Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin
Coronado National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Tucson, AZ, AZ
Price: From $125 per night
Rating: 4.2 out of 5 (71 reviews)
Season: May through October
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
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 0%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Electric Hookups, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/palisades-ranger-residence-cabin to be notified when sites open up.
Located in the scenic Santa Catalina Mountains 20 miles northeast of Tucson with access to multiple biozones from Sonoran Desert to 8,000-foot elevation forests. The cabin offers indoor plumbing, electricity, full kitchen, and furniture.
Wildlife alert: Arizona Black Rattlesnake, Gila Monster, Coachwhip, Abert's Squirrel, Red-faced Warbler, Yellow-eyed Junco, Black-throated Gray Warbler present in area
Insider tips for Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin: Book early — this is a federal campground with only 1 site Access via scenic East Catalina Highway/General Hitchcock Highway through multiple elevation zones Activities include hiking, fishing, biking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and auto touring
Skip Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin if: Need hookups — no hookups available at this site. Travel outside May-October — seasonal operations only. Prefer more than 1 available site — only 1 site total.
Best time to visit Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.
Nearby campgrounds: Showers Point Group Site (Mount Lemmon, AZ), Sollers Cabin (Az) (Tucson , AZ), Whitetail Campground (MT. LEMMON, AZ), Rose Canyon (Mt. Lemmon, AZ).
Cell Phone Coverage at Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin
Cell signal at Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin (Tucson, AZ): weak overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: Verizon.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
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.
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.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this is a federal campground with only 1 site
Access via scenic East Catalina Highway/General Hitchcock Highway through multiple elevation zones
Activities include hiking, fishing, biking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and auto touring
Campground operates seasonally May through October only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: Verizon.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
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). The cabin is located approximately 100 yards in on the right.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Coronado National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Coronado National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin cost per night?+
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Does Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin?+
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Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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