Box Canyon Guard Station Cabin
Box Canyon Guard Station sits beneath a canopy of Douglas fir at an altitude of 3,620 feet on the West Cascades National Scenic Byway. It is located approximately 75 miles southeast of Eugene, Oregon in the Willamette National Forest. The guard station was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933 and used as a dwelling for fire guards. They were the smoke chasers, often riding on horseback through the tall timbers to the location spotted by the lookout tower guards. The first on the scene, they often tried to put out any fires they may have found on their own, or reported back for additional help.
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 | Pets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Gravel | Partial | 4 / 4 | Yes | No |
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 1:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
The 16x24-ft. cabin sleeps 4 and comes furnished with 2 twin beds with mattresses, a desk, a sofa bed, a table with chairs, wood stove and cleaning supplies. An outhouse, fire ring and picnic table are located nearby. A horse corral that measures approximately 45 feet in diameter is provided. Electricity, firewood and potable water are not provided. Guests must bring plenty of water for drinking, cooking and washing. Water is available from a nearby stream, but it should be treated before using. Items such as bedding, lanterns or flashlights, dishes and cookware, matches, extra toilet paper, first aid supplies, trash bags, dish soap, towels and an ice chest are not available. Guests are expected to pack out their trash and clean the cabin before leaving.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Blue River, OR, travel approximately 4 miles east on Highway 126 to Aufderheide Drive/Forest Service (FSR) 19. Turn right and proceed south for approximately 17 miles on Auderheide Drive past Cougar Reservoir to Box Canyon Guard Station. From I-5 in Eugene, OR, take exit 158 for Highway 58 toward Klamath Falls/Oakridge.
| Nearest town | Mckenzie Bridge, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 43.9050° N, 122.0811° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedJunction Rx
30 mi from the campground
- PrescribedCamas Ts Rx
38 mi from the campground
- PrescribedRx Cold Springs
42 mi from the campground · 158 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Mountain Supply ↗ | 39.3 mi |
| RV sales & service | Blue Compass RV Bend ↗ | 41.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
The guard station is located along the West Cascades National Scenic Byway, a 220-mile stretch of road that spans 3 national forests and a variety of landscapes. Travelers can enjoy seeing snow-capped mountains, old-growth forests, whitewater rivers, cascading waterfalls and quiet lakes.
- 0.1 miBox Canyon Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 2.2 miRoaring Ridge South Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miBox Canyon1.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.2 miMcBee ↗24 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.2 miChucksney Mountain ↗6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.2 miGrasshopper ↗12.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.9 miNorth Fork Segment #5 ↗5.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2 miShale Ridge ↗5.9 mi trail · hiking, horse
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.1 miBox Canyon Trailhead ↗Willamette National Forest
- 1.9 miShale Ridge Trailhead ↗Willamette National Forest
- 2.2 miRoaring Ridge South Trailhead ↗Willamette National Forest
- 2.5 miConstitution Grove Trailhead ↗Willamette National Forest
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Willamette National Forest, which overlaps Deschutes National Forest.
- inWillamette National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,801,292 acres
- inDeschutes National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,870,116 acres
- 1.1 miThree Sisters Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 283,818 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
- Elk Lake Guard StationBuilding · Bend · 14.7 mi
Natural features
Box Canyon Guard Station sits at the doorstep of the Three Sisters Wilderness, a range of major peaks. The North, Middle and South Sisters all tower 10,000 feet above sea level. The surrounding landscape features alpine meadows, waterfalls, lava fields, glaciers and glacial lakes abundant with trout. The forest is dense and varied, with Douglas fir, silver fir, sub-alpine fir, mountain hemlock, true fir, lodgepole pine and ponderosa pine. Willamette National Forest offers prime habitat for such species as Roosevelt elk, black bear, bald eagles, blacktail deer and bobcats, among other wildlife.
Recreation
Trailheads into the Three Sisters Wilderness and the Chucksney Mountain Roadless Area are adjacent to the Guard Station. The nearby Box Canyon Trail Area offers a variety of multi-use trails for mountain bikers, equestrians and hikers.
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 Box Canyon Guard Station Cabin?
Sites at Box Canyon Guard Station 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 Box Canyon Guard Station Cabin?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Box Canyon Guard Station Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Box Canyon Guard Station Cabin?
Trailheads into the Three Sisters Wilderness and the Chucksney Mountain Roadless Area are adjacent to the Guard Station. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Box Canyon Guard Station Cabin?
Mckenzie Bridge, Oregon. The guard station is located along the West Cascades National Scenic Byway, a 220-mile stretch of road that spans 3 national forests and a variety of landscapes.
Source: Getting there
What if Box Canyon Guard Station Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Box Canyon Horse Camp (0.1 mi, first-come), Roaring River (Group) (3.2 mi), and Skookum Creek Campground (3.5 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby