Horsethief Cabin

Prescott National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: PRESCOTT, AZ, AZ

Price: From $100 per night

Rating: 3.6 out of 5 (9 reviews)

Season: May through October

Horsethief Cabin is situated in a clearing of Ponderosa pines at an elevation of over 6,000 feet in the Bradshaw Mountains of the Prescott National Forest. The original cabin was built in 1939 as quarters and a staging area for Forest Service crews charged with protecting the southern end of the Bradshaw Mountains against wildfires. The cabin was remodeled and modernized over the years, but eventually fell into disuse by the 1980s.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Showers, Electric Hookups, Fishing

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/horsethief-cabin to be notified when sites open up.

Historic 1939 Forest Service cabin situated in Ponderosa pines at over 6,000 feet in the Bradshaw Mountains, offering a peaceful escape with fishing opportunities and beautiful mountain scenery accessible via challenging unpaved roads.

Wildlife alert: Northern Black-tailed Rattlesnake, Sonoran Gopher Snake, Common Raccoon, Rock Squirrel, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Plumbeous Vireo, Bendire's Thrasher

Insider tips for Horsethief Cabin: Book early - federal campground fills up quickly High clearance vehicle recommended for 30+ miles of rough unpaved Forest Road 259 Visit on weekdays for fewer crowds

Skip Horsethief Cabin if: You need electrical hookups - no hookups available at most sites. You have a low-clearance vehicle - rough switchback roads up to 6,000 feet elevation. You're visiting outside May-October - seasonal operations only.

Best time to visit Horsethief Cabin: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.

Nearby campgrounds: Turney Gulch Group (PRESCOTT, AZ), Upper Wolf Creek Group (PRESCOTT, AZ), Sycamore Cabin (CAMP VERDE, AZ), Groom Creek Horse Camp (Prescott, AZ).

Cell Phone Coverage at Horsethief Cabin

Cell signal at Horsethief Cabin (PRESCOTT, AZ): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

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Prescott National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Horsethief Cabin

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PRESCOTT, AZ, AZ★ 3.6 (9 reviews)From $100/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Horsethief Cabin is situated in a clearing of Ponderosa pines at an elevation of over 6,000 feet in the Bradshaw Mountains of the Prescott National Forest. The original cabin was built in 1939 as quarters and a staging area for Forest Service crews charged with protecting the southern end of the Bradshaw Mountains against wildfires. The cabin was remodeled and modernized over the years, but eventually fell into disuse by the 1980s.

Best for:AnglersHikersBoatersWildlife watchersFamiliesSites:Tent
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
HookupsNo hookups.
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsShowers
Recreation
Picnic TablesElectric Hookups
Family & Pets
Flush ToiletsFishing

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need electrical hookups - no hookups available at most sites✕ You have a low-clearance vehicle - rough switchback roads up to 6,000 feet elevation✕ You're visiting outside May-October - seasonal operations only

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early - federal campground fills up quickly

High clearance vehicle recommended for 30+ miles of rough unpaved Forest Road 259

Visit on weekdays for fewer crowds

Best: May-October

Campground operates seasonally May through October only

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Northern Black-tailed Rattlesnake, Sonoran Gopher Snake, Common Raccoon, Rock Squirrel, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Plumbeous Vireo, Bendire's Thrasher

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
1 (877) 444-6777· Prescott National Forest
Getting there →

From Phoenix, Arizona: When traveling Northbound on I-17 take the Bumble Bee Exit 248 and continue North on the dirt road, taking Forest Road (FR) 259 to Crown King. From Crown King, take (FR) 259A south for 0.5 mile to the junction of 52. Take FR 52 southeast for about 5 miles to the Horse Thief Basin Recreation Area. The cabin sits adjacent to the Horse Thief Lake Rd. Alternate route from Flagstaff, Arizona : Traveling Southbound on I-17 take Exit 263, turn right and proceed towards a roundabo

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Prescott National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Prescott National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
  • Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Horsethief Cabin cost per night?+
Horsethief Cabin costs $100 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Horsethief Cabin open?+
Horsethief Cabin is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Horsethief Cabin have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Horsethief Cabin?+
Horsethief Cabin is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Horsethief Cabin?+
Horsethief Cabin is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Horsethief Cabin?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Horsethief Cabin is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Horsethief Cabin open, and what are check-in times?+
Horsethief Cabin is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$100 /night★ 3.6 (9)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Horsethief Cabin cost per night?+
What season is Horsethief Cabin open?+
Does Horsethief Cabin have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Turney Gulch Group

PRESCOTT, AZ

From $20/night

Upper Wolf Creek Group

PRESCOTT, AZ

From $20/night

Sycamore Cabin

CAMP VERDE, AZ

From $20/night

Groom Creek Horse Camp

Prescott, AZ

From $18/night

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Horsethief Cabin — Prescott National Forest | CamperWatch