Hilltop Hideaway

Open — Open year-round for reservations at $55 per night. Winter access may require snowmobiles as FSR 10 is only plowed from County Road 24 to the Powerhouse. Water and indoor plumbing are available June through September only; visitors must bring water October through May.

About

Hilltop Hideaway is a 1930s era cabin that allows guests to step back in time to the bygone gold mining days at the historic Fremont Powerhouse complex. Built to shelter workers who monitored the eight-mile pipeline from Olive Lake to the powerhouse, the cabin is now one of four rental cabins at the site, providing flexibility for larger groups including weddings and family reunions. The cabin sits at approximately 5,000 feet elevation on a hillside overlooking the expansive Umatilla National Forest near the North Fork John Day Wilderness. It features one bedroom with a queen-over-queen bunkbed, a parlor with seating, a full kitchen with refrigerator, electric stove/oven, microwave, and all cookware and dishes. During summer months (June through September), the cabin has running water, hot water, and a full bathroom with tub/shower and flush toilet. From October through May, there is no water or indoor plumbing, and visitors must bring their own water and use the nearby outhouse. The cabin has electric lights, an oil heating stove, and outdoor amenities including a briquette grill and picnic table. The surrounding area once teemed with gold and silver mining activity. The Fremont Powerhouse, constructed in 1908, generated electricity for local mines for 59 years before being donated to the Forest Service in 1968. The entire site and pipeline are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Today, visitors can hike trails into the North Fork John Day Wilderness, mountain bike on forest roads, drive the Blue Mountain Scenic Byway, or enjoy activities like huckleberry picking, wildlife viewing, and fishing at nearby Olive Lake. The historic town of Granite, just 6 miles away, provides groceries and fuel.

Directions

From Baker City, travel west on Highway 7 for 20 miles to the junction with FSR 73. Proceed north through Sumpter and another 17 miles to Granite. From Granite go west on County Road 24 for approximately 6 miles. At the junction where the main road veers left along the creek bed, turn right uphill on FSR 10 and follow signs to the Fremont Powerhouse. FSR 10 is plowed in winter only from County Road 24 to the Powerhouse. From Pendleton, travel south on Highway 395 for 50 miles to Ukiah exit, turn left on Highway 244 to Ukiah, turn right south on FSR 52 and travel 50 miles to Granite. FSR 52 is closed in winter by snow, making Baker City route the only winter access.

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