Horse Thief Basin

4.5/5 (6 reviews)
In the late 1800s, a few industrious horse thieves began using a lush and largely inaccessible valley in the southeastern Bradshaw Mountains as their hideaway. The remoteness kept them one step ahead of the law. A lake and plenty of grass kept the horses fed while altering the brands for later sal...Read More
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Highlights of Horse Thief Basin

Beginner Category IconBeginner
Camping Category IconCamping
Forest Category IconForest
Scenic Category IconScenic
Highest Elevation
6917 ft
Shape of Trail
Out & Back
Typically Open
Year Round
Best Direction
N/A
Official Trail Name
52
Nearest Town
Crown King
Nearest Services
Black Canyon City
Management Agency
Prescott National Forest
District
Bradshaw Ranger District

Overview

In the late 1800s, a few industrious horse thieves began using a lush and largely inaccessible valley in the southeastern Bradshaw Mountains as their hideaway. The remoteness kept them one step ahead of the law. A lake and plenty of grass kept the horses fed while altering the brands for later sale. The area became informally known as Horse Thief Basin. Horses gave way to motorized vehicles. The depression of the 1930s produced the Civilian Conservation Corps, which, among many projects nationwide, built a road into rugged Horse Thief Basin. They also built an arch dam on the small lake as well as several first-rate campgrounds. In 1934 Horse Thief Lookout was erected on a promontory at the end of the road to monitor the area for forest fires. Today intrepid off-roaders drive the remote Horse Thief Basin road. While boondocking at the scenic spot of your choice or camping at the quaint Hazlett Hollow Campground, you can fish in the picturesque Horse Thief Lake. Hopefully, you'll even be invited to scale the Horse Thief Lookout for what is arguably the best view in Arizona outside the Grand Canyon.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Guide Overview
21 Waypoints
65 Trail Photos
1 Trail Concerns
6 Community Reviews
1 Video
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