Caretakers Cabin
Caretaker's Cabin allows guests to relax in the outdoors at the historic Fremont Powerhouse site. As one of four cabins located at the site, the cabin offers flexibility for large groups, like weddings or reunions. Guests can rent all cabins (see Congo Gulch, Hilltop Hideaway, and Miner's Retreat) and also pitch tents in the grassy yard. Caretaker’s Cabin sits on a hill beside Miner’s Retreat and has parking access beside it. The cabin can accommodate up to 10 guests. Winter access may require skis, snowshoes or snowmobiles. In the 1800s, the North Fork John Day drainage was bustling with gold and silver mining.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗



Site mix
| Cabins with electric | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 4 |
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
| Pets | Allowed |
The cabin is a 2-story house with wood siding and a shake shingle roof that can accommodate 10 guests. The cabin features: · two bedrooms upstairs with dressers, 2 twin beds, and 2 full-over-queen bunkbeds; · parlor with 2 futons and end tables; · dining room with a table and chairs to seat 10; · kitchen with refrigerator, electric stove/oven, microwave, coffee pot, toaster, cookware, and dishes; · bathroom with flush toilet and claw-footed tub (no shower). Outside there is a fire ring and picnic table--prior to arrival please contact the District office to determine whether fires have been banned. The cabin has electric lights and electric wall heaters. Cleaning supplies are also provided and renters are required to clean the house before they leave. Water is available June through September only. No water or indoor plumbing from October to May. Instead, an outhouse is available for use. In these seasons, guests are asked to bring plenty of water for drinking, cooking and washing. Other items to pack year-round include food, bedding, a first aid kit, flashlight, 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 Pendleton, Oregon: Travel south on Highway 395 for 50 miles to the Ukiah exit. Turn left on Highway 244 to Ukiah. Turn right (south) just before the city park; this road becomes Forest Service Road (FSR) 52 at the Forest boundary. Travel 50 miles to the small town of Granite. From Granite go west on County Road 24 for approximately 6 miles.
| Nearest town | Ukiah, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 44.7969° N, 118.4981° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireMccully
11 mi from the campground · 13,604 acres · 91% contained
- PrescribedGreenwood Rx
25 mi from the campground · 38 acres
- PrescribedBirdtrack 621 Broadcast Rx
38 mi from the campground · 377 acres
- PrescribedBird Track 610/607A Rx
40 mi from the campground · 141 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 ↗ | 39.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
The cabin is located less than 6 miles from Granite, Oregon, a ghost town that once bustled with prospectors and pioneers. The town provides groceries and fuel. Opportunities for horseback riding are within 10 miles of the cabin.
- 3.5 miGranite Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 4 miLost Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside North Fork John Day Wilderness.
- inNorth Fork John Day Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 120,694 acres
- 11.2 miMalheur National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,787,138 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
- Sumpter Valley Gold Dredge (dredge)Structure · Sumpter · 14.9 mi
- Superintendent's HouseBuilding · Sumpter · 14.9 mi
Natural features
Perched on a small rise at about 5,000 feet in elevation, the cabin is set on a hillside under a large spruce tree. A grassy lawn in front spreads to the three other cabins in the area. The forest lies in the Blue Mountains and is home to Ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, larch and Douglas-fir. Birds in the area include the black-backed woodpecker, American kestrel and the boreal owl. Black bear, cougar, wolves, elk and deer are among the native land mammals.
Recreation
Guests can hike on North Fork John Day Wilderness trails or go mountain biking on forest roads. A drive along the Blue Mountain Scenic Byway is a treat, as are activities like huckleberry and mushroom picking, bird watching, wildlife viewing and photographing the vast landscape. Nearby Olive Lake offers boating, fishing and swimming.
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 Caretakers Cabin?
Sites at Caretakers 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 Caretakers Cabin?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Caretakers Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin with power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Caretakers Cabin?
The cabin features: · two bedrooms upstairs with dressers, 2 twin beds, and 2 full-over-queen bunkbeds; · parlor with 2 futons and end tables; · dining room with a table and chairs to seat 10; · kitchen with refrigerator, electric stove/oven, microwave, coffee pot, toaster, cookw
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Caretakers Cabin?
Yes, pets are allowed at Caretakers Cabin. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Caretakers Cabin?
Guests can hike on North Fork John Day Wilderness trails or go mountain biking on forest roads. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Caretakers Cabin?
Ukiah, Oregon. The cabin is located less than 6 miles from Granite, Oregon, a ghost town that once bustled with prospectors and pioneers.
Source: Getting there
What if Caretakers Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Miners Retreat (under 0.1 mi), Olive Lake Campground (4.9 mi, partly first-come), and North Fork John Day Campground (9.4 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby




