Clearwater Big House
Clearwater Big House gives the feel of a winter chalet hideaway, even during the warmest months of the summer. Hiking, horseback riding and scenic drives abound, delighting guests year after year. The Clearwater Lookout Tower is a mile away. An old trapper cabin was located at the current site and was later used as a ranger station. From 1928-29, a ranger built a three-room house and by 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps was tasked with building a barn, warehouse, outhouse and garage. In winter, the cabin is well-suited for snowmobiling and cross country skiing on groomed snowmobile trails. These modes of over-snow transportation are required for winter access to the cabin.
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 | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Pull-through | Gravel | 10 / 3 | 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 has 868 square feet of living space on the first floor, and another 336 square feet upstairs, and can accommodate up to 10 people. It is fully furnished with 3 queen, 1 full, and 5 twin beds, and a dining table and chairs. Propane heat and lighting are included, and the kitchen is equipped with a propane cook stove and refrigerator. The cabin does not have indoor bathroom facilities. There is an outdoor fire ring and a picnic table. An outhouse is located across the road. No water is provided. Guests need to bring plenty of water for drinking, cooking, and washing. They should also bring cooking pots and utensils, bedding or sleeping bags, dish soap, matches, a flashlight and all other basic camping items. General cleaning is expected before departure.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Pomeroy, Washington (35 minutes): Take 15th Street south for approximately 17 miles until the paved road ends. Continue on Forest Service Road 40 for 7 miles to Clearwater Junction (where the fire lookout is located). Turn left onto Forest Service Road 42 for 0.25 mile, and then turn right into the Clearwater Guard Station area.
| Nearest town | Pomeroy, Washington |
| Coordinates | 46.2004° N, 117.5676° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- The tower is not open, but the area is nice for scenic views.
- Mop, bucket, broom, and cleaning supplies provided (water is not provided).
- Cleaning service is not always available between guests, please leave the cabin as you would like to find it.
Charges and cancellations
For Changes & Cancellation Fees, please see Rules & Reservation Policies.
Fire nearby
- WildfireColumbia Center Mutual Aid
13 mi from the campground · 150 acres
- WildfireParadise
24 mi from the campground · 9,656 acres · 86% contained
- PrescribedSumac 2A Rx
35 mi from the campground · 417 acres
- PrescribedLojo Starvation 13A Underburn Rx
36 mi from the campground · 110 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 20.9 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Sportsman's Warehouse ↗ | 30.2 mi |
| RV sales & service | Travelland RV ↗ | 30.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
The nearest general stores and gas stations are in Pomeroy, a 40-minute drive from the cabin.
- 5.8 miDiamond Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 6.3 miKelly Camp Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
Trailheads within three miles
- 1 miHunter Spring Trailhead ↗Umatilla National Forest
- 2.9 miTucannon Trailhead ↗Umatilla National Forest · Season May
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
Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness begins about 4.7 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 4.7 miWenaha-Tucannon Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 176,737 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
Set on a gently rolling slope at an elevation of 5,600 feet, the cabin is nestled in a clearing dotted with young Christmas trees. The Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness is nearby, stretching across the northern Blue Mountains of southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon. The mountain slopes are carpeted with bunchgrass, lodgepole pine and subalpine fir. An array of wildlife, including Rocky Mountain Elk, bighorn sheep, white-tailed and mule deer, black bears, cougars and coyotes, may be spotted.
Recreation
The cabin provides nearby access to hiking and horseback riding trails that lead to Teal Springs and the lush Tucannon River Drainage. The scenic drive along the Tucannon River Drainage to Sunset Point is also a recommended activity. In winter, snowmobiling, cross country skiing and snowshoeing trails are right out your front door.
Guidebooks for Washington
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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 Clearwater Big House?
Sites at Clearwater Big House are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Clearwater Big House?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Clearwater Big House have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Clearwater Big House?
Yes, pets are allowed at Clearwater Big House. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Clearwater Big House?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 4 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Clearwater Big House?
The cabin provides nearby access to hiking and horseback riding trails that lead to Teal Springs and the lush Tucannon River Drainage. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Clearwater Big House?
Pomeroy, Washington. The nearest general stores and gas stations are in Pomeroy, a 40-minute drive from the cabin.
Source: Getting there
What if Clearwater Big House is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Big Springs Campground (2.4 mi, first-come), Alder Thicket Campground (4 mi, first-come), and Ladybug Campground (4.9 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby