Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab
Ditch Creek Guard Station, located about 27 miles southeast of Heppner, Oregon, is a comfortable little cabin that accommodates six overnight guests, with additional space for tent camping outside. Equestrian campers are welcome and a corral with trough is provided. The guard station was originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the mid-1930s. It is a classic example of forest structures of that era and is eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. It was used by forest fireguards who would ride their horses deep into the forest’s interior to look for wisps of smoke from lightning strikes or to check on communications lines along Forest Service roads.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 6 | 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 |
The cabin is a one-story building containing a bedroom, living room, kitchen with nook, and a bathroom. The cabin does not meet accessibility standards due to narrow doorways and halls. A picnic table, campfire ring and a 20' X 20' horse corral with water trough are located outside. Guests may pitch tents in the yard for additional sleeping options. The bedroom contains two bunk beds, a dresser, and a chair, and the living room is furnished with a futon, loveseat, side table, a dining table with four chairs, and a heating stove. A cook stove, fire extinguisher, cookware, silverware, and dishes are included in the kitchen. All appliances and lighting are propane, which is provided by the Forest Service. Potable water is available. Guests must bring food, bedding, toiletries, matches, flashlights, first aid kits, and any other camping gear. Cleaning supplies are provided in a closet by the door and guests are expected to clean the cabin before they leave.
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. At the junction just outside the southern edge of Heppner, take a left (east) on paved Willow Creek Road. Travel 23 miles past Willow Creek Lake, Cutsforth County Park and up Coalmine Hill.
| Nearest town | Heppner, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 45.1190° N, 119.3471° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedMcintyre Rx
44 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Explore
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
The cabin sits near Ditch Creek on a large, flat lawn surrounded by a dense pine forest at an elevation of 4,800 feet. The creek is one of numerous small perennial streams that flow south into the North Fork John Day River. There is a small pond adjacent that is also stocked with fish. Deer and elk are likely to be seen in the area, and as evening falls, guests can watch bats flit and swoop above the yard.
Recreation
The route to the cabin is located off the Blue Mountain Scenic Byway, which boasts incredible views. Over 26 miles of hiking and horseback riding trails, ranging between 4,100 and 5,300 feet in elevation, traverse forests and meadows throughout the Heppner Ranger District. Fishing opportunities abound in nearby streams, Penland Lake, and Bull Prairie Lake. Other activities include hunting for deer and elk, mushroom and berry picking, wildlife viewing, and enjoying the scenic landscape.
Nearby
The nearest town with a general store is Heppner, a 27 mile, 40-minute drive away, although ice and some food options are available at the Morrow County OHV park 30 miles or 37 minutes away.
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 Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab?
Sites at Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab?
Yes, pets are allowed at Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab?
The route to the cabin is located off the Blue Mountain Scenic Byway, which boasts incredible views. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab?
Heppner, Oregon. The nearest town with a general store is Heppner, a 27 mile, 40-minute drive away, although ice and some food options are available at the Morrow County OHV park 30 miles or 37 minutes away.
Source: Getting there
What if Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Penland Lake Campground (1.4 mi, first-come), Coalmine Hill Campground (3.3 mi, first-come), and Divide Well Campground (10 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby