Caldwell Cabin
Caldwell Cabin allows up to six visitors to step back in time to a more rustic and historical era in eastern Arizona. Originally constructed in the 1920s, it was a one-room homestead, but the cabin was expanded around 1940, to include a bathroom, small bedroom and living room with a fireplace. Visitors can relax on the front porch and take in the scenic views, or head out for a day of nearby hiking, mountain biking or fishing. The cabin can be accessed by driving approximately 30 miles southwest of the town of Alpine. Some of the roads are gravel. 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 | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| C01 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 3 |
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 |
The cabin has many amenities to help visitors feel at home. The kitchen is equipped with a table and chairs, propane stove, propane refrigerator, solar-powered lights, a sink and fold-down bed from the oiginal homestead. Kitchen supplies include pots, pans, utensils, dishes, a perculating coffee pot and can opener. There are two picnic tables and a campfire ring in front of the cabin and two Adirondack chairs on the porch. Lawn chairs are not provided, but are a nice addition if guests would like to bring their own. Visitors must supply their own bedding (including pillows), towels, flashlight, garbage bags, dish washing supplies, toilet paper, food, axe for splitting firewood, and matches and newspaper for starting a fire in the fireplace. Extra warm clothes and rain clothing are suggested. Users must pack out all food and trash and clean the cabin thoroughly, including dishes, floors and counters, prior to checking out of the cabin. Lights and appliances must also be turned off and the door locked.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Caldwell Cabin is located approximately 30 miles southwest of Alpine, Arizona and is accessible via Forest Service roads 26 or 276. From Springerville, take U.S. Highway 180/191 to the town of Alpine. Continue south on Highway 180/191 for about 15 miles, towards Hannagan Meadows.
| Nearest town | Alpine, Arizona |
| Coordinates | 33.7464° N, 109.3692° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedD6 - Heifer Rx
4 mi from the campground · 3,116 acres
- PrescribedD6 Wallow West Unit 6 Rx
5 mi from the campground · 7,605 acres
- PrescribedD6 - Luna Rx
18 mi from the campground · 2,156 acres
- PrescribedD3 Hagen Rx
19 mi from the campground · 5,757 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 9 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Sportsman's Warehouse ↗ | 49.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
Activities within 10 miles of the cabin: fFishing, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, wildlife viewing, mountain biking, off-road vehicle riding, river access and birding.
- 7.7 miHannagan Snowmobile Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 8 miHannagan/Aker Lake Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 9.2 miBig Lake Marina Boating Site ↗Boat launch
- 9.3 miAker Lake Fishing Site ↗Fishing site
- 10.2 mi
- 10.3 miBig Lake Dam Parking Fishing Site ↗Fishing site
Trails nearby
- 1.2 miBlack River ↗17.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.6 miBear Creek0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.4 miFish Bench0.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
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 Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.
- inApache-Sitgreaves National Forests ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,110,688 acres
- 8.7 miBear Wallow Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 11,235 acres
- 14.3 miMount Baldy Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 6,819 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
On the National Register nearby
- Ps Knoll Lookout ComplexStructure · Maverick · 1.8 mi
- Alpine Elementary SchoolBuilding · Alpine · 14.8 mi
Natural features
The cabin sits at an elevation of 8,000 feet, in the White Mountains of Arizona. It is nestled among tall ponderosa pine trees and overlooks a large grassy meadow. Because of the high elevation, summer temperatures are pleasant and cool, providing a nice respite from the heat of lower deserts.
Recreation
A short drive takes visitors to the Black River Mainstream Trail, which is great for hiking. The Black River is a popular fishing area for trout anglers. From the cabin, guests can watch the sunset from the front porch, dine by the fireplace or walk across the meadow to an overlook of the river.
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 Caldwell Cabin?
Sites at Caldwell 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 Caldwell Cabin?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Caldwell Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Caldwell 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
What is there to do at Caldwell Cabin?
A short drive takes visitors to the Black River Mainstream Trail, which is great for hiking. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Caldwell Cabin?
Alpine, Arizona. Activities within 10 miles of the cabin: fFishing, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, wildlife viewing, mountain biking, off-road vehicle riding, river access and birding.
Source: Getting there
What if Caldwell Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Buffalo Crossing Campground (3.1 mi, first-come), Horse Springs Campground (3.3 mi, first-come), and Horse Springs Group Ramada/Campground (3.3 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby