Campsite Sniper
Oregon · Recreation.gov

Short Creek Guard Station

44.2657° N / 118.3978° W · Data Nov 2 2026, checked hourly
1 monitored site

Sites at this facility

Campsite Sniper is not currently tracking online availability for this facility. The sites below are shown for reference only — they are not known to be unavailable. Check Recreation.gov for current dates.
Short Creek Guard Station

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Availability is not tracked here yet

Campsite Sniper does not currently hold availability data for Short Creek Guard Station. That is a gap in what Campsite Sniper tracks — it does not mean the facility is full, closed, or unavailable. Recreation.gov may well be showing open dates right now.

The site details and map below come from the public Recreation.gov record and are accurate. For current dates and to book, go to Recreation.gov.

01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-233248

When Short Creek Guard Station reopens

Short Creek Guard Station's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 7 days
0
Openings · last 30 days
1
Openings · last 90 days
1

Only 1 opening in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.

About Short Creek Guard Station

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.

1 monitored siteRVs up to 60 ftNo hookups1 shadedWaterfrontRiverfrontFire pitsMax party 3

Getting there

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.

Short Creek Guard Station District Office: 327 Sw Front St., P.O. Box 337 Prairie City Or 97869, Prairie City, OR 97869541-820-3800
BirdingCampingFishingHikingHorseback RidingHuntingMountain BikingSnowmobilingWildlife Viewing

View on Recreation.gov ↗   Get directions ↗

FAQ

How do I get a reservation at Short Creek Guard Station?

Online reservations for this facility, where offered, are made through Recreation.gov. Campsite Sniper has also detected 1 site opening here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.

Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?

No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.

How current is this availability data?

Campsite Sniper does not currently hold availability data for Short Creek Guard Station, so there is nothing to date here. That is a gap in coverage — it does not mean the facility is full or closed. Check Recreation.gov for current dates.

How often do new openings appear at Short Creek Guard Station?

Campsite Sniper detected 1 site-date opening here over the last 90 days, none in the last 7. A free alert watches around the clock and pings you the moment one appears.

Which sites at Short Creek Guard Station fit a 35-foot RV?

1 of the 1 site that support RV analysis has a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 60 ft.

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