Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin
The Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin is located within the Palisades Administrative Site in the Santa Catalina Mountains, 20 miles northeast of Tucson, Arizona. The cabin is reached via the East Catalina Highway, which becomes the General Hitchcock Highway, a historic and scenic drive that takes visitors through multiple biozones from the Sonoran Desert to the dense forests at 8,000 feet elevation. The cabin has indoor plumbing, electricity, a full kitchen, furniture, beds and an enclosed front yard. The cabin is available from late March to early November depending on the weather.
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 | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PALISADES RANGER RESIDENCE CABIN | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 4 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
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 |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The Palisades Ranger Residence is a five-room cabin, suitable for up to four people. The cabin has a bedroom, dining room, living room, bathroom, and fully equipped kitchen. The bedroom has a queen bed, while the living room contains 2 full-size futons. The dining room has a table and four chairs. The kitchen is equipped with a propane stove/oven, microwave, refrigerator, pots, pans, utensils, dishes, and a coffee pot. The house has electricity, a propane heater, and running water. While the cabin has amenities for comfortable lodging, guests do need to provide some of their own supplies, including food, sleeping bags, linens, pillows, towels, dish soap, matches, a first aid kit, toilet paper, and garbage bags. Although electricity is available, it is recommended that guests bring an additional light source in case of emergencies.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Driving Directions: From northeast Tucson, take East Tanque Verde Road to East Catalina Highway. Turn left (north) on East Catalina Highway, which becomes the General Hitchcock Highway, for approximately 23 miles to Organization Ridge Road and turn left (just before Palisades Visitor Center).
| Nearest town | Tucson, Arizona |
| Coordinates | 32.4099° N, 110.7151° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 14.3 mi |
| Outdoor gear | REI ↗ | 17.3 mi |
| RV sales & service | Frost RV ↗ | 18.1 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miBigelow0.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miPalisade ↗6.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.4 miButterfly ↗4.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.4 miKellogg0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.6 miIncinerator Ridge1.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.7 miKnagge4.2 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
Pusch Ridge Wilderness begins about 1.3 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 1.3 miPusch Ridge Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 56,973 acres
- 8.6 miSaguaro Wilderness ↗Wilderness · National Park Service · 70,905 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
- Lemmon Rock Lookout HouseBuilding · Tucson · 4.7 mi
- Lowell Ranger StationBuilding · Tucson · 9.1 mi
- La Casa del High JinksBuilding · Oracle · 11.2 mi
Natural features
The Santa Catalina Mountains comprise one of the "sky islands" in the Coronado National Forest. From the desert floor to the upper slopes of Mt. Lemmon, biozones vary from Sonoran desert to subalpine forest, with wildlife communities that are equally diverse. An extensive trail network offers opportunities for day and extended trips, with easy access to the nearby Pusch Ridge Wilderness.
Recreation
The Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin is approximately one hour from Tucson, AZ, 18.4 miles up Mt. Lemmon. The cabin location provides access to a myriad of recreational opportunities, including hiking, camping, birding, horseback riding, picnicking, sightseeing, mountain biking, rock climbing, and visiting historic areas. Fishing is also available at nearby Rose Canyon Lake. Winter sports are available at higher elevations, depending on snowfall; Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley in the Santa Catalina Mountains is the southernmost ski area in the United States.
Nearby
Numerous attractions are also available nearby, including: the Sky Island Scenic Byway (General Hitchcock Highway), Rose Canyon Lake, Mt Lemmon Ski Valley, The University of Arizona Mt. Lemmon Sky Center, the hamlet of Summerhaven, Arizona, as well as numerous hiking trails, and opportunities for photography and picnicing. Attractions within one hour's drive include Sabino Canyon Recreation Area and Saguaro National Park East.
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 Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin?
Sites at Palisades Ranger Residence 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 Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin with power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin?
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 pets allowed at Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin?
Yes, pets are allowed at Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin?
The Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin is approximately one hour from Tucson, AZ, 18.4 miles up Mt. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin?
Tucson, Arizona. Numerous attractions are also available nearby, including: the Sky Island Scenic Byway (General Hitchcock Highway), Rose Canyon Lake, Mt Lemmon Ski Valley, The University of Arizona Mt.
Source: Getting there
What if Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Showers Point Group Site (0.3 mi), Whitetail Campground (1 mi), and Spencer Canyon Campground (1.5 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby