Cabin camping is an amazing way to experience Malheur National Forest, while still enjoying a little rustic luxury. Finding a cozy cabin in Oregon has never been easier. You're sure to find the perfect cabin for your Oregon cabin camping excursion.
One of Eastern Oregons largest Forest Service campgrounds, Union Creek Campground is located 18 miles South of Baker City. Sitting along Phillips Reservoirs North shore, Union Creek Campground boasts many amenities including over 60 tent/trailer sites, some with full hookups. There is access to boating, mountain biking, hiking and more. This campground is part of the Union Creek Recreation Area, which includes a picnic and day-use area. Union Creek Campground is set on three loops with separate walk-in tent camping, and it has four group sites that can accommodate large groups up to 60 people. PLEASE NOTE: This Union Creek Campground is located in northeastern Oregon in the Wallowa Whitman National Forest. This is not the Union Creek Campground located in southwestern Oregon near Medford.
The campground is near a boat launch and a small, rocky swim beach. Activities include swimming, fishing, boating, and water skiing. Anglers can fish for bass, trout and perch. There's an access point for the Phillips Lake Shoreline Trail, a scenic trail for hiking and mountain biking. This trail can be connected to make a 16 mile loop around the lake.
Phillips Reservoir is a popular destination within the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest because it offers scenic views of the surrounding Elkhorn Mountains. The shoreline is forested with a mix of Ponderosa pine and various firs interspersed with small grasslands. Visitors enjoy several varieties of colorful wildflowers in the spring.
The historic gold mining town of Sumpter is about 10 miles away, West of Hwy 7. Visitors can explore the Sumpter Dredge State Heritage Park, browse the holiday weekend flea markets or take a ride on a historic steam locomotive.
A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation. Late cancellations are subject to additional fees. For full details see NRRS Reservation Policy
$36 - $120 / night
Burns RV Park offers a quiet get away in Burns, Oregon. Elevation is 4,150 feet high desert. Surrounded by miles of open space gives you the feeling of pioneer days. Many different attractions for the adventurous. We are conveniently located between several National Parks. Whether you are on your way to or returning from, we'll be in your travel plans.
Come stay, our sites are easy to access, 30-50 amp, full hook-up sites, shaded, and big rig friendly. Cabins, TeePees, along with tent sites available. Satellite cable, secured WiFi, bathrooms with showers, and laundry for your convenience. A small store on site with RV supplies, an espresso bar, Oregon-made wines and micro beers. We also offer Hawaiian Dole Whip, a local favorite.
You'll find your home away from home that is quiet, peaceful, relaxing, and conveniently located 1/2 mile East of the town of Burns on Hwy 20. Come stay for Smore night and enjoy a marshmallow with us. We also have horseshoes, bocce ball, ladder ball, corn hole, badmitton, croquet, volleyball and a book exchange for your enjoyment. We are also a dog friendly park!
Envision a stay in our beautiful and modern country style Bed & Breakfast in John Day, Oregon. It's been uniquely decorated by Andrea with furniture redesigned in her homey, yet eclectic style. Add to that specifically selected or custom made accessories, styled with co-ordinated fabric and paint schemes throughout. All of this comes together to create a symphony of comfort and relaxation for your enjoyment. The rooms are inspired by the works of four classic authors: Jane Austen, Lucy Montgomery, Louisa May Alcott, and JM Barrie; portraying the style and feel so well described in their books to each. We look forward to meeting you and making your stay a memorable one.
$159 / night
Murderer's Creek Guard Station is in the heart of the Malheur National Forest, in central Oregon. It makes an excellent base camp for back country recreating, and is a cozy retreat for a couple and a fun opportunity to imagine the life of the early day forest rangers. The historic guard station is one of the oldest standing buildings in the forest. The cabin contains some modern amenities and can be accessed by vehicle. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Viewing wildlife and birds is popular in the area, as is hunting not far from the facility. Guests can hike area trails, explore the Cedar Grove Botanical Area and fish Murderer's Creek and South Fork John Day, though area creeks run dry toward summer's end.
The guard station is located approximately 32 miles from the town of John Day. It sits at an elevation of about 5,000 feet. The facility was built in 1913 and was originally used as a fire guard station. It was in use by Forest Service officials until the late 1990s. Murderer's Creek, a small creek that runs east and west along the southern base of Aldrich Mountain, is nearby the cabin. The guard station is surrounded by open meadows and timbered areas of ponderosa pine and mixed conifer. Abundant wildflowers dot the Cedar Grove Botanical Area, a 26-acre cedar grove on the northeast slope of Aldrich Mountain. The area is known for its wild horses, which coexist with mule deer, elk, antelope, bighorn sheep, bear, cougar, and myriad smaller forest animals.
For facility specific information, please call (541) 575-3000.
$50 / night
Deer Creek Guard Station is located approximately 31 miles from the town of John Day, in central Oregon. It is in a beautiful, quiet location, off the beaten path. From sunup to sundown, the cabin affords opportunities for adventure in exploring, viewing wildlife, or just relaxing and enjoying the wonders of nature all around. The cabin is larger than some, is furnished and offers many comforts. It can be accessed by vehicle. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Big game hunting is popular in the area, as well as fishing on Deer Creek and South Fork John Day River. Anglers might watch for,Mid-Columbia River Steelhead and redband trout, among others in the area. Guests can also enjoy hiking and horseback riding on a variety of trails in the area.
The three-room cabin was built in 1956 and was originally used as a work station by fireguards. Before satellite surveillance systems, fireguards were the smoke chasers who rushed to sites of reported smoke and tried to extinguish the flames. Douglas fir and ponderosa pine trees dot the broad, flat expanse surrounding the cabin, which sits at an elevation of 5,100 feet. Deer Creek runs through the area nearby. In the spring and summer, guests enjoy abundant wildflowers and wildlife in the area, including wild horses, elk, black bears, deer and wild turkeys and other species of birds.
For facility specific information, please call (541) 575-3000.
$60 / night
A Country Inn and RV Park in a beautiful park - like setting.
Come experience the small western-style town of DAYVILLE, The eastern gate to the John Day Fossil Beds!
Located just nine miles from the Sheep Rock Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument and the new Thomas Condon Paleontology Center, the Fish House Inn offers unique guest rooms, and an immaculate RV park.
An oasis in the rocky juniper canyons of the John Day Valley, the well manicured grounds of the Fish House Inn are an inviting sight. Within walking distance from the Inn, is the John Day River, The Park with playground, The Dayville Cafe, Mercantile and South Fork Mini Market & Gas. Interesting surrounding terrain attracts hunters, fisherman, hikers, bikers and rock hounds. Visitors to the John Day Valley enjoy river floats on the John Day river, exploring the many trails of the fossil beds, touring down the scenic road along the South Fork of the John Day River. Comfortable outside sitting areas, barbecue grills, horseshoe pits and star filled skies entice visitors to relax and enjoy the ranching community of Dayville.
A visit to Dayville is peaceful journey back in time....
$25 - $150 / night
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.
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.
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.
$60 / night
Fall Mountain Lookout Tower is situated about 20 miles from John Day, in central Oregon. It provides 360-degree views of the surrounding Strawberry Mountain Wildness, as well as the towns of Seneca and Mt. Vernon. The lookout offers access to a variety of recreational activities. In addition to sightseeing, visitors to the area enjoy hunting, hiking and viewing wildlife. The lookout can accommodate just two people and provides few amenities. It can be accessed by vehicle. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring many of their own supplies.
Recreational options include wildlife viewing, huckleberry picking, star gazing and hiking the area around the lookout. There is a multiple-use trailhead south of the tower, at Starr Springs. Designated hiking trails into the wilderness are located 30 minutes from the lookout tower by vehicle.
The tower was built in 1933 and sits at an elevation of 5,949 feet. Before satellite surveillance systems, lookout personnel monitored the forest from this 18-foot perch for signs of smoke, alerting fire guards when necessary. Today guests can watch the sun rise and set, spot wildlife from the catwalk and witness dramatic thunderstorms that traverse the territory during summer months.
The nearby Strawberry Mountain Wilderness area includes approximately 69,350 acres of land, including mountain peaks and several lakes, as well as the headwaters of Pine, Indian, Strawberry, Canyon, Bear, Lake, Wall, Roberts and Big Creek streams. A variety of wildlife, including elk, mule deer, antelope, black bear, cougar, bighorn sheep, ruffed and blue grouse, pileated woodpecker, sharp-shinned hawk, bald eagle, pine marten, mink and beaver. A varieties of bird and fish can be seen in the area.
For facility specific information, please call (541) 575-3000.
$40 / night
Traveler
The Cabin
Besides the pullout couch leaving a lot to be desired, this little guard station was wonderful. Perfect for two, this cabin comes with propane heat and powered appliances, so no need to sacrifice meal quality or comfort. We were here for Thanksgiving and it was great to be able to explore the Malheur National Forest during the crisp days, and come back to a warm cabin late in the afternoon. In the spring, I imagine you can fish the creek behind the cabin.
The Wildlife
If you hike a little off trail, there's plenty of wildlife to be seen. We ended up hiking to Horse Mountain (about 3.5 miles from the cabin), and saw wild horses early in the morning. We also saw mule deer and turkeys. Maybe it is because it was November, but there were very few people out exploring the area.
The Terrain
The forest was super easy to move through, and if you're driving from western Oregon, the terrain is quite an amazingly unique site given its golden hills and red rocks. All in all, I highly recommend staying here for a nature filled getaway.
Ranger
This is a great place to come to getaway from the fast pace life. They have really cool cabins here at Hilltop Hideaway that are great! The cabins, however, are not very big. The max occupancy is 4 people. We had 4 people and I would say it did feel crowded but we managed. They only have 1 room, but there are bunk beds. There is a kitchen with fridge which is also nice. There is also an oven and microwave which made making food easy! The living room is cute, very "cabin" like feel. There was a couch and some chairs. We also brought a few folding chairs, which helped with more seating. The cabin also is equipped with a bathroom, running water, and shower. This piece was nice after a long day of exploring and getting dirty! Just FYI- and it does say this on their site- but there is no running water the months of October-May. We didn't have any issues with this because we went in June. Outside the cabin they do have a picnic table and grill, for those who want to do more outside cooking and activities. We BBQ one night, and it was a lot of fun! Another great thing about these cabins are dogs are welcomed. We brought our lab, and he had a blast! We enjoyed outdoor activities nearby- hiking, mainly. This place was great, however my only complaint would be the size of cabin (4 max), but it is obviously more room than a tent :)
Ranger
Once Union Creek was ran by a family and had a great restaurant called Beckie’s, Union creek resort, cabins, sledding area… but now has been bought out by bigger businesses and it’s changed. It’s a good campground in one of the prettiest forests around Oregon in my opinion but it doesn’t feel the way it once did.
ScoutSmall Gaurd station but its all you need. It makes for a treat central point for camping or RV, but no beds in side cabin. We have slept on the floor but the tard is perfect for a tent or 3. The area is beautiful but the creek is so very tiny and back behind the cabin. It has a vault toilet that was very clean but we may have been lucky since it is not cleaned between guests. You can take a unpaved road to Dayville and the creek the runs alongside the road has lots of crawdads and is refreshing.
Guide
I'm a team member at The Dyrt kicking off the review section with some info from the campground's website.
Victorian Lane Bed & Breakfast offers guests a rural setting in the form of a 5 bedroom single family country style home that resides on about 12 and a half acres.
They are nestled in the heart of the Eastern Oregon countryside - perfectly located for a secluded getaway!
Ranger
Touring through Oregon with my buddy on motorcycles, we had finished a great day of riding. Wanting to use his Oregon State Park benefits, we pulled into this spot. Although rather full, we found a great spot at the end of the ‘second loop’. Flat grass & plenty of room to pitch our tents far apart (he snores), gave me a great night’s sleep. Stunning sunset & lake views were gorgeous. Restroom & showers were clean!!
LegendMay 17-26, 2019 Very nice campground. Site C6 walk-up site had electric and water. Park has dump station, Restrooms had flush toilets but no hot water and no showers. Elevation 4,097. Verizon had 2 bars 4G. Address: 17564 Sumpter Stage Highway, Baker City Oregon 97814. Hike 16 mile trail around the lake. Legally sale cannibus in Sumpter - 10 miles from the park. Enjoyed D&J Taco Shop restaurant downtown. No sales tax in Oregon.
GuideNote this is NOT the southern Oregon campground near the Rogue, this is on Phillips Reservoir lake in eastern Oregon. Nice campground, some sites with hookups. Sites are nicely spaced and private enough, and the basic facilities are clean. Nice atmosphere. Minimal cell service on Verizon. I'm giving 4 stars ONLY because with the current drought the reservoir itself was unusable, which was the main attraction for us picking it in the first place, but not a fault of the campground itself.
RangerCamped here on a bike trip (as with many of my other adventures). Not very dense in the green department. This was a nice departure from the campgrounds in the Oregon Cascades. A little more arid and desert-y. Some raccoons got into our panniers, though!
Smoky Bear greets you at the entrance. Don't forget to say Hi!
Guide
We visited during Oregon’s “high” season, so by the time we booked, only back in spots were available for our big rig. Okay stay, just not impressed with amenities for price and that park has sappy trees over spaces.
Pros:
Cons:
Our back in spot was under trees that drip sap. We have sap on our rig and our tow. The rules allowed you to wash your windshield, but you could only use water in a bucket - no spraying with a hose. First time we have ever had to wash our windshield before leaving a park.
Sites, despite an apparently fresh dump/spread of gravel, were not as level as site managers seemed to think. Back of the back in space sloped just enough to cause issues.
GuideOur truck broke down just outside of Burns and we ended up having our travel trailer towed to this RV park, as it was the only place we could stay for the week while waiting to get our truck repaired. We had a full hookup spot, which was super nice, but the spot itself was pretty small. This is typical of many RV parks I have been too - good amenities but small spot.
There were some other spots in the park that were slightly larger and had picnic tables, but ours did not. We had only a tiny plastic table with 2 chairs, but we were so close to the RV next to us that we were basically either looking in their window or we would have to be right next to the "road'. Not ideal so we didn't spend much time outside.
There was room here for all sizes of campers - from tents (I saw I guy on a bicycle who tent camped for the night) to giant motorhomes with cars towed behind. The park hosts were all extremely nice and helpful, given our circumstances. They also gave us a military discount since my husband is a veteran.
Restrooms and showers were fairly small (only 2 toilets and 2 showers in each bathroom) but I think most folks used the facilities in their RVs. The shop/office sells propane and ice, so we were able to restock on both (plus they have wine and ice cream if you need a little splurge).
The park is right off of the highway so you may get some truck/traffic noise but it didn't seem to bother us city folks too much. :)
Wifi was fairly decent and you can get some local channels in the TV, if those things are important to you.
Dog and kid friendly, but there is really not much for either to do here.
Overall, this suited our purpose, in that we had a nice safe place to stay while our truck was repaired, but I'm not sure I would stay here just for kicks. Close to the Malheur Wildlife Refuge and a great stopover if you need a night to rest while driving through the high desert of Oregon.
Guide
We loved this hidden gem of a campground. We’ll definitely be back. Even with a weboost, cellular was poor. However, with the WeBoost, we could text and call. We don’t have a starlink system, but we did see others using it. Good view of the sky for it.
RangerWife and I stayed here in June 2019, and loved it. The building is quaint with gaslights, and gas fireplace. The fold out bed is old and worn out. I recommend putting an air mattress or at least sleeping pads on it.
There's a big refrigerator and gas stove in the kitchen, along with some pots and pans for cooking. But NO running water for drinking or cooking. so bring plenty of water.
There's a nice vault toilet outside the guard station. The outhouse is much newer than the guard station and kinda looks like a public toilet in the woods. But it's within the fenced boundary of the guard station.
Right in the middle of the Malheur Forest, this would be a great place to stay for deer/elk hunting season.
Fishing is good if you go over to the John Day river.
We saw Pronghorn in the Silvies Valley heading to the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. I had to see the place that the standoff with the Feds took place.
GuideWe stopped at Unity Lake SPCG after pulling off I84 onto 26W, OR. The drive is spectacular and beautiful, the SP serene! CG was very clean, not crowded and mostly empty. Has paved sites, room between neighbors, elec hookup and water for our RV, and there’s a dump station, A full cell signal too. As close to being off the grid as one can be, (without actually being off). Will be back! Be sure to gas up beforehand, no services on this scenic drive.
TravelerNice little camp ground right on the unity lake reservoir. Camp was quite, people were friendly. Showers were free. Bring lots of bug spray, they were everywhere.
TravelerWe camped right next to lake. We didn’t have any neighbors which was amazing, many spots available. Enjoyed a beautiful sunset while sitting around campfires. Apart from a few mosquitoes… it was a perfect spot to camp. Great showers! Clean bathrooms!
GuideHosts were very friendly and the location was peaceful. Sunsets were beautiful but we stayed during a very hot week and the lack of shade made it very difficult to stay cool.
Trees were very small and didn’t provide much shade. In about 5 years it may be a better place to camp.
Lake water was extremely filthy. Kids swam and had a good time in the cool water but the water was gross.
GuideWe stayed one night as a stopover on a walkabout. The hosts were friendly and helpful. Clean restrooms and showers. 2/3 of the sites have a view of the lake. The wind often comes up in the afternoon and is there until after sunset, but the fishing looked great. Another camper offered us freshly caught trout as they had too much for their group. Lots of grass.
Traveler
Clean, well maintained, cooking supplies provided, heated house with fridge. Outhouse was clean. Recommended bring you own light, the lanterns did not provide a lot of light and your own blanket for the beds.
GuideSuper clean. Great camp host and only $17 with my National Park Pass. Full hookups
ScoutCampground has water & power at sites in Loop B & C. Loop A also has sewer hookups. Lake was very low due to drought conditions. RV dump.
ScoutNice clean campground. Sites are spaced apart, so pretty private. Lots of hiking trails along creek and the rogue river. Cafe and store near by.
LegendThis is a large busy Campground it fills up quickly in the summer. It's on a nice Blake however the lake levels can vary radically. There is a RV dump station here for a small fee. $5 when we were there. Boat ramp nearby. Shoreline access can multiple locations
GuideNice spots, with a lot of space between sites. Camp host are very nice and friendly. Water in the lake is way down, lowest it has been in 50+ years. Water and electric price, $27.
ScoutSites are not close together, facilities were clean and camp hosts super nice!
LegendFor us this was an overnight to have water and dump capability after nights without. It was a very pretty campground in the trees. The water level was VERY low in Sept 2020. We were able to get in some good walking. Clean campground, nice hosts, lovely area, except for the lake. We'd stay again if in the area.
GuideWe’ve been here a couple of times with trailers and about 10 other families. Their groups sites are next to each other and allow big groups to stay together.
Cabin camping near Malheur National Forest offers a unique blend of rustic charm and natural beauty, perfect for those looking to escape into the wilderness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Malheur National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Malheur National Forest is Union Creek Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 28 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Malheur National Forest?
TheDyrt.com has all 16 cabin camping locations near Malheur National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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