The Malheur National Forest near Seneca, Oregon features several rustic cabin rentals at elevations ranging from 4,500 to 7,000 feet. This high desert region experiences dramatic temperature swings with summer days reaching 85°F and nights dropping to the 40s. The camping cabins near Seneca, Oregon operate primarily during snow-free seasons from late spring through fall.
What to do
Wildlife viewing near Murderers Creek: The surrounding forest provides habitat for wild horses, mule deer and turkeys. "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," notes a visitor at Murderers Creek Guard Station.
Fishing opportunities: The John Day River offers fishing access within driving distance of most cabins. Crawfish can be found in streams throughout the area. "You can take a unpaved road to Dayville and the creek the runs alongside the road has lots of crawdads and is refreshing," reports one camper who stayed at Murderers Creek Guard Station.
Explore fossil beds: The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument makes an excellent day trip from cabin rentals in the area. "Close to John Day and the Sheep Rock Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds," notes a camper who stayed at Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site.
What campers like
Rustic heating systems: The gas amenities in many cabins provide comfort during cold mountain nights. "The building is quaint with gaslights, and gas fireplace," according to a Murderers Creek visitor. This system allows for comfortable stays during cooler seasons when temperatures drop significantly.
Outdoor space: Some cabins include yard areas perfect for additional tent camping. "The yard is perfect for a tent or 3," notes a visitor to Murderers Creek Guard Station.
Clean facilities: Rental cabins near Seneca typically maintain well-kept facilities. "Clean, well maintained, cooking supplies provided, heated house with fridge. Outhouse was clean," reports a visitor who stayed at Deer Creek Guard Station Cabin.
What you should know
Bed comfort varies: Many cabin sleeping arrangements require supplemental bedding for comfort. "Recommended bring you own light, the lanterns did not provide a lot of light and your own blanket for the beds," advises a visitor to Deer Creek Guard Station Cabin.
Water availability: Water access differs significantly between cabins in the Seneca area. Some have no water at all while others include basic facilities. As one visitor to Burns RV Park notes, "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."
Hunting season popularity: The remote cabins serve as excellent base camps during hunting season. "Right in the middle of the Malheur Forest, this would be a great place to stay for deer/elk hunting season," mentions a visitor to Murderers Creek.
Tips for camping with families
Pack extra lighting: The limited lighting in forest service cabins requires supplemental options. "Small Gaurd station but its all you need. It makes for a treat central point for camping or RV, but no beds in side cabin," explains a Murderers Creek visitor.
Nature trails for kids: Some locations offer child-friendly outdoor exploration. "There's a nice walking path next to a creek that some children were playing in," reports a visitor to Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site.
Consider noise factors: Highway proximity affects some camping locations. "We had the site just behind the information kiosk / pay booth, which was perfectly fine for a night, but as it was nearer the main road, I noticed the sound of traffic more than I might have had we gotten a river site," explains a camper from Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site.
Tips from RVers
Mixed RV accessibility: While some rental cabins accommodate RVs on property, others have limited space. "The sites are big enough for both rig and vehicle. Long side of the campground is the John Day River with a nice little nature path," reports a camper at Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site.
Seasonal preparation: Weather conditions vary dramatically in this high desert region. "The weather: Days sunny low 80's nights upper 50's," notes a visitor who stayed at Fish House Inn and RV Campground, showing the need to prepare for temperature fluctuations.
Check site leveling: Some RV spots require adjustment for comfort. "Sites, despite an apparently fresh dump/spread of gravel, were not as level as site managers seemed to think," warns a visitor to Burns RV Park who encountered difficulties at their site.
