Murderers Creek Guard Station
Malheur National Forest — fishing, hiking
Location: John Day, OR, OR
Price: From $50 per night
Rating: 4.2 out of 5 (29 reviews)
Season: May through October
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.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: AT&T.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/murderers-creek-guard-station to be notified when sites open up.
Historic guard station in the heart of Malheur National Forest offering a unique retreat with modern amenities like gas-powered refrigerator and stove. Excellent base camp for backcountry recreation with beautiful night skies and abundant wildlife viewing opportunities.
Wildlife alert: Northern Pacific Rattlesnake and Northern Rubber Boa present in area; also American Beaver, Columbian Ground Squirrel, Calliope Hummingbird, and Canada Jay.
Insider tips for Murderers Creek Guard Station: Book early as this is a federal campground with only 1 site The cabin includes gas heat stove and gas-powered refrigerator Small creek behind cabin offers fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities
Skip Murderers Creek Guard Station if: You need hookups - no hookups available. You require large group accommodations - only 1 tent site available. You need year-round access - seasonal May through October only.
Best time to visit Murderers Creek Guard Station: May-October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only.
Nearby campgrounds: Deer Creek Guard Station Cabin (John Day , OR), Fall Mountain Lookout Cabin (John Day, OR), Starr Campground (John Day, OR), Wickiup Campground (John Day , OR).
Cell Phone Coverage at Murderers Creek Guard Station
Cell signal at Murderers Creek Guard Station (John Day, OR): weak overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: AT&T.
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
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.
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.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early as this is a federal campground with only 1 site
The cabin includes gas heat stove and gas-powered refrigerator
Small creek behind cabin offers fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities
Campground operates seasonally during these months only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: AT&T.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Burns, travel North on Highway 395 approximately 55 miles to County Road 63. Turn left on County Road 63 to the junction of Forest Service Road 21. Take a right onto Forest Service Road 21 and travel approximately 16 miles to the guard station. From John Day, OR., travel approximately 18 miles west on US Highway 26 to the junction with Forest Road 21. Turn south (left) on Forest Road 21, travel 12 miles to the guard station.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#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, speakableHow much does Murderers Creek Guard Station cost per night?+
What season is Murderers Creek Guard Station open?+
Does Murderers Creek Guard Station have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Murderers Creek Guard Station?+
How do I make reservations at Murderers Creek Guard Station?+
What is the cell service like at Murderers Creek Guard Station?+
What season is Murderers Creek Guard Station open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
Nearby Campgrounds
Own a campground nearby?
List free on CamperWatch — we take 5% only on bookings we send. No monthly fee.