Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab

Umatilla National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: HEPPNER, OR, OR

Price: From $50 per night

Rating: 4 out of 5 (18 reviews)

Season: May through October

Ditch Creek Guard Station, located about 27 miles southeast of Heppner, Oregon, is a comfortable little cabin that accommodates six overnight guests, with additional space for tent camping outside. Equestrian campers are welcome and a corral with trough is provided. The guard station was originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the mid-1930s.

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

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Drinking Water, Fishing

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

Historic 1930s CCC-built cabin accommodating six guests with tent camping available, located 27 miles southeast of Heppner with fishing, hiking, and horseback riding opportunities. Campers praise it as a cozy, comfortable retreat for small groups.

Wildlife alert: Northern Pygmy-Owl, American Robin, Mountain Bluebird, and Turkey Vulture documented in the area

Insider tips for Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab: Book early — this is a federal campground with only 1 site and high demand Expect no running water; the facility will email 2 weeks before reservation to confirm water status Equestrian campers welcome with corral and trough provided

Skip Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab if: You need hookups — no hookups available. You require counterspace in the cabin — reviewers report minimal counter space. You're visiting outside May-October — seasonal operations only.

Best time to visit Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab: May-October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only.

Nearby campgrounds: Bull Prairie Campground (Or) (Heppner, OR), Tamarack Cabin (HEPPNER, OR), John Day River Basin Developed Campgrounds (Prineville, OR), Lower Camp Creek Campground (John Day, OR).

Cell Phone Coverage at Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab

Cell signal at Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab (HEPPNER, 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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Umatilla National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab

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HEPPNER, OR, OR★ 4 (18 reviews)From $50/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Ditch Creek Guard Station, located about 27 miles southeast of Heppner, Oregon, is a comfortable little cabin that accommodates six overnight guests, with additional space for tent camping outside. Equestrian campers are welcome and a corral with trough is provided. The guard station was originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the mid-1930s.

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.
ToiletsFlush toilets
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsFishing
Recreation
Picnic Tables
Family & Pets
Drinking Water

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 hookups — no hookups available✕ You require counterspace in the cabin — reviewers report minimal counter space✕ You're visiting outside May-October — seasonal operations only

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground with only 1 site and high demand

Expect no running water; the facility will email 2 weeks before reservation to confirm water status

Equestrian campers welcome with corral and trough provided

Best: May-October

Campground operates seasonally during these months only

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: Northern Pygmy-Owl, American Robin, Mountain Bluebird, and Turkey Vulture documented in the area

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
541-676-9187· Umatilla National Forest
Getting there →

From Lexington, OR, take Highway 74/207 east to Heppner. At the junction just outside the southern edge of Heppner, take a left (east) on paved Willow Creek Road. Travel 23 miles past Willow Creek Lake, Cutsforth County Park and up Coalmine Hill. At the top of the hill, take a right (west) on Forest Service Road 21 (a gravel road) and travel 3.5 miles. The cabin is located on a hill on the north side of the road and is accessed by two short entrance roads (Forest Service Road 050 and 051).

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 — Umatilla National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Umatilla National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab cost per night?+
Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab costs $50 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab open?+
Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab?+
Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab?+
Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab 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 Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab open, and what are check-in times?+
Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
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●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.

$50 /night★ 4 (18)
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 Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab cost per night?+
What season is Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab open?+
Does Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Bull Prairie Campground (Or)

Heppner, OR

From $14/night

Tamarack Cabin

HEPPNER, OR

From $40/night

John Day River Basin Developed Campgrounds

Prineville, OR

From $5/night

Lower Camp Creek Campground

John Day, OR

From $6/night

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