people a unique recreation opportunity in a beautiful Southwest setting. The cabin can be accessed by passenger vehicle, however caution required for the last mile; high clearanance recommended. Roads are not always maintained after each weather event. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Fernow Cabinfire pit areaShowerInterior
Photos courtesy of Coconino National Forest · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Cabins1
This cabin is booked as a single unit on Recreation.gov. The booking page shows which dates are open and how far ahead they release. How the booking window works

Site guide

1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteFits, ftSurfaceShadeWater / sewerPeople / vehicles
001300GravelFullYes / –8 / 4

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

Max vehicle length40 ft
FeesRental rate is $75 per night during Non-peak season 2026: April 24th - May 13th, and Oct. 14th - November 11th (no water). Rental rate is $125 per night during Peak season 2026: May 14th - October 13th (potable water and shower)

The cabin has running water from mid-May through mid-October. It also has an indoor shower, hot water heater, solar lights, a small dining area, kitchen, two bedrooms, a loft, wood stove and covered porch. It is furnished with beds and mattresses, dressers and a small dining table with chairs. There is no electricity available. If visiting before mid-May or after mid-October, guests must bring their own water. The kitchen includes a stove, oven, small refrigerator, pots, pans, utensils, dishes, coffee pot. The vault toilet is a short walking distance from the cabin, and an outdoor campfire circle and grill are also provided. The ramp to the front porch is accessible. Visitors must bring their own sheets (two double beds and four single beds) and blankets, or sleeping bags, flashlights, towels, garbage bags, dish soap, dish towels, extra firewood, an axe for splitting wood, and matches and newspaper for lighting the wood stove. There are two picnic tables outside. Lawn chairs are not provided, but are a nice treat for summer months.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Fernow Cabin40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 41.9°F averageFebruary: 44.2°F averageMarch: 49.3°F averageApril: 54.7°F averageMay: 61.9°F averageJune: 71.1°F averageJuly: 75.4°F averageAugust: 74.2°F averageSeptember: 68.8°F averageOctober: 58.8°F averageNovember: 49.4°F averageDecember: 41.4°F averageTemp °F
The line is the average temperature at Oak Creek Canyon, 7 miles from the campground at 5,118 feet, station USC00026037 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020.

Getting there

Fernow Cabin is located approximately 20 miles south of Flagstaff on Forest Road 231. High-clearance vehicles are recommended. Roads are not maintained for passenger cars. From Phoenix, travel north on Interstate 17 to the junction with Interstate 40 in Flagstaff. Go west on Interstate 40.

Nearest townFlagstaff, Arizona
Coordinates35.0164° N, 111.8497° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Newman Piles Rx

    11 mi from the campground · 751 acres

  • Prescribed
    Newman 2 Piles Rx

    11 mi from the campground · 723 acres

  • Prescribed
    Walker Hill 2 Piles Rx

    16 mi from the campground · 356 acres

  • Prescribed
    Walker Hill Piles Rx

    18 mi from the campground · 725 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearCanyon Outfitters ↗10.9 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗15 mi
RV sales & serviceLittle Dealer Little Prices ↗39.8 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Worth a stop

The nearby city of Flagstaff offers ample lodging, shopping and dining opportunities. Grand Canyon National Park is about a two-hour drive northwest of the cabin.

  • 3.1 mi
    Little Round Mountain
    2.5 mi trail
  • 3.4 mi
    Bear Sign
    3.1 mi trail
  • 3.7 mi
    Loy Canyon ↗
    4.8 mi trail
  • 3.8 mi
    Little Round Mountain Spur A
    0.2 mi trail
  • 3.8 mi
  • 3.8 mi
    Secret East
    1.5 mi trail

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

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness, which overlaps Coconino National Forest.

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.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The site lies in a ponderosa pine forest on the Mogollon Rim, a 200-mile slope that ranges between 5,000 and 7,000 feet in elevation. At an elevation of 6,656 feet, the cabin is fairly isolated, offering a private location for visitors to enjoy nature. The area is characterized by warm summer days and cool nights, with afternoon thunderstorms common from mid-June through mid-September.

Recreation

The area is a hub for hiking, mountain biking and off-road vehicle riding. The cabin is adjacent to the Sycamore Canyon and Red Rock/Secret Mountain Wilderness areas, which boast numerous hiking trails. Bikes and off-road vehicles are only allowed on designated roads and trails. Flora, fauna and unique rock formations in the surrounding area also present excellent opportunities for photography.

Guidebooks for Arizona

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Camping Arizona
    Bruce Grubbs, 2021
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Best Tent Camping: Arizona
    Kirstin Olmon Phillips and Kelly Phillips, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Best Backpacking Trips in Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico
    Mike White and Douglas Lorain, 2016
    Find 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 Fernow Cabin?

Sites at Fernow Cabin are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Fernow Cabin?

Rental rate is $75 per night during Non-peak season 2026: April 24th - May 13th, and Oct. 14th - November 11th (no water). Rental rate is $125 per night during Peak season 2026: May 14th - October 13th (potable water and shower)

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Fernow Cabin?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Fernow Cabin have?

1 site, including 1 cabin.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Fernow Cabin?

The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Does Fernow Cabin have hookups?

Yes, water hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at Fernow Cabin?

It also has an indoor shower, hot water heater, solar lights, a small dining area, kitchen, two bedrooms, a loft, wood stove and covered porch.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Fernow Cabin?

The area is a hub for hiking, mountain biking and off-road vehicle riding. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Fernow Cabin?

Flagstaff, Arizona. The nearby city of Flagstaff offers ample lodging, shopping and dining opportunities.

Source: Getting there

What if Fernow Cabin is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Pine Flat Campground West (6.3 mi), Cave Spring (6.4 mi), and Manzanita (8 mi, partly first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby