Short Creek Guard Station

Show on map 541-820-3800 sm.fs.malpubinfo@usda.gov

SHORT CREEK GUARD STATION DISTRICT OFFICE: 327 SW FRONT ST., P.O. BOX 337 PRAIRIE CITY OR 97869
Prairie City, OR 97869

Notice

The water at our facility has been shutoff for the winter season. Please bring all the water you’ll need for your visit, including drinking water.

Oct 14, 2026 – Dec 1, 2026

Overview

Short Creek Guard Station is a great place to stay to enjoy the nearby Monument Rock and Strawberry Mountain wilderness areas, as well as the North Fork of the Malheur Scenic River. The cabin offers access to a variety of recreational activities, including hiking, hunting, fishing and viewing wildlife.

The cabin provides all the comforts of a home, including drinking water during the summer months. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.

Recreation

In the warmer months, popular activities include hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing and wildlife viewing around the cabin and in the nearby wilderness areas and the North Fork of the Malheur Scenic River.

There are moderate hiking trails near the cabin, and rugged hiking trails in the wilderness. The wilderness provides over a hundred miles of trails. The riparian habitat of the river lends itself to picnicking, fishing and observing all kinds of wildlife. The wilderness has many wildlife viewing opportunities as well.

Facilities

The kitchen is equipped with a propane cook stove, sink, propane refrigerator, propane lights and a propane heater that heats the entire facility. The small indoor bathroom provides a flush toilet and a shower during summer months only. Additionally, the building is equipped with a propane hot water heater, which provides hot water to the shower and sinks during the summer months only.

A picnic table, two BBQ grills and a fire pit are located next to the building, under the shade of nearby trees.

The cabin has one queen-sized bed in a private bedroom and a large couch in the living room. Guests will need to bring their own bedding (blankets, linens, pillows and/or sleeping bags), as well as flashlights or a lantern for emergencies, a first aid kit, towels, garbage bags and dish soap, among other necessities. The cabin will need to be cleaned and all garbage carried out prior to leaving.

No Pets allowed in the Guard Station.

Natural Features

The cabin is situated in a corner of a small meadow surrounded by tall ponderosa pines, at an elevation of about 5,000 feet. It is about 38 miles from the town of John Day, in eastern Oregon.

A babbling creek runs alongside the cabin and a variety of wildlife make its home in the area, including elk, deer, antelope, black bears, bighorn sheep, grouse, as well as many species of birds. Nearby, the Monument Rock and Strawberry Mountain wilderness areas, as well as the North Fork of the Malheur Scenic River, offer vast opportunities for exploration.

The Strawberry Mountain Wilderness has an extremely diverse ecological makeup, with five of the seven major life zones in North America and around 378 kinds of animals and approximately 22 fish species.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (541) 820-3800.

Camp site features

Across 1 camp site:

Fire pit: all 1 sites
Longest RV: 60 ft
Largest party: 3 people

Directions

From the town of Prairie City, OR., turn South (right) onto South Main Street. Follow South Main Street to the junction with Bridge Street, turn left onto Bridge Street. Follow Bridge Street past the local cemetery, the road then changes to County Road 62. Continue on County Road 62 approximately 7 miles to the junction with Forest Road 13. Turn left and follow Forest Road 13 East approximately 16.5 miles, the guard station will be on the right at the junction of Forest Road 13 and Forest Road 16.

Stay Limit

Check in from 4 PM, check out by 12 PM.

Reviews

17 reviews

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

Joseph M

Loop:Loop A

Site:

Reviewed a month ago

Stayed there for six days, refrigerator would not work unless you held the start button down. I called Prairie City and they had me call John Day. They sent a guy out right away. The hot water heater….well there was no hot water. Cold showers all week. There was not enough water pressure to ignite the tankless water heater, the note posted in the kitchen and bath say there is a problem with tree roots or whatever. Other than that it’s warm, clean, and a great location.

Ken R

Loop:Loop A

Site:

Reviewed 2 months ago

Great location and great cabin.

Annette B

Loop:Loop A

Site:

Reviewed 3 months ago

hot water is either too hot or too cold so taking a shower is tricky, sofa isnt comfy to sleep on ,bed is old and sinks in the middle,gas applainces make it really hot inside so bring a fan w battery backup or power bank .window near heater dont stay open

Stuart W

Loop:Loop A

Site:

Reviewed 3 months ago

great little Cabin nice and clean Deer came in and the night hawks was awesome real quite

Jerry T

Loop:Loop A

Site:

Reviewed 4 months ago

Really beautiful spot. Remember, this is not VRBO so don't expect a fruit basket and bottle of wine. Some DIY required. I really enjoyed the privilege of having this place to ourselves.

Julie H

Loop:Loop A

Site:

Reviewed a year ago

It really depends on what you like to do and the time of year, but there are certainly lots of things to do, both near to the station and in the surrounding region. While we were there bow hunting was in full swing in the area, while we mostly went hiking in the nearby wildernesses.

Availability

See the Camp Sites section below to find detailed booking availability.

Reserve