Cold Springs Cabin
Cold Springs Guard Station, constructed in 1934, is a historic site tucked into the Ochoco National Forest. It served a special role as the switchboard station connecting phone calls between various fire lookouts and guard stations during the summer months, as well as housing for the fire guard and his family. The current cabin replaced an earlier one that was destroyed by fire. Cold Springs Guard Station continued to be used by Forest Service employees into the 1990s, and remnants of its past can still be seen today. This is the perfect destination for guests wanting the creature comforts of a home while in a rustic, natural setting.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSGS | Pull-through | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 8 |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
The multi-room cabin is comfortably equipped with two bathrooms, one featuring a tub with a shower, and both with flush toilets. The kitchen has a propane cook stove and a solar powered refrigerator, and is stocked with basic utensils and cleaning supplies. There are three bedrooms, complete with beds, and a living room. The heat and hot water are propane operated. The cabin has solar lights. Drinking water is available in the building. There is a picnic table and fire ring for outdoor dining and campfires. This is a pack-it-in/pack-it-out facility, so visitors are asked to bring garbage bags. Visitors should also bring bedding, towels, washcloths, detergent, flashlights, lanterns, extra batteries and a first aid kit. The nearest town to buy supplies is 45 minutes away.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Prineville, Oregon: Travel approximately 13 miles east on Highway 26. Turn right at the junction to Ochoco Ranger Station (County Road 123), and travel 8 miles to the junction of Forest Service Roads 22 and 42. Stay right to merge onto Forest Service Road 42 and then travel approximately 19 more miles.
| Nearest town | Prineville, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 44.3567° N, 120.1317° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
In order to allow for maximum use of the facilities, a cancellation policy has been put in place to encourage customers to make any cancellations as soon as possible so that others may reserve and enjoy the unoccupied facility. Reservation fees are refundable on a pro-rated scale as outlined below. > 100% refund of reservation fees when cancelled 31 days or more, prior to your arrival date* > 50% refund of reservation fees when cancelled 15 to 30 days, prior to your arrival date* > No refund when cancelled 14 days or less, prior to your arrival date > If a customer arrives at a facility and decides to leave early, the days not used are not refunded A $10.00 cancellation fee will be deducted from the amount of the refund given the customer
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 31.9 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 34.9 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Prepper Up ↗ | 36.1 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Ochoco National Forest.
- inOchoco National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 912,775 acres
- 7.4 miBridge Creek Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 5,337 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Roba Ranch, TheBuilding · Paulina · 11 mi
Natural features
Several bands of wild free-roaming horses live in the Ochoco National Forest. Visitors can learn more about these horses from a Forest Service interpretive sign on Forest Service Road 42 on the way to the cabin. Other wildlife in the area includes squirrels, chipmunks, antelope, deer, elk, geese, hawks, osprey, eagles, sandhill cranes and great horned owls. Cold Spring Guard Station is located in an upland meadow near Big Summit Prairie, an area known for colorful wildflower displays that include wild parsley, bitterroot, cobalt blue meadow larkspur, Peck's mariposa lily and brilliant red Indian paintbrush. There are other plants that add beauty to this serene location, the most prominent being sagebrush and old-growth ponderosa pine. Quaking aspen mixes with the pines in the area surrounding the cabin.
Recreation
Wildlife watching and wildflower viewing are the primary recreational activities in this area. Nearby activities include mountain biking, road biking, hiking, fishing and hunting. There is a horseshoe pit outside the cabin.
Nearby
Walton Lake, Lookout Mt. trails, Big Summit Prairie, Mt. Pisgah, and Bridge Creek Wilderness.
Guidebooks for Oregon
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Cold Springs Cabin?
Sites at Cold Springs Cabin are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Cold Springs Cabin?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Cold Springs Cabin?
> 100% refund of reservation fees when cancelled 31 days or more, prior to your arrival date* > 50% refund of reservation fees when cancelled 15 to 30 days, prior to your arrival date* > No refund when cancelled 14 days or less, prior to your arrival date > If
Source: Charges and cancellations
How many sites does Cold Springs Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Cold Springs Cabin?
The multi-room cabin is comfortably equipped with two bathrooms, one featuring a tub with a shower, and both with flush toilets.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Cold Springs Cabin?
FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Cold Springs Cabin?
Wildlife watching and wildflower viewing are the primary recreational activities in this area. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Cold Springs Cabin?
Prineville, Oregon. Walton Lake, Lookout Mt.
Source: Getting there
What if Cold Springs Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Deep Creek Campground (3.4 mi, first-come), Allen Creek Horse Camp (3.6 mi, first-come), and Scotts Campground (4.7 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby