Hilltop Hideaway - Umatilla Nf (Or)

Summary

Hilltop Hideaway is a 1930s era cabin located in the Fremont Powerhouse complex, surrounded by the Umatilla National Forest near the North Fork John Day Wilderness. Guests can relax in the outdoors, enjoy the nearby trails, Blue Mountain Scenic Byway, Olive Lake and the nearby ghost town of Granite. The cabin offers a bedroom and full bathroom, kitchen and living room, electric lights and heat, and is fully furnished.

Overview

Hilltop Hideaway is a 1930's era cabin that allows guests to relax in the outdoors and step back in time to the bygone gold mining days. Hilltop Hideaway is part of the Fremont Powerhouse complex, a hub for mining built in the early 1900s. It is one of four cabins located at the site near the town of Granite, and provides great flexibility for larger groups. The surrounding valleys once teemed with mining activity, primarily gold. The Fremont Powerhouse was built as an economical power source for mining. Two dams were constructed at Olive Lake and the water was piped through an 8-mile wood and steel pipeline to the powerhouse to generate electricity. Homes were constructed to shelter workers who monitored the pipeline. Today, these same homes are available for the public to enjoy. Hilltop Hideaway is the cabin farthest uphill from the Fremont Powerhouse. Winter access may require skis, snowshoes or snowmobiles. Click here for a virtual tour of the area.

Recreation

Guests can hike on trails into the North Fork John Day Wilderness or go mountain biking on forest roads. A drive along the Blue Mountain Scenic Byway is a treat, as are other activities like huckleberry and mushroom picking, bird watching, wildlife viewing and photographing the vast landscape. Nearby Olive Lake offers boating, fishing and swimming.

Facilities

This cozy little cabin features one bedroom with a queen over queen bunkbed, a full bath with hot and cold running water (during the summer months only), a kitchen, and a living room. The cabin has electric lights throughout and is heated with electric heaters. The cabin sleeps up to four and is fully furnished with beds, a couch, and a table with chairs. The kitchen is equipped with an electric stove and oven, refrigerator, microwave and a variety of utensils, such as pots/skillets, a coffee pot, toaster, dishes and silverware. Cleaning supplies are also provided. Guests must bring sleeping bags or bedding, a flashlight, first aid kit, washcloths, towels and dish soap, among other general camping supplies. Click here for more cabin details.

Natural Features

The cabin sits at an elevation of about 5,000 feet, on a hillside overlooking the expansive Umatilla National Forest near the North Fork John Day Wilderness. A grassy lawn in front leads to the other three cabins in the area. The forest lies in the Blue Mountains and is home to Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir. Birds in the area include the black-backed woodpecker, American kestrel and the Boreal owl. Black bear, cougar, wolves, elk and deer are among the native land mammals. Click here to learn about bear safety.

Nearby Attractions

The cabin is located less than 6 miles from Granite, Oregon, a ghost town that once bustled with prospectors and pioneers. The town provides groceries and fuel.