Portal Bunkhouse
The Portal Bunkhouse is a two-room cabin located one mile west of Portal, Arizona. Constructed in 1933 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Bunkhouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The structure is one of the finest remaining examples of river-cobble masonry construction from that era.
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 | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Pets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PORTAL BUNKHOUSE | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 4 / 2 | No | No |
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 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Max vehicle length | 20 ft |
The Portal Bunkhouse is a two-room cabin, suitable for up to four people. It has electricity, heater, and running water. The cabin has a bedroom with bathroom including a shower, sink, and toilet; and a kitchen with a dining area. The bedroom has a twin-over-double bunk bed and a single bed. A small dinette with seating for four is located in the kitchen, which is equipped with a stove, oven, microwave, refrigerator, and coffee pot. Pots, pans, utensils, and dishes are provided. Outside, guests will enjoy using the propane grill and picnic table for outdoor dining. Although the cabin has amenities for comfortable lodging, guests will need to provide some of their own supplies, including food, sleeping bags or linens, pillows, towels, dish soap, matches, a first aid kit, toilet paper, and garbage bags. It is recommended that guests bring additional drinking water, and a flashlight in case of emergencies.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Tucson, take I-10 east for 139 miles to Road Forks, NM. Turn right (south) on US 80 and drive 28 miles to Portal Road. Turn right (west) and drive 7 miles through the town of Portal. Turn left on Forest Road 42 for approximately 1 mile. The Bunkhouse is the rock masonry building just past the Visitor Information Center.
| Nearest town | Douglas, Arizona |
| Coordinates | 31.8986° N, 109.1623° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedDouglas Piles Rx
15 mi from the campground · 46 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 ↗ | 13.7 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miSunny Flat1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.1 miSilver Peak ↗4.6 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2.6 miSouth Fork ↗6.8 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2.8 miSnowshed ↗7.9 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 3.3 miCrystal Cave0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 4 miBurro ↗6.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 2.5 miSouth Fork Trailhead ↗Coronado 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
Chiricahua Wilderness begins about 1.4 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 1.4 miChiricahua Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 87,182 acres
- 10.8 miChiricahua National Monument Wilderness ↗Wilderness · National Park Service · 10,290 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
Historic landmarks nearby
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Natural features
The Portal Bunkhouse is located at the entrance to Cave Creek Canyon at an elevation of 5,000 feet. The canyon's soaring cliffs, with their caves and pinnacles, are often described as "Arizona's 'Secret' Grand Canyon." Cave Creek, a perennial stream, flows through the canyon nearby. The diverse wildlife that can be seen in the canyon include a stunning variety of bird species.
Recreation
Cave Creek Canyon is located on the eastern slope of the Chiricahua Mountains in southeastern Arizona, about 2.5 hours from Tucson. It is world-renowned for its dramatic rock formations and diverse wildlife. Birding is exceptional year-round, and particularly rewarding during the summer months. Hiking and rock-climbing are also popular activities, and picnic areas dot the canyon for its many hikers.
Nearby
The Portal Bunkhouse is located approximately 1 mile west of Portal, Arizona. Attractions in the area include Chiricahua National Monument, Fort Bowie National Historical Park, historic Camp Rucker, the Geronimo Surrender sites, and the International Border and the border community of Douglas, AZ.
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 Portal Bunkhouse?
Sites at Portal Bunkhouse are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Portal Bunkhouse?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Portal Bunkhouse have?
1 site, including 1 cabin with power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Portal Bunkhouse?
The longest site here provides 20 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
Are there showers or a dump station at Portal Bunkhouse?
The cabin has a bedroom with bathroom including a shower, sink, and toilet; and a kitchen with a dining area.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Portal Bunkhouse?
Cave Creek Canyon is located on the eastern slope of the Chiricahua Mountains in southeastern Arizona, about 2.5 hours from Tucson. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Portal Bunkhouse?
Douglas, Arizona. The Portal Bunkhouse is located approximately 1 mile west of Portal, Arizona.
Source: Getting there
What if Portal Bunkhouse is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Idlewilde Campground (0.4 mi, first-come), Stewart Campground (0.7 mi, first-come), and Sunny Flat Campground (1.2 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby