Fry Meadows Guard Station

Summary

Fry Meadows Guard Station, located near Elgin, Oregon, provides access to the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness and Grande Ronde Wild and Scenic River. Visitors can enjoy hiking, horseback riding, hunting, berry and mushroom picking, and fishing. The two-room cabin provides sleeping accommodations for up to six people, with a vault toilet located a short distance away. Wildlife such as elk, deer, hawks and a variety of birds can be spotted in the area.

Overview

Fry Meadows Guard Station offers the peaceful solitude of a remote nature-lover's paradise just south of the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness and west of the Grande Ronde Wild and Scenic River. The surrounding area is steeped with native history and culture as it was once home to the Nez Perce, Umatilla, Walla Walla and Cayuse Indians. This site was originally established as a ranger station before 1908, part of the former Wenaha National Forest. The existing cabin was constructed in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps and was used as a remote guard station until about 1980. The two-room cabin provides a pleasant escape for up to six guests. Additional guests may pitch a tent in the yard. Pets are welcome but must be leashed and outside

Recreation

The Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness offers more than 200 miles of managed trails for hiking and horseback riding in summer. The Grande Ronde Wild and Scenic River offers float boating, salmon and steelhead fishing. Hunting is available nearby.

Seasonal mushroom and berry picking can also be enjoyed. Huckleberries, blackberries and morel mushrooms are among the edible picks.

Facilities

The cabin is a classic 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps two-room design. It is equipped with a propane cook stove, propane heater and propane lights. Furnishings include two full beds and two twin beds with mattresses, tables and chairs, limited cleaning supplies, cooking pots and utensils. A vault toilet is located a short distance from the cabin. The cabin has no water. Visitors must bring plenty for drinking, cooking and washing. Please bring sleeping bags or bedding, a flashlight, first aid kit, washcloths, towels and dish soap. Click here for more cabin details.

Natural Features

Tucked beneath the shady canopy of towering spruce and fir, the guard station sits at the edge of an expansive meadow of grasses and wildflowers, such as lupine, larkspur, monkey flower and orchid.

As the afternoon slides into evening, deer and elk come out to graze. Hawks perch in treetops or glide over the meadow, scanning the grass for field mice and other critters. In the morning, many varieties of birds, including flycatchers, hummingbirds, swallows, chickadees, creepers, wrens, kinglets, thrushes, sparrows, warblers, tanagers and finches, greet the day.

Nearby Attractions

This site is located about 25 miles northeast of Elgin, Oregon, which offers general stores and gas stations.