- Location: 34.31335, -116.89635
- Travel Date: 6-20-2018
Little is know about the “Cabin in the Sky” and almost no information can be found online.
What we do know is that, this log cabin was built back in the 19th century at a little over 300 feet above the Holcomb Valley floor. There is significant evidence of mining near this Historical Site. Someone was determined to set up large timbers in the shape of a cabin and call it a home. The views from the cabin are fascinating. No wonder someone went through all the trouble of building in such a remote place!
Hiking there is no easy task. The straight-line distance from the trailhead to the cabin is about 800 feet. Walking distance is closer to 1,100 feet. The overall grade is about 17 degree. The last 100 feet or so are the steepest. The area that must be traversed is littered with large boulders, fallen trees and scrub oak. It is almost impossible to get to the cabin without scrambling over or under these obstacles. When the cabin was built, I’m sure there was considerably less scrub oak than now. In fact, when the valley was used for mining in the last half of the 19th century, a large percentage of the trees in the valley were cut down. What you see now is mostly second generation growth. This is true for many areas of the mountains here. Many relics can be found as you get closer to the site, please do not remove anything so that future generations of curious explorers can enjoy the area as well.
The Antiquities Act is a U.S. federal law enacted in 1906. It is officially known as ‘An Act for the Preservation of American Antiquities.’ The provisions of the Act are codified at 16 USCS 431–433. Pursuant to the Act, any person who appropriates, excavates, injures, or destroys any historic or prehistoric ruin or monument, or any object of antiquity, situated on lands owned or controlled by the U.S. government of the United States, without the permission of the Secretary of the Department of the Government having jurisdiction over the lands on which said antiquities are situated, shall, upon conviction, be fined in a sum of not more than five hundred dollars or be imprisoned for a period of not more than ninety days, or shall suffer both fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.