Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
Blue Cabin Ruins Trail #321

The Blue Cabin Ruins Trail is strenuous for parts of its 0.6 mile length and sees light traffic from May through October. While the Blue Cabin was once used to house the lookouts for the fire tower on top of Blue Peak, it's most famous for an event that happened here in 1921. A German immigrant tried to borrow money from a bank in McNary to bring his mother over from Germany. The bank refused the loan so he pulled a gun and robbed the place. When he left McNary, he headed into the Blue Range and holed up in the Blue Cabin. When the posse arrived he came out of the cabin with his hands in the air but someone shot and killed him anyway. At the west end of Williams Valley on Forest Road 249, you'll find what's left of his grave marker. The cabin was still being used until it burned in 1980.

Once you leave the ruins, climb up the Blue Lookout Trail and the McKittrick Trail to the summit of Blue Peak and enjoy an incredible view across western New Mexico and southeastern Arizona. On the way back out, take the McKittrick Trail back to the trailhead for a 3.7 mile loop.

In the Blue Range Primitive Area, motorized and mechanized vehicles (including mountain bikes) are not allowed.

Elevation: 8,920' to 8,300'

Access: On US 191, go south from Alpine for 29 miles to Forest Road 84 (Blue Lookout Road). This will be the first left after the road to the Salt House Trail. Go 6.5 miles east on this primitive dead-end road to an open flat with a parking area and road closure. The Blue Cabin Ruins Trail heads northeast into a deep drainage leading to KP Canyon. The Blue Cabin Ruins Trail is also accessible via the Blue Lookout Trail.

USGS Maps: Strayhorse