Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-233249
When Sunshine Guard Station reopens
Sunshine Guard Station's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
6
Openings · last 90 days
6
Only 6 openings 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.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027 · of 1 monitored site
Of the 183 tracked site-nights (Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027): 122 open for online reservation · 61 reserved.
Where the open windows are
33.3% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 122 of 183 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027Not open online33.3%
Open site-nights122 / 183
Reserved (of online inventory)61 / 183
Weekday openings72
Weekend openings50
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 72 fall on weekdays and 50 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Mar 2027September is fully reserved. 0 of 13 tracked site-nights are open there — 13 reserved.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 1 site| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open | |
| Thanksgiving | THU Nov 26 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Nov 27 | 0 | None open | |
| SAT Nov 28 | 0 | None open | |
| Christmas | THU Dec 24 | 1 | Open |
| FRI Dec 25 | 1 | Open | |
| New Year | THU Dec 31 | 1 | Open |
| FRI Jan 1 | 1 | Open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night. Thanksgiving: no online availability on any tracked night. Christmas: 1 site is available for the complete two-night stay. New Year: 1 site is available for the complete two-night stay.
Availability
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| 001 | 122 |
This site currently has 122 site-nights available.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateTue · Oct 6
Next open weekendSat · Oct 24
September0 of 13 · fully reserved
The next bookable night is Oct 6; the first open weekend starts Oct 24. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
122 open site-nights across 1 site at Sunshine Guard Station, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 5 2-night, 2 3-night, 1 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Oct 6 at site 001.
RV length. Longest recorded site here is 30 ft. 1 site takes 25 ft.
All 1 site with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | 30 ft | Yes | 122 | 110 nights | Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 19, Oct 20, Oct 24, Oct 25, Nov 2, Nov 3, Nov 4, Nov 5, Nov 6, Nov 7 +110 more |
About Sunshine Guard Station
Overview
Sunshine Guard Station is situated along John Day River in the Malheur National Forest at an elevation of 3,700 feet, about 43 miles northeast of John Day, Oregon. The former guard station was built in 1936 and until the 1990s was used alternatively as a bunkhouse or a work station for fireguards.
The guard station can be accessed by vehicle. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Recreation
Recreational options include fishing for steelhead and rainbow trout in the John Day River. Restrictions apply; visitors should refer to Oregon State regulations.
There are hiking trails and back roads to the north of the guard station that lead into the nearby Vinegar Hill / Indian Rock Scenic Area.
Wildlife viewing is popular, as is scenic driving.
Facilities
This rustic four-room cabin sleeps up to six and has a kitchen, living room, and two bedrooms. The living room is furnished with a futon, two chairs, a coffee table and an end table. The larger bedroom is furnished with a queen-sized bed and a closet, while the smaller bedroom offers a queen-sized bed and a chair.
The kitchen is furnished with a table and four chairs, electric refrigerator, and stove. Electric heat and lights are provided, and a vault toilet is located next to the cabin.
There is no water in the cabin. Guests must bring their own water for drinking, cooking and washing.
Roads to the guard station are paved and maintained for summer and winter access.
No pets allowed in the Guard Station.
Natural Features
The guard station has a view of the Middle Fork of the John Day River. The Vinegar Hill Forest/Indian Rock Scenic Area is nearby. The 25,000-acre area includes a 10 mile ridgeline that comprises the summit of the Greenhorn Range in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon. Outcrops of serpentine, rhyolite, basalt, granite, and shale can be seen. Agates can also be found on some of the rocky slopes.
Wildlife includes elk and deer, songbirds and, in the river, steelhead and trout. Nearly every type of alpine wildflower found west of the Rockies can be blooming at different times in this area.
Magone Lake is about 20 miles west of the guard station.
1 monitored siteRVs up to 30 ft1 with hookups1 shadedWaterfrontRiverfrontFire pitsMax party 7
Getting there
From Prairie City, OR., travel east on US Highway 26 approximately 13 miles to the junction of US Highway 7. Turn left on US Highway 7, travel one mile to the junction with County Road 20/ Middle Fork Road. Turn left and follow County Road 20 approximately 13 miles, the guard station will be on the right.
431 Patterson Bridge Rd, John Day, OR 97845541-820-3800
BikingCampingFishingHikingHunting
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-233249 · facility
Photo gallery
Roll CS-233249 · Sunshine Guard Station · John Day OR7 frames · facility
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Sunshine Guard Station?
Reservations for Sunshine Guard Station are made through Recreation.gov. 122 of 183 tracked site-nights are currently open (66.7%). Campsite Sniper has also detected 6 site openings 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 re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 14:17 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Sunshine Guard Station?
Campsite Sniper detected 6 site-date openings 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.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Sunshine Guard Station?
2 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Nov 2 at site 001. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which sites at Sunshine Guard Station fit a 35-foot RV?
No RV-analyzable site here has a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 30 ft.
Which month has the most availability at Sunshine Guard Station?
December 2026, with 31 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 31.
When is the next open date at Sunshine Guard Station?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Tue, Oct 6 and the next open weekend starts Sat, Oct 24. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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