Portal House, Douglas, AZ

Portal House is located in the Douglas Ranger District, Coronado National Forest (2 hrs 6 min east of Sierra Vista, AZ) with an elevation of 4,938 feet. The site is open all year. There is a fee of $125.00 per night. Activities include hiking trails.

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Campsite Reviews (32)

4.7 out of 5

5 star		72%
4 star		25%
3 star		3%
2 star		0%
1 star		0%

@AmyM7630349 · Camped on Oct 18, 2024 at Campsite #1

Overall, we had a good stay. Excellent location, comfortable beds, adequately-equipped kitchen (BYO knife, like most rentals). Camping wasn't an option due to physical needs and the cabin worked well for us. Some notes for those who prefer a less rustic experience: The cabin currently has 2 beds (double or queen) - no bunk, no futon, no easy-chair. The only seating is the dining room table/chairs. All the bulbs were out in the front bedroom (which is also the main entrance to the cabin), so we used camping lights. Pay attention to the note about cleaning: guests are not just expected to sweep and take garbage out - they ask that we scrub the bathroom, mop, etc. Instructions in the cabin say they "try" to have a professional cleaner once per month. That said, the cabin was clean when we arrived and we did our best to leave it in the same condition. I can imagine not being so lucky if you stayed after the wrong group. The folks who staff the adjacent visitor center are fantastic, but they are not responsible for the cabin, so there isn't anyone onsite to assist.

@JimmyH3676923 · Camped on Aug 7, 2024 at Campsite #1

This cabin was perfect for 2 of us. The beds are new. The cabin was clean and there were no mice. Ample cleaning supplies are provided, as well. The view from the back porch facing the mountains is just fantastic. We enjoyed breakfast and happy hour on the back porch, The trailers you can see from the front porch, as you drive in, are where people who actually work in the Visitor's Center and in the park are staying. We met them at the Visitor's Center, and they were very lovely people. We were comfortable with the windows open.My recommendation would be to add screen doors on both the front and back door so that the air would circulate better and would keep critters out. It would also have been nice to have a portable fan, in addition to the ceiling fans, and to be able to open the window in the first bedroom. For some reason, that window was nailed shut. Overall, this place is a quaint little house and was perfect for exploring the Chiricahua mountains.

@AndreaG2267730 · Camped on May 19, 2024 at Campsite #1

This was our second time staying at the CCC cabin and it remains a favorite place. Portal and the Cave Creek Canyon area are magnificent, with great hiking, bird-watching, and outdoor experiences. The cabin is such a great little piece of history and a perfect base for explorations. There are Cassin's kingbirds, Hooded orioles, and Lucy's warblers nesting in the trees around the cabin, plus sightings of Indigo buntings, Northern cardinals, and others during the day and listening to Elf owls & Mexican whip-poor-wills at night. The high temps were around 90F when we were there, but we opened the windows in the evening and it cooled off quickly and then we closed the windows and curtains during the day and the interior stayed quite comfortable. A couple of notes for future visitors, as the booking description has not been updated: There are now two queen beds, instead of one queen and a bunk bed. The beds are new, clean, and comfortable. And there is no longer any couch/futon in the living/dining area, just a table with four chairs and a side table with books and games. All appliances are clean and in working order.

@MikeK6232833 · Camped on Apr 22, 2024 at Campsite #1

Fabulous location for wildlife! 21 bird species. The hot shower was great. Overall the cabin is rundown and could use a true deep-clean and repainting. Last tenant left a lot of dirt on the floor. Keep your food in the fridge as some mice feces spotted.

@AndrewP1911421 · Camped on Apr 6, 2023 at Campsite #1

Perfect location. The Cabin has everything you need.

@RHODORAO533833 · Camped on Mar 5, 2023 at Campsite #1

We spent 5 nights here in early March and absolutely loved it! The area is isolated, beautiful and quiet. Hiking the Nature Trail and Silver Peak Trail was amazing, but the snow kept us from reaching the top. The cabin itself was spacious and clean and had all the amenities described and then some! There were 2 extra portable heaters, all the firewood we could need and more than enough cookware/utensils/plates/ etc. We will definitely rent this place again!

@DianaS3470890 · Camped on Feb 19, 2023 at Campsite #1

We stayed at the Portal CCC house for 5 nights third week of February. Loved it! It was colder than we expected but the wood stove worked nicely, there are kind of noisy wall heaters that help, and two newer electric radiator type heaters that were a very nice addition. The kitchen was very well stocked (with the exception of a missing can opener! Luckily, we had one with us.) The kitchen has good light and everything worked great for cooking your own meals. The cabin was relatively clean when we arrived. Since it had been raining, the wood was wet but we found enough dry underneath to get started and brought a bunch in. You'll want to have an axe and a saw to create pieces to fit in the stove. The lighting in the rest of the cabin is very dim. Each room has a ceiling fan with light and that's it. If you want to read, you'll want to bring headlamps or some other light source. When you enter, you walk right into the main bedroom, as in, that's where there is a double bed that you can access from both sides. The other bedroom has a double plus single bunk against the wall and a nice chair and is a bit of a nicer room. That said, we did fine in the first bedroom. The bathroom is large. The shower worked after my husband adjusted the fixture which is duct taped together and really needs to be replaced. We took a sheet to put as a bottom sheet on the bed and used sleeping bags. Take plenty of towels....all your linens, TP, paper towels, etc. Bath mat. The floors are tile and cold in the winter so slippers! That's the nitty gritty. We had a wonderful time and will definitely be back! Fantastic hiking even with the streams too high to access many of the trails. The view from the cabin area is great - particularly with the leaves off the trees. (Some of the volunteer poplars might want to disappear.) The cabin is very quiet and private. The nearby volunteers were helpful and unobtrusive. The cabin has a great patio on the view side. Enjoy!

@BelindaN771063 · Camped on Feb 3, 2023 at Campsite #1

Excellent cabin! Very clean!

@AliceR9584959 · Camped on Jan 16, 2023 at Campsite #1

The previous guests left the cabin nice and clean for us, we certainly did the same for the next people. Plenty of wood for the stove which was good because the week was very cold and the cabin is a little bit drafty. Beautiful location.

@JohannaS466963 · Camped on Jan 1, 2023 at Campsite #1

Fantastic cosy cabin in one of the most beautiful places in the world!

@TimothyF198489 · Camped on Dec 26, 2022 at Campsite #1

Solid, efficient cabin; an excellent base for exploring the Eastern Chiricahua Mountains.

@CynthiaB470794 · Camped on Nov 23, 2022 at Campsite #1

Love the location. Love the views. It was reasonably clean and we heard no critters in the roof/walls! An amazing place that our family enjoys very much. We are very grateful for this place. Well stocked kitchen. Do not forget a can opener (maybe donate one?), trash bags and TP! Not the best lights if you want to read. The is no phone service. Heavenly!

@MercedesW77054 · Camped on May 6, 2022 at Campsite #1

It was much cuter than the photos. The porch in back was a piece of heaven at night we watched the stars at night and the Mountain Views were stunning. It made us feel cozy snuggled close to the Mountains. I am glad there is a fence we had Javalina come visit in the late afternoon. Bring your own bed sheets. The grill worked and toilets worked it wasnt super clean but we expect that. We cleaned before we left. Its right off the road and so you can walk across the road and take a stroll. We did some hiking near by. Lots of Birds and a quail lives near by in a bush. It was perfect for two of us. Shower felt great. It was windy one day so we stayed inside. Very Sunny. We will return. We saw and heard mice too.

@HeidiR8987013 · Camped on Feb 23, 2022 at Campsite #1

Great experience, the grill was out of propane after about 5 mins running so could not use, but other than that fantastic. thank you!

@IVAND417 · Camped on Jan 2, 2022 at Campsite #1

This cabin is awesome, very modernized inside. The heater in the living room makes noise and needs repair and as usual with all these gov cabins the curtins are too thin, add some insulated black out curtins or bring some with ya, also bring an extra electric heater. Wood stove works good but takes some work. Area is amazing, check it out. Oh and the lighting is very very dim for some reason, just bring a camp lantern or something if that bother you.

@KaseyS357 · Camped on Dec 27, 2021 at Campsite #1

Cave Creek Canyon is always awesome, so our stay was excellent. The cabin itself was comfortable and warm. Our only complaint and why I didn’t give 5 stars is that the cabin smelled of cigarette smoke when we arrived and the place was in need of a good cleaning.

@SheriL569 · Camped on Dec 15, 2021 at Campsite #1

Beautiful setting. Nice cabin/house and a comfortable stay for a week. A beautiful setting, did I say that already? Nice people in the visitor's center. Rangers were nice and helpful delivering firewood. Nice hiking trails and a beautiful setting!!!

@pandorap153 · Camped on Dec 1, 2021 at Campsite #1

we really enjoyed our stay at5 the house. it was very clean and the rangers were very helpful. I recommend taking fire wood to use in the stove as it is kind of hit and miss with that. our dogs also love it there!

@cynthiab594 · Camped on Nov 24, 2021 at Campsite #1

Cave Creek Canyon is beyond gorgeous! We have been blessed to stay in this cabin several times in the last 3-4 years. Our Thanksgiving stay this year was lovely. The cabin was clean when we arrived, which was much appreciated. We brought firewood and enjoyed the wood fire stove in the living/dining area. There was a leak in the sink of the bathroom which we reported. The views from back are humbling and the stars at night from the front almost seem fake. Bring hand soap and cleaning supplies. One of the best cabin's ever!

@ANNEW143 · Camped on Oct 28, 2021 at Campsite #1

the little house is lovely. It was very clean, well-equipped, fantastic views and location. We had driven the dirt road over the Chiracahuas (ijn a sedan) and were so happy to arrive and have lunch on the back porch. Nice nature walk down the way; glorious sunset and sunrise. Lighting in the house could be brighter (hard to read). The wood stove warmed us up. Cave Creek is a hidden gem.

@SARAV213 · Camped on Oct 24, 2021 at Campsite #1

The Cave Creek Canyon is astoundingly beautiful. The cabin is wonderfully rustic and yet has everything you need for a civilized stay. Hot water, all utensils, comfortable beds, fridge/stove/micro. The cabin sits right at the entrance to the Canyon across from a running creek. Each day brought amazing sunrises and brilliant sunset skies. Easy trails all around and tougher hikes a short drive away. We didn't need the heater at all or use the woodburning stove, nights were mild. Cozy but spacious enough for all the adults to stretch out. All the plumbing worked well :) Would have liked an enclosed yard to let my pups off leash for a few minutes but it was no big deal.

@JamesW439 · Camped on May 21, 2021 at Campsite #1

Everything was as advertised. The cabin neat and clean. I would definitely stay again.

@ElizabethA688 · Camped on May 16, 2021 at Campsite #1

This is a simple, charming historic cabin with updates. Ie: modern kitchen with plenty of cooking utensils, dishes etc. and bathroom with a shower seat and grab bar. There are quirky things about staying in a cabin, such as "Don't touch the shower nozzle!" A previous renter figured out the best configuration for it and left a note next to the shower. There's plenty of hot water and water pressure for the shower, by the way. If you are looking for posh, go to a resort. If you want a cozy place to stay quite near the wilderness, this might be your spot. This location is a short walk to the visitor center at the entrance of the Coronado National Forest. Volunteers who staff the visitor center also live nearby this cabin in rv's, and share a driveway with the cabin. They are friendly but will leave you alone. We did not feel this impacted our stay negatively. We brought our comfy canvas chairs and sat on the private back patio drinking in stunning views of the nearby canyon walls. Terrific place to sit and eat dinner also. We saw deer from the yard and heard turkeys calling. Our last night there, we sat in the fading light after dinner. Bats began flying overhead and a whippoorwill was calling in the distance. So peaceful! Please make sure to clean up after yourself if you stay here. Leave it the way you'd like to find it, as there is no maid service. If you have pets be extra respectful of the next occupants and vacuum up all fur on floors and furniture.

@ElizabethB116 · Camped on Apr 25, 2021 at Campsite #1

Classic CCC building. Stone walls. Wood framed windows. Saltillo tile floors. Bathroom is large & includes fold down bench and safety bars - probably was previously a bedroom. Sleeping: 1 br Q futon, 1 br bunk w full/Q bottom & twin top, living room area full futon. Solid wood tables/ benches in rooms to lay things down. Kitchen has it all, incl cans of one-shot Scorpion killer :) I didn’t see any. Feels very comfortable. Look out windows to see vertical walls of Cave Creek Canyon on either side of house. Actual front door? is on back side of house w yard enclosed by chain link fence, including a charcoal BBQ. Bring your bedding and food and you’re set. No internet. A little farther along the creek road is a visitor center building that apparently has a little cell tower and from opening til 5 has wi-fi. The little store/ restaurant at Portal is minimal yet friendly. Not much internet there either so warn whoever is keeping track of your. Out on Hwy 9 where you turn in toward Portal and the cabin, stop in at the Chiricahua Desert Museum - for a short moving film on Geronimo, an excellent gift shop, and a desert zoo/ botanical garden - and a bathroom. The firefighter Hotshots hang around there on alert so to a moment share some gratitude.

@MarkK609 · Camped on Apr 2, 2021 at Campsite #1

This cabin is a perfect staging point for great hikes, biking, bird watching and just relaxing on the porch. We were visited by deer, cardinals, wood peckers, and wild turkey. The inside of the cabin was immaculately clean and well-appointed. Great Trip.

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