Short Creek Guard Station
Malheur National Forest
Short Creek Guard Station is a great place to stay to enjoy the nearby Monument Rock and Strawberry Mountain wilderness areas, as well as the North Fork of the Malheur Scenic River. The cabin offers access to a variety of recreational activities, including hiking, hunting, fishing and viewing wildlife.
The cabin provides all the comforts of a home, including drinking water during the summer months. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
The kitchen is equipped with a propane cook stove, sink, propane refrigerator, propane lights and a propane heater that heats the entire facility. The small indoor bathroom provides a flush toilet and a shower during summer months only. Additionally, the building is equipped with a propane hot water heater, which provides hot water to the shower and sinks during the summer months only.
A picnic table, two BBQ grills and a fire pit are located next to the building, under the shade of nearby trees.
The cabin has one queen-sized bed in a private bedroom and a large couch in the living room. Guests will need to bring their own bedding (blankets, linens, pillows and/or sleeping bags), as well as flashlights or a lantern for emergencies, a first aid kit, towels, garbage bags and dish soap, among other necessities. The cabin will need to be cleaned and all garbage carried out prior to leaving.
No Pets allowed in the Guard Station.
Need to Know
- There is a locked gate at Short Creek Guard Station which is secured with a combination lock. The combination is provided in the customer confirmation email.
Drinking water and the flush toilet are available only during warmer months; water will be shut off from early October until late May (specific dates required to prevent freezing lines depend on area temperatures).
Bears may frequent the area; use appropriate containers for food and garbage (learn more about bear safety).
Guests may encounter cattle near the facility.
Water taken from any outdoor source should be boiled or treated prior to consumption.
The cabin remains locked; a combination code will be contained in the reservation confirmation letter.
Guests should contact the Ranger Station before arrival to confirm that road closures or weather conditions won't affect a visit.
- Learn more about the The Malheaur National Forest
- Don't Move Firewood: Please protect Pacific Northwest forests by preventing the spread of invasive species. Firewood can carry insects and diseases that can threaten the health of our western forests. You can make a difference by obtaining and burning your firewood near your camping destination. Visit Dontmovefirewood.org for further information.
Short Creek Guard Station is in a remote forest location with no mobile phone coverage.
Natural Features
The cabin is situated in a corner of a small meadow surrounded by tall ponderosa pines, at an elevation of about 5,000 feet. It is about 38 miles from the town of John Day, in eastern Oregon.
A babbling creek runs alongside the cabin and a variety of wildlife make its home in the area, including elk, deer, antelope, black bears, bighorn sheep, grouse, as well as many species of birds. Nearby, the Monument Rock and Strawberry Mountain wilderness areas, as well as the North Fork of the Malheur Scenic River, offer vast opportunities for exploration.
The Strawberry Mountain Wilderness has an extremely diverse ecological makeup, with five of the seven major life zones in North America and around 378 kinds of animals and approximately 22 fish species.
Recreation
In the warmer months, popular activities include hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing and wildlife viewing around the cabin and in the nearby wilderness areas and the North Fork of the Malheur Scenic River.
There are moderate hiking trails near the cabin, and rugged hiking trails in the wilderness. The wilderness provides over a hundred miles of trails. The riparian habitat of the river lends itself to picnicking, fishing and observing all kinds of wildlife. The wilderness has many wildlife viewing opportunities as well.
Contact Information
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SHORT CREEK GUARD STATION DISTRICT OFFICE: 327 SW FRONT ST., P.O. BOX 337 PRAIRIE CITY OR 97869 Prairie City OR 97869
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 541-820-3800
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From the town of Prairie City, OR., turn South (right) onto South Main Street. Follow South Main Street to the junction with Bridge Street, turn left onto Bridge Street. Follow Bridge Street past the local cemetery, the road then changes to County Road 62. Continue on County Road 62 approximately 7 miles to the junction with Forest Road 13. Turn left and follow Forest Road 13 East approximately 16.5 miles, the guard station will be on the right at the junction of Forest Road 13 and Forest Road 16.
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