Short Creek Guard Station

About

Short Creek Guard Station is a historic Forest Service cabin available for overnight rental in Malheur National Forest, approximately 38 miles from John Day and 20 miles from Prairie City in eastern Oregon. The cabin sits in a quiet meadow corner surrounded by tall ponderosa pines at roughly 5,000 feet elevation, with Short Creek babbling alongside the property. The three-room cabin includes a kitchen/living room, a private bedroom with a queen bed, and a bathroom with flush toilet and shower (operational only during summer months when water is turned on). Propane powers the cook stove, refrigerator, lights, heater, and hot water heater. There is no electricity. Guests must bring their own bedding, sleeping bags, and linens. The large couch in the living room provides additional sleeping space. Outside amenities include a picnic table, two BBQ grills, and a fire pit under the trees. The cabin provides excellent access to hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing, and wildlife viewing in the nearby Monument Rock and Strawberry Mountain wilderness areas, as well as the North Fork Malheur Scenic River. Wildlife in the area includes elk, deer, antelope, black bears, bighorn sheep, and numerous bird species.

Directions

From Prairie City, OR, turn south onto South Main Street. Follow to the junction with Bridge Street and turn left. Continue past the cemetery where the road becomes County Road 62. Follow CR 62 approximately 7 miles to the junction with Forest Road 13. Turn left and follow FR 13 east approximately 16.5 miles. The guard station is on the right at the junction of FR 13 and FR 16.