Tamarack Cabin
Tamarack Cabin offers outdoor enthusiasts a quaint cabin with epic views atop Tamarack Mountain. The cabin can accommodate four guests, and a short walk through the trees awards a unique opportunity to view miles of the Umatilla National Forest from sunup to sundown. The site was originally used as a fire detection lookout. The original structure was a platform built on a high tree in 1925. It was replaced with a 96-foot Aermotor tower in 1933, and a neighboring cabin was built to house Forest Service employees. A utility shed was also built. When the cabin burnt down in 1966, the shed was converted into housing. That same shed is where guests can stay today.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Gravel | Partial | 4 / 4 | Yes | Yes |
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 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Site 001 is listed accessible |
This cozy converted shed offers one room with amenities including propane lights, a heating stove and cook stove, refrigerator, cookware, silverware, and dishes. Furnishings consist of two sets of twin bunkbeds, a cabinet for clothes, table with four chairs, and a rocking chair on the small front porch. There is a picnic table and fire ring outside, though fire danger may restrict campfires, so check for conditions with the Ranger District prior to arrival. There is also a nearby outhouse. There is no water onsite, so visitors must bring plenty of water for drinking, cooking, and washing. Guests must bring food, water, ice chest and ice, bedding, toiletries, a first aid kit, flashlights, matches and all other basic camping gear.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Lexington, OR, take Highway 74/207 east to Heppner. Continue south, on Highway 207. At the junction in Heppner, bear right to continue south on Highway 207 for 39 miles through Heppner, Ruggs, Hardman and past Anson Wright County Park to the junction of Highway 207 and Forest Road 24 (0.1 miles past the Bull Prairie Campground turn-off).
| Nearest town | Heppner, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 44.8734° N, 119.6619° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- This site is not open in the winter.
Explore
Worth a stop
Spray is the nearest town with a general store, gas, and propane which is about a half hour drive away. Heppner is about one hour away with a larger variety of stores for your recreational needs. Off-road vehicle enthusiasts enjoy Morrow County OHV Park, located 14 miles north on HWY 207. There are some food options, ice, and propane for sale at this site.
- 5.1 miShady Grove Picnic Area ↗Day use
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Umatilla National Forest.
- inUmatilla National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,498,100 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
Natural features
At 4,979 feet above sea level, Tamarack Mountain overlooks the John Day River basin between Spray and Kimberly. The lookout and the mountain it tops are named after the western larch, a tree that is particularly plentiful in the Blue and Wallowa Mountains. Western tanagers and dusty flycatchers frequent the area and purple-blue spikes of lupine, white and pink yarrow and yellow balsamroot add bursts of color to the landscape.
Recreation
Over 26 miles of hiking and horseback riding trails on the Heppner Ranger District can be accessed from the cabin. Plentiful fishing opportunities abound in nearby streams and Bull Prairie Lake. Many roads are open to off-road vehicles, and 28 miles of designated trails are available. Other activities include hunting, wildlife viewing and bird watching.
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 Tamarack Cabin?
Sites at Tamarack 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 Tamarack Cabin?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Tamarack Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Tamarack Cabin?
Yes, pets are allowed at Tamarack Cabin. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Tamarack Cabin?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Tamarack Cabin?
Site 001 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Tamarack Cabin?
Over 26 miles of hiking and horseback riding trails on the Heppner Ranger District can be accessed from the cabin. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Tamarack Cabin?
Heppner, Oregon. Spray is the nearest town with a general store, gas, and propane which is about a half hour drive away.
Source: Getting there
What if Tamarack Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Fairview Campground (6.2 mi, first-come), Bull Prairie Campground (6.9 mi, partly first-come), and John Day River Basin Developed Campgrounds (17.5 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby