If you enjoy exploring abandoned places like I have since I was a kid, there’s a place in Oak Creek Canyon you may want to check out. Found along the West Fork Trail, the ruins of an old lodge have been slowly taken back by nature over the past half-century. Known as the Mayhew Lodge, the ruins are quite easy to get to. But, like any other abandoned and eerie place in Arizona, you wouldn’t want to visit after dark.

Located in a picturesque canyon at the point where two creeks meet stands the ruins of a former lodge. Originally built in the 1870s by a hunter named Bear Howard, it changed hands over time.
Daniel Valentine/AllTrails
At one point, it was owned by the Mayhew family who ran it as a guest lodge between 1926 and 1968. Upon its closing in 1968, Mayhew Lodge was acquired by the Forest Service.
Daniel Valentine/AllTrails
In 1980, a fire ravaged many of the lodge's building leaving behind foundations, a large stone fireplace, and a cabin.
JeffGoulden/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

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To get to Mayhew Lodge today requires a 0.3-mile trek along the West Fork to Oak Creek Trail No. 108. The trailhead is right at the parking lot which requires a fee of $12 per vehicle.
Jed Koon/AllTrails
This trail is a popular on in Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness but absolutely worth it for the beautiful scenery you'll encounter along the way. This hike does require several stream crossings so make sure you have waterproof footwear with you before making the attempt.
Steve Miller/AllTrails
When you get to the ruins of Mayhew Lodge, you'll notice has eerily fascinating the ruins are. While they are absolutely intriguing to see in the daytime, you wouldn't want to be here at night. Abandoned places certainly take on a creepier vibe after dark.
sstevens3/ iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
Good thing that the trail closes at dusk so be sure you're out by then!
Tracy Schirmang/AllTrails

Have you ever visited the Mayhew Lodge ruins while trekking along the West Fork of Oak Creek Trail #108? Is there another abandoned and eerie place in Arizona you’d like to share? Let us know! To learn more about the West Fork of Oak Creek Trail #108 hike, visit AllTrails, and don’t forget to download the AllTrails+ app before you go.

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Oak Creek Canyon, Arizona 86336, USA