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 ↗



Site mix
| Cabins | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | 300 | Gravel | Full | Yes / – | 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 length | 40 ft |
| Fees | 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) |
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
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 town | Flagstaff, Arizona |
| Coordinates | 35.0164° N, 111.8497° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedNewman Piles Rx
11 mi from the campground · 751 acres
- PrescribedNewman 2 Piles Rx
11 mi from the campground · 723 acres
- PrescribedWalker Hill 2 Piles Rx
16 mi from the campground · 356 acres
- PrescribedWalker 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 gear | Canyon Outfitters ↗ | 10.9 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 15 mi |
| RV sales & service | Little 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.
- 6.3 mi
- 6.5 miBootlegger Picnic Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 3.1 miLittle Round Mountain2.5 mi trail
- 3.4 miBear Sign3.1 mi trail
- 3.7 miLoy Canyon ↗4.8 mi trail
- 3.8 miLittle Round Mountain Spur A0.2 mi trail
- 3.8 miSecret Mountain ↗5.4 mi trail
- 3.8 miSecret East1.5 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
This campground sits inside Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness, which overlaps Coconino National Forest.
- inRed Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 48,314 acres
- inCoconino National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,000,952 acres
- 4.7 miSycamore Canyon Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 58,448 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
- Pumphouse Wash BridgeStructure · Flagstaff · 6.5 mi
- Woody Mountain Lookout TowerStructure · Flagstaff · 10.4 mi
- Jordan RanchBuilding · Sedona · 10.8 mi
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.
- 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 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





