Openings · last 7 days
2
Booking reality
Campsite Sniper detected 2 site openings here in the last 7 days
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-234138
When Tamarack Cabin reopens
Tamarack Cabin's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
14
Openings · last 90 days
14
Only 14 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 – Nov 1, 2026 · of 1 monitored site
Of the 45 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Nov 1, 2026): 13 open for online reservation · 32 reserved.
Where the open windows are
71.1% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 13 of 45 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18 – Nov 1, 2026Not open online71.1%
Open site-nights13 / 45
Reserved (of online inventory)32 / 45
Weekday openings8
Weekend openings5
Of the open cabin-nights on mapped sites, 8 fall on weekdays and 5 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Nov 2026September is fully reserved. 0 of 13 tracked site-nights are open there — 13 reserved.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 1 cabin| 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 |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night. Thanksgiving: no online availability on any tracked night.
Availability
Most open cabin-nights · tracked window| Cabin | Open cabin-nights |
|---|---|
| 001 | 13 |
This cabin currently has 13 cabin-nights available.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateSun · Oct 11
Next open weekendFri · Oct 30
September0 of 13 · fully reserved
The next bookable night is Oct 11; the first open weekend starts Oct 30. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
13 open cabin-nights across 1 cabin at Tamarack Cabin, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 2 2-night, 2 3-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Oct 18 at site 001.
All 1 cabin with current availability
| Cabin | Max RV | Hookups | Open cabin-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Not recorded | None | 13 | 6 nights | Oct 11, Oct 18, Oct 19, Oct 20, Oct 21, Oct 22, Oct 25, Oct 26, Oct 27, Oct 28, Oct 29, Oct 30 +1 more |
About Tamarack Cabin
Overview
Tamarack Cabin offers outdoor enthusiasts a quaint cabin with epic views atop Tamarack Mountain. The cabin can accommodate four guests, and a short walk through the trees awards a unique opportunity to view miles of the Umatilla National Forest from sunup to sundown.
The site was originally used as a fire detection lookout. The original structure was a platform built on a high tree in 1925. It was replaced with a 96-foot Aermotor tower in 1933, and a neighboring cabin was built to house Forest Service employees. A utility shed was also built. When the cabin burnt down in 1966, the shed was converted into housing. That same shed is where guests can stay today. The tower is also still standing, and when the tower is staffed, visitors are welcome to climb up and enjoy the view.
Recreation
Over 26 miles of hiking and horseback riding trails on the Heppner Ranger District can be accessed from the cabin. Plentiful fishing opportunities abound in nearby streams and Bull Prairie Lake. Many roads are open to off-road vehicles, and 28 miles of designated trails are available. Other activities include hunting, wildlife viewing and bird watching. This site is not open in the winter.
Facilities
This cozy converted shed offers one room with amenities including propane lights, a heating stove and cook stove, refrigerator, cookware, silverware, and dishes. Furnishings consist of two sets of twin bunkbeds, a cabinet for clothes, table with four chairs, and a rocking chair on the small front porch. There is a picnic table and fire ring outside, though fire danger may restrict campfires, so check for conditions with the Ranger District prior to arrival. There is also a nearby outhouse. There is no water onsite, so visitors must bring plenty of water for drinking, cooking, and washing. Guests must bring food, water, ice chest and ice, bedding, toiletries, a first aid kit, flashlights, matches and all other basic camping gear.
Natural Features
At 4,979 feet above sea level, Tamarack Mountain overlooks the John Day River basin between Spray and Kimberly. The lookout and the mountain it tops are named after the western larch, a tree that is particularly plentiful in the Blue and Wallowa Mountains. Western tanagers and dusty flycatchers frequent the area and purple-blue spikes of lupine, white and pink yarrow and yellow balsamroot add bursts of color to the landscape.
Nearby Attractions
Spray is the nearest town with a general store, gas, and propane which is about a half hour drive away.
Heppner is about one hour away with a larger variety of stores for your recreational needs.
Off-road vehicle enthusiasts enjoy Morrow County OHV Park, located 14 miles north on HWY 207. There are some food options, ice, and propane for sale at this site.
1 monitored cabinNo hookups1 shadedPets OKFire pitsMax party 4
Getting there
From Lexington, OR, take Highway 74/207 east to Heppner. Continue south, on Highway 207. At the junction in Heppner, bear right to continue south on Highway 207 for 39 miles through Heppner, Ruggs, Hardman and past Anson Wright County Park to the junction of Highway 207 and Forest Road 24 (0.1 miles past the Bull Prairie Campground turn-off). Turn left (east) on FR 24 (a gravel road) and travel 6.5 miles to FR 2407. Turn right (south) on FR 2407 and travel 1.5 miles to FR 040. Travel a half-mile on FR 40 to the cabin, which is on the right before the helipad. A high-clearance vehicle is recommended for access as the last mile to the cabin is very steep and rocky.
P.O Box 7, Heppner, OR 97836541-676-9187
FishingHikingHorseback RidingHuntingOff Road Vehicle TrailsWildlife Viewing
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-234138 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-234138 · Tamarack Cabin · Heppner OR8 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Tamarack Cabin?
Reservations for Tamarack Cabin are made through Recreation.gov. 71.1% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation; 13 of 45 remain open. Campsite Sniper has also detected 14 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 16:19 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 Tamarack Cabin?
Campsite Sniper detected 2 site-date openings at Tamarack Cabin in the last 7 days, 14 over 30 days and 14 over the last 90.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Tamarack Cabin?
2 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Oct 18 at site 001. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which month has the most availability at Tamarack Cabin?
October 2026, with 12 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 31.
When is the next open date at Tamarack Cabin?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Sun, Oct 11 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Oct 30. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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