Deer Creek Guard Station Cabin

Malheur National Forest — riverside, fishing, hiking

Location: John Day , OR, OR

Price: From $60 per night

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (28 reviews)

Season: May through October

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.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Fishing, Firewood for Sale

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/deer-creek-guard-station-cabin to be notified when sites open up.

Deer Creek Guard Station is a spacious, furnished cabin in a quiet, off-the-beaten-path location approximately 31 miles south of John Day, offering opportunities for fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing, and relaxation on Malheur National Forest. Real campers praise it as a rustic getaway that stays warm and works well for family trips.

Wildlife alert: Mountain Lion, Bighorn Sheep, Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, and Northern Rubber Boa have been documented within 8km. Dusky Grouse and Yellow-rumped Warbler also present.

Insider tips for Deer Creek Guard Station Cabin: Bring your own water — it is not provided at the cabin Book early — this is a popular federal campground with only 1 site Propane powers heating, cooking, and lights; bring familiarity with propane systems or plan accordingly

Skip Deer Creek Guard Station Cabin if: You need RV hookups — none available. You require potable water on-site. You prefer high-traffic, developed campgrounds.

Best time to visit Deer Creek Guard Station Cabin: May-October — Official operating season for the campground.

Nearby campgrounds: Murderers Creek Guard Station (John Day, OR), Fall Mountain Lookout Cabin (John Day, OR), Starr Campground (John Day, OR), Wickiup Campground (John Day , OR).

Cell Phone Coverage at Deer Creek Guard Station Cabin

Cell signal at Deer Creek Guard Station Cabin (John Day , OR): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

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Malheur National Forest — riverside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Deer Creek Guard Station Cabin

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John Day , OR, OR★ 4.5 (28 reviews)From $60/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

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.

Best for:AnglersHikersWildlife watchersFamiliesSites:Tent
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
HookupsNo hookups.
ADA sites1 sites
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsFishing
Recreation
Picnic TablesFirewood for Sale
Family & Pets
Vault Toilets

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need RV hookups — none available✕ You require potable water on-site✕ You prefer high-traffic, developed campgrounds

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Bring your own water

it is not provided at the cabin

Book early

this is a popular federal campground with only 1 site

Propane powers heating, cooking, and lights; bring familiarity with propane systems or plan accordingly

Best: May-October

Official operating season for the campground

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Mountain Lion, Bighorn Sheep, Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, and Northern Rubber Boa have been documented within 8km. Dusky Grouse and Yellow-rumped Warbler also present.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
541-820-3800· Malheur National Forest
Getting there →

From John Day, OR., travel south on Highway 395 approximately 17 miles to County Road 63 (Izee Highway). Turn right and take County Road 63 to the junction of Forest Service Road 24. Turn right and take Forest Road 24 approximately 10 miles. Turn left onto Forest Service Road 514. Travel about 1/4 mile staying to your right until you reach the locked gate that allows entry to the facility grounds.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Malheur National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Malheur National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
  • Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Deer Creek Guard Station Cabin cost per night?+
Deer Creek Guard Station Cabin costs $60 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Deer Creek Guard Station Cabin open?+
Deer Creek Guard Station Cabin is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Deer Creek Guard Station Cabin have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Deer Creek Guard Station Cabin?+
Deer Creek Guard Station Cabin is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Deer Creek Guard Station Cabin?+
Deer Creek Guard Station Cabin is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Deer Creek Guard Station Cabin?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Deer Creek Guard Station Cabin is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Deer Creek Guard Station Cabin open, and what are check-in times?+
Deer Creek Guard Station Cabin is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$60 /night★ 4.5 (28)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Deer Creek Guard Station Cabin cost per night?+
What season is Deer Creek Guard Station Cabin open?+
Does Deer Creek Guard Station Cabin have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Murderers Creek Guard Station

John Day, OR

From $50/night

Fall Mountain Lookout Cabin

John Day, OR

From $40/night

Starr Campground

John Day, OR

From $6/night

Wickiup Campground

John Day , OR

From $6/night

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