Fall asleep to the sound of crickets and frogs chirping and croaking and wake
up to Blue Gill and Rainbow Trout jumping at the bit. This campground is set
on the shore of Penland Lake, which also abuts private land and land owned by
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). Penland is popular on summer
weekends and offers access to fishing, boating, and swimming opportunities.
There are seven campsites and two vault toilets on the National Forest portion
of the campground, with more campsites located on the adjacent ODFW property.
There is also a boat ramp, fishing dock, and benches located on the dam.
Picnic tables are available for Day Use on the lakefront as well. There is no
potable water or garbage service; please pack out all garbage and dispose of
it at home.

<p>Fall asleep to the sound of crickets and frogs chirping and croaking and wake up to Blue Gill and Rainbow Trout jumping at the bit. This campground is set on the shore of Penland Lake, which also abuts private land and land owned by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). Penland is popular on summer weekends and offers access to fishing, boating, and swimming opportunities. There are seven campsites and two vault toilets on the National Forest portion of the campground, with more campsites located on the adjacent ODFW property. There is also a boat ramp, fishing dock, and benches located on the dam. Picnic tables are available for Day Use on the lakefront as well. There is no potable water or garbage service; please pack out all garbage and dispose of it at home.</p>

This is a fee free site.  All campsites are first come first serve.

Bird's eye view of the campground

Penland Lake Campground

## Overview

Ditch Creek Guard Station, located about 27 miles southeast of Heppner,
Oregon, is a comfortable little cabin that accommodates six overnight guests,
with additional space for tent camping outside. Equestrian campers are welcome
and a corral with trough is provided.  
  
The guard station was originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in
the mid-1930s. It is a classic example of forest structures of that era and is
eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. It was
used by forest fireguards who would ride their horses deep into the forest’s
interior to look for wisps of smoke from lightning strikes or to check on
communications lines along Forest Service roads. It became a recreation rental
in 1997.

## Recreation

The route to the cabin is located off the Blue Mountain Scenic Byway, which
boasts incredible views. Over 26 miles of hiking and horseback riding trails,
ranging between 4,100 and 5,300 feet in elevation, traverse forests and
meadows throughout the Heppner Ranger District. Fishing opportunities abound
in nearby streams, Penland Lake, and Bull Prairie Lake. Other activities
include hunting for deer and elk, mushroom and berry picking, wildlife
viewing, and enjoying the scenic landscape.

## Facilities

The cabin is a one-story building containing a bedroom, living room, kitchen
with nook, and a bathroom. The cabin does not meet accessibility standards due
to narrow doorways and halls. A picnic table, campfire ring and a 20' X 20'
horse corral with water trough are located outside. Guests may pitch tents in
the yard for additional sleeping options.  
  
The bedroom contains two bunk beds, a dresser, and a chair, and the living
room is furnished with a futon, loveseat, side table, a dining table with four
chairs, and a heating stove. A cook stove, fire extinguisher, cookware,
silverware, and dishes are included in the kitchen. All appliances and
lighting are propane, which is provided by the Forest Service.  
  
Potable water is available. Guests must bring food, bedding, toiletries,
matches, flashlights, first aid kits, and any other camping gear. Cleaning
supplies are provided in a closet by the door and guests are expected to clean
the cabin before they leave.

## Natural Features

The cabin sits near Ditch Creek on a large, flat lawn surrounded by a dense
pine forest at an elevation of 4,800 feet. The creek is one of numerous small
perennial streams that flow south into the North Fork John Day River. There is
a small pond adjacent that is also stocked with fish. Deer and elk are likely
to be seen in the area, and as evening falls, guests can watch bats flit and
swoop above the yard.

## Contact Info

For local information, please call (541) 676-9187 or call (541) 676-2155 for
general information.

## Nearby Attractions

The nearest town with a general store is Heppner, a 27 mile, 40-minute drive
away, although ice and some food options are available at the Morrow County
OHV park 30 miles or 37 minutes away.

<h2>Overview</h2>
<p>Ditch Creek Guard Station, located about 27 miles southeast of Heppner, Oregon, is a comfortable little cabin that accommodates six overnight guests, with additional space for tent camping outside. Equestrian campers are welcome and a corral with trough is provided. <br> <br>The guard station was originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the mid-1930s. It is a classic example of forest structures of that era and is eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. It was used by forest fireguards who would ride their horses deep into the forest’s interior to look for wisps of smoke from lightning strikes or to check on communications lines along Forest Service roads. It became a recreation rental in 1997.</p>
<h2>Recreation</h2>
<p>The route to the cabin is located off the Blue Mountain Scenic Byway, which boasts incredible views. Over 26 miles of hiking and horseback riding trails, ranging between 4,100 and 5,300 feet in elevation, traverse forests and meadows throughout the Heppner Ranger District. Fishing opportunities abound in nearby streams, Penland Lake, and Bull Prairie Lake. Other activities include hunting for deer and elk, mushroom and berry picking, wildlife viewing, and enjoying the scenic landscape.</p>
<h2>Facilities</h2>
<p>The cabin is a one-story building containing a bedroom, living room, kitchen with nook, and a bathroom. The cabin does not meet accessibility standards due to narrow doorways and halls. A picnic table, campfire ring and a 20' X 20' horse corral with water trough are located outside. Guests may pitch tents in the yard for additional sleeping options. <br> <br>The bedroom contains two bunk beds, a dresser, and a chair, and the living room is furnished with a futon, loveseat, side table, a dining table with four chairs, and a heating stove. A cook stove, fire extinguisher, cookware, silverware, and dishes are included in the kitchen. All appliances and lighting are propane, which is provided by the Forest Service. <br> <br>Potable water is available. Guests must bring food, bedding, toiletries, matches, flashlights, first aid kits, and any other camping gear. Cleaning supplies are provided in a closet by the door and guests are expected to clean the cabin before they leave.</p>
<h2>Natural Features</h2>
  
The cabin sits near Ditch Creek on a large, flat lawn surrounded by a dense pine forest at an elevation of 4,800 feet. The creek is one of numerous small perennial streams that flow south into the North Fork John Day River. There is a small pond adjacent that is also stocked with fish.
 
Deer and elk are likely to be seen in the area, and as evening falls, guests can watch bats flit and swoop above the yard. 
<h2>Contact Info</h2>
For local information, please call (541) 676-9187 or call (541) 676-2155 for general information.
<h2>Nearby Attractions</h2>
<p>The nearest town with a general store is Heppner, a 27 mile, 40-minute drive away, although ice and some food options are available at the Morrow County OHV park 30 miles or 37 minutes away.</p>

White cabin in meadow with rail fence and pine trees

DITCH CREEK GUARD STATION CAB

DITCH CREEK GUARD STATION

Ditch Creek Cabin

Closing for winter

Comforts of home

Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab

Coalmine Hill is just off the paved Blue Mountain Scenic Byway (also called
the Western Route). The Campground serves as access to the Bald Mountain,
Hells Half Acre, and Willow Creek trails, offering a 7.5 mile-long loop
experience for hikers and equestrians. Once inside the campground's large
parking area, there is an information board on the northeast side. Past the
information board runs the Bald Mountain hiking trail leading to Gibson Cave,
which is 1.25 miles from the parking lot. The cave is really a shallow
overhanging shelter with an interpretive sign describing its history.Once
you've reached Gibson's cave, continue up the Bald Mountain trail until you
reach a nice view point. The mountain's view point overlooks the drainages in
between Coalmine Hill (to the northwest) and Little Bald Mountain (to the
east), providing fantastic views and tranquility. About five miles southwest
of the campground is Penland Lake; follow the Blue mountain Scenic Byway and
Forest Service Road 21 and 2103, until you've reached Penland Lake where there
are fishing and nonelectric boating opportunities. .

Coalmine Hill Campground provides one larger, separate site near the entrance
and the remaining five sites are located along the tree edges of the large
parking area. There is one vault toilet and a travel access information board.
This campground was constructed to serve double-duty as a snow park in the
winter. There is no potable water or garbage service, so please pack out all
garbage and dispose of it at home.

<p>Coalmine Hill is just off the paved Blue Mountain Scenic Byway (also called the Western Route). The Campground serves as access to the Bald Mountain, Hells Half Acre, and Willow Creek trails, offering a 7.5 mile-long loop experience for hikers and equestrians. Once inside the campground&#39;s large parking area, there is an information board on the northeast side. Past the information board runs the Bald Mountain hiking trail leading to Gibson Cave, which is 1.25 miles from the parking lot. The cave is really a shallow overhanging shelter with an interpretive&nbsp;sign describing its history.Once you&#39;ve reached Gibson&#39;s cave, continue up the Bald Mountain trail until you reach a nice view point. The mountain&#39;s view point overlooks the drainages in between Coalmine Hill (to the northwest) and Little Bald Mountain (to the east), providing fantastic views and tranquility. About five miles southwest of the campground is Penland Lake; follow the Blue mountain Scenic Byway and Forest Service Road 21 and 2103, until you&#39;ve reached Penland Lake where there are fishing and nonelectric boating opportunities. .&nbsp;</p><p>Coalmine Hill Campground provides one larger, separate site near the entrance and the remaining five sites are located along the tree edges of the large parking area. There is one vault toilet and a travel access information board. This campground was constructed to serve double-duty as a snow park in the winter. There is no potable water or garbage service, so please pack out all garbage and dispose of it at home.</p>

This is a fee free campground.  All campsites are first come first serve.

Coalmine Hill Campground

Divide Well Campground is a remote site with a rustic look.  It is situated in
an meadow with scattered ponderosa pine and denser fir along the campground
edges. Divide Well is a popular spot for elk hunters, but little used through
the rest of the season.   It features 11 campsties and two accessible vault
toilets.  There is no potable water or garbage service, so please pack out all
garbage and dispose of it at home.

Nearby is the **Potamus Point Interpretive Site** , with breathtaking views,
interesting geology, and a herd of re-introduced bighorn sheep.  There are no
developed trails on this side of the North Fork John Day Ranger District.

<p>Divide Well Campground is a remote site with a&nbsp;rustic look.&nbsp; It is situated in an meadow with scattered ponderosa pine and denser fir along the campground edges.&nbsp;Divide Well&nbsp;is a popular spot for&nbsp;elk hunters, but little used through the rest of the season.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It features 11 campsties and&nbsp;two accessible&nbsp;vault toilets.&nbsp;&nbsp;There is no potable water or garbage service, so&nbsp;please&nbsp;pack&nbsp;out all garbage and dispose of it at home.&nbsp;</p><p>Nearby is the <strong>Potamus Point Interpretive Site</strong>, with breathtaking views, interesting geology, and a herd of re-introduced bighorn sheep.&nbsp; There are no developed trails on this side of the North Fork John Day Ranger District.</p>

Penland Lake Campground

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Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab

Coalmine Hill Campground

Divide Well Campground