USDA Forest Service · Arizona
Portal Bunkhouse
USDA Forest Service · Arizona, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 electric, 1 with water
- Season
- Year-round
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Pets
- No
- Elevation
- 4,957 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- ONION SADDLE CAVE CREEK (NFSR 42) · asphalt · moderate degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Coronado National Forest
- Nearest town
- Douglas
- Address
- Douglas, AZ, 85607
- Phone
- (520) 364-3468
- Activities
- Camping, Hiking
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
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.
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.
Facilities
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.
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.
Nearby Attractions
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.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 58° | 38° | 25° | 72° | 4 of 11 |
| February | 61° | 38° | 23° | 78° | 5 of 11 |
| March | 67° | 44° | 31° | 84° | 1 of 11 |
| April | 77° | 51° | 38° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| May | 83° | 57° | 46° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 94° | 68° | 57° | 103° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 94° | 70° | 66° | 102° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 87° | 67° | 62° | 98° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 85° | 65° | 56° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 77° | 55° | 41° | 89° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 68° | 47° | 28° | 80° | 1 of 10 |
| December | 61° | 40° | 28° | 73° | 3 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Portal Ccc House · USDA Forest Service · 0 mi · 1 sites
- Stewart Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi
- Sunny Flat Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi
- Herb Martyr Campground · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi
- Rustler Park Campground · USDA Forest Service · 7 mi
All public campgrounds in Arizona · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-03-11. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.