Walker Cabin

Overview

Walker Cabin is nestled among trees just off Crooked River Road #233, which leads into the Gospel-Hump Wilderness Area, in the Nez Perce National Forest. The cabin was originally built around 1930 as a summer home. Jerry and Helen Walker purchased the cabin in 1967, then donated it to the U.S. Forest Service in the 1980s. It is now available for public recreational use. The cabin must be reserved in advanced; there are no walk-ups.

Recreation

Crooked River is a popular area for many recreational opportunities, including hiking, trout fishing, hunting, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. A nice hiking trail is located behind the cabin. Nearby trails lead to the Orogrande Summit, Buffalo Hump and Gospel Hump. Snowshoes may be required on the trails in winter. There are several lakes within a 3-mile radius that are easily accessible by foot or off-road vehicle.

Facilities

The rustic cabin has two bedrooms with two single beds each, a living room with a wood insert in the fireplace, several chairs, a table, a broom and a kitchen with a wood cook stove. A vault toilet is located in a separate building. Guests can find firewood in a shed behind the cabin. Running water and electricity are not available. Guests should bring their own water supply and garbage bags to pack out their trash. Cookware, kitchen utensils, bedding and blankets are not provided. A lantern or flashlight and extra batteries are recommended (click here for more details about this cabin).

Natural Features

Walker Cabin sits at an elevation of 4,500 feet near the northern part of Gospel-Hump Wilderness, an area that is moist and densely forested. Big game species like elk, mule and whitetail deer, black bear, cougar, moose, mountain goat and mountain sheep live within the Wilderness. Chukar, grouse, squirrels and songbirds make their home here as well.

Nearby Attractions

The cabin is less than a mile from Orogrande, a historic mining site that is now a ghost town. The closest town, Elk City, Idaho, is a remote community with limited facilities that include a grocery store, restaurant, bar, laundromat, convenience store and gas stations.