AZ Places

22/09/2026

We found something we can't fully explain near Jacks Canyon on FR 230B in the Coconino National Forest during our September 2026 camping trip.

Six large metal drums partially buried in a flat area at the top of the canyon — each with a pipe leading in, an internal mechanism, and a rectangular lid mounted on arms consistent with a float valve water control system. Three cement basin tubs nearby — two filled with earth over the decades with large trees now growing from them, the third still collecting rainwater in two broken plastic containers. Square cement footings with metal framing scattered throughout the same area.

No road leads to this location anymore. No signage, no markers. Whatever this was, it was built, used, and abandoned — and the forest has been slowly reclaiming it ever since.

Our best assessment is a mid-20th century stock water or water storage system — Forest Service or ranching infrastructure from the grazing allotment era before the road was decommissioned. The float valve mechanisms inside the drums are consistent with automatic water level control in remote stock tanks.

If you know what this installation was we genuinely want to know — drop a comment below.

🎥 Video on YouTube now —

While exploring near Jacks Canyon near FR 230B in the Coconino Nati...

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https://www.azplaces.com/best-camping-locations/walnut-canyon-national-monument

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Picacho Peak State Park along Arizona's I-10 corridor is one of the most historically layered state parks in the Southwest — a striking volcanic peak rising 1,500 feet from the Sonoran Desert floor, site of the westernmost battle of the American Civil War, a showcase for spring wildflower blooms t...

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