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.
The cabin contains some modern amenities and can be accessed by vehicle. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Seasonal information
2026
(Current year)
2026 Season availability
Current season
Operating hours and availability for the current season.
Upcoming seasons
Planned operating dates for future seasons to help you plan ahead.
Past seasons
Historical operating dates from previous years for reference.
Closed periods
View dates when this campground is temporarily closed during the season.
Murderers Creek Guard Station is a charming and well-maintained cabin, perfect for a weekend getaway surrounded by natural beauty. Guests appreciate the comfortable accommodations, including a refrigerator/freezer, and enjoy the tranquility of the nearby creek and wildlife. While some visitors experienced minor issues like difficult directions and limited kitchen supplies, the overall experience is positive, highlighting the cabin's cozy atmosphere and scenic location.
All as listed. Stove was cozy warm and easy to get started. Everything was clean and tidy. Bed was sufficient. Recommend extra lantern, the lights were not very bright. People were stopping to use the outhouse that's on the property through the day.
Nice (but small) cabin located on a paved road. Area around cabin is worth investigating during morning/evening hikes (a wire gate about 100 yds west of the cabin allows access to the area across the road). I especially enjoyed the hike up to Fields Peak (though the road to the trailhead is rough). The Cedar Grove Natl Scenic Trail is also worth a hike to an interesting cedar grove.
We loved our stay here. Very secluded and we really enjoyed the large yard and fire pit for cooking. The fold out bed is really uncomfortable and I would bring a pad if I went again. When we arrived, there were a few signs of mouse droppings that were easy to clean up, and no mice luckily. The surrounding area is beautiful and fun to explore on the forest roads. We tried to spot wild horses, but failed, although we could see signs they had been near. I think early morning or dusk is a better time to see them. We hiked in nearby cedar grove botanical area, which was a beautiful hike and we were the only ones on the trail. We also drove over the the John Day Fossil Beds for hiking, which was a bit farther but definitely worth it.
Cute little cabin! We parked our RV's on either side of the cabin and used the grassy area and picnic table next to the cabin. If you are sleeping in the cabin, note it has a pull out couch - bring a mattress pad. The refrigerator in the cabin works great and it has a freezer. The outhouse is very clean. Road is paved the whole way which was a nice surprise and no dust (other roads in the area are dirt though).
Located in a nice area with some interesting hiking areas nearby. Fields Peak is a good hike (did that last year) this year drove an hour over to Seneca and did the Strawberry Mountain hike.
The bedding is absolutely horrendous. It is a very old old unclean sofa sleeper. The mattress is uneven, worn and lumpy. Bring your own bedding like cots or something. The kitchen area had multiple areas with rodent droppings. This place good shelter, but in the rough side.
Awesome location!! Considering how accessible the cabin is, it is amazingly quiet! The property/stove/fridge/fireplace are amazing!! Please stop complaining about the quality of the bed. If you know anything about government spending, the new futon will cost $2K and we will all end up paying for it for years! The bed isn't bad at all. If you're picky, bring an inflatable!
LOVED this little cabin. Most reviews I saw of it mentioned that the bed was old. The futon was replaced on 6/4, so was brand new when I got there.
Now, the bad part of the experience: the code emailed to me for the lock, twice, was wrong. Since there's no cell service anywhere near the cabin, I was unable to access my reservation, and ended up having to sleep in the driver seat of my vehicle the first night. The next morning, I drove to John Day, where I finally was able to get a connection, check this site, and see that my code was off by one digit. Once I was in the cabin, I saw from the guest book that others had the same problem. So, don't trust the number they email, check your reservation on the site.
Otherwise, it it as advertised, a cute little rustic cabin, suitable for one person or a couple. Easy to get to, and very private. I was glad I had got in the cabin on the 2nd night there, when I heard wolves howling at dusk. I didn't hear or see any other large wildlife, and didn't get to explore the trails much due to being tired from spending the night in my vehicle.
Helpful
Location & Directions for Murderers Creek Guard Station
431 Patterson Bridge Rd, John Day, OR 97845 United States
Murderers Creek Guard Station is accessible via Oregon State Highway 395, which is located approximately 20 miles to the west.
Policies & Rules
General
There is no water at the guard station; guests must bring their own water for drinking, cooking and cleaning
Bears may frequent the area; use appropriate containers for food and garbage (learn more about bear safety)
The cabin remains locked; a combination code will be contained in the reservation confirmation letter
Guests should contact the Ranger Station before arrival to confirm that road closures or weather conditions won't affect a visit
Learn more about the Malheur National Forest here
Don't Move Firewood: Please protect Pacific Northwest forests by preventing the spread of invasive species. Firewood can carry insects and diseases that can threaten the health of our western forests. You can make a difference by obtaining and burning your firewood near your camping destination. Visit Dontmovefirewood.org for further information.
Murderer's Creek Guard Station is in a remote forest location with no mobile phone coverage