Facility Details - KENTUCKY CAMP CABIN AND HEADQUARTERS BUILDING, AZ

Overview

Kentucky Camp Cabin and Headquarters is located in the Santa Rita Mountains near Sonoita, Arizona in the Coronado National Forest.

The handful of buildings at Kentucky Camp served as headquarters for the Santa Rita Water and Mining Company from 1902 to 1906. The facility also served as a cattle ranch in the 1960s.

The Forest Service acquired the land in 1989 and it has since become an ideal location for guests seeking a unique lodging experience, rich in mining and ranching history.

Natural Features:

Spanning four life zones and several ecosystems between desert and mountain peaks, the area surrounding the camp and cabin is considered a "sky island," supporting abundant and biologically diverse plant and animal communities.

Mountain peaks, high desert grasslands, and seasonal streams provide diverse habitat for wildlife abundant in the area. White-tailed and mule deer, rabbits, wild turkeys, and squirrels are commonly seen, while black bear, Coati, foxes, ring-tailed cats, bobcats and the more elusive mountain lion.

Recreation:

Hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails are popular in the area and vary from paved and gentle walking paths, to steep, strenuous trails leading to the top of 9,453-foot Mt. Wrightson and other nearby peaks. The Arizona Trail is routed through Kentucky Camp.

Roads extending from Kentucky Camp are available for off-highway vehicle travel; however, off-highway vehicles may not be ridden within the boundaries of Kentucky Camp.

Birders congregate in southeastern Arizona as it is touted as one of the country's revered birding areas. With fifteen species of hummingbirds, 36 species of wood warblers, and over 256 documented bird species, the area is a birder's paradise.

Facilities:

This facility consists of a cabin and headquarters building. The cabin can accommodate up to five people, and is equipped with two twin beds and a bunkbed, all with mattresses. A small loveseat in the living area turns into a single bed. The kitchen has basic amenities including a small refrigerator, microwave, hot plate, coffee pot, dishes, utensils, cookware, and a table and four chairs. The cabin has propane heat. Outside, there is a grill and picnic table for outdoor dining. A vault toilet, stall for solar showers, and an outdoor sink are located on site.

The cabin has electricity, but no running water. Guests must bring a sufficient supply for drinking, cleaning and washing. Additionally, guests must bring their own food, sleeping bags, linens, towels, dish soap, matches, a first aid kit, toilet paper and garbage bags.

The headquarters building is a day-use area only, and can accommodate up to 50 people. The building is available for meetings, retreats, weddings, and family reunions. Amenities in this building include tables and chairs, couches, rocking chairs, and a large wrap-around porch with four Adirondack chairs. A small kitchenette is equipped with a refrigerator, microwave, coffee pot, crockpot, dishes, utensils, and some cookware. Outside there is a charcoal grill and two picnic tables. This building also has electricity, but no heat or indoor plumbing.

Nearby Attractions:

Numerous attractions are available nearby in Madera Canyon. Attractions within a one-hour drive include the Mining Museum, Titan Missile Museum, Whipple Observatory, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, San Xavier Mission and Tumacacori National Historical Park.

Activities and Amenities

Within Facility
Accessible Vault Toilets Bed(s) With Mattress Birding Bunkbed(s) With Mattresses Cooking Pots Cooking Utensils Drinking Water (Hand Pump) Event Area Grills Hiking Historic Sites	Hunting Microwave Mountain Biking Off Road Vehicle Trails Parking Area Picnic Area Refrigerator Showers Table and Chairs Wildlife Viewing

Know Before You Go

If reserving the cabin only, enter 5 or less when prompted for number of occupants
The headquarters building is not reservable on its own; if you would like to reserve the headquarters building, enter 6 or more people when prompted for the number of occupants, and your reservation will include the cabin and headquarters building
Camping is prohibited within the site boundary of Kentucky Camp, however there are dispersed camping areas outside the gates
Reservation dates subject to weather conditions
Cell phone coverage is usually available in the area, but may be unreliable in certain places
The access road leading into the cabin is passable by passenger car, but high clearance vehicles are recommended
Keep the building and grounds clean to deter squirrel, mice, rats, bears, and other wildlife from area
Clean the cabin; this includes washing dishes, sweeping and mopping floors, wiping down countertops, cleaning bathrooms and showers and packing out all trash
Pets are permitted in the cabin, but owners must clean-up after their pets
The cabin is a no-smoking facility
The house is located in a desert environment; please be aware that scorpions, snakes and other insects may be present at any time
This cabin does not honor Golden Passport Discounts
Off-highway vehicles are also only allowed on designated roads and trails
This facility is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Learn more about Coronado National Forest.

Getting There:

GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude):
31.73333, -110.71667
31°44'0"N, 110°43'0"W

From Tucson, take I-10 east to Exit #281 (Highway 83 Sonoita/Patagonia). Travel south on Highway 83 for approximately 21 miles to the Gardner Canyon Road. Turn right on Gardner Canyon Road and continue a quarter-mile to Forest Service Road 163. Turn right on Forest Service Road 163 and continue approximately 5 miles to the junction of 163 and the entrance to Kentucky Camp. Stay to the left and continue to the parking lot and gate that marks the entrance to Kentucky Camp. There are signs to Kentucky Camp from Highway 83.

Contact Information:

Mailing Address:

KENTUCKY CAMP CABIN AND HEADQUARTERS BUILDING
Forest Road 163
Sonoita AZ 85637

Phone Number:

Information: (520)281-2296

KENTUCKY CAMP CABIN AND HEADQUARTERS BUILDING, AZ