Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-234145
When Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab reopens
Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
5
Openings · last 90 days
5
Only 5 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 22, 2026 · of 1 monitored site
Of the 66 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Nov 22, 2026): 21 open for online reservation · 45 reserved.
Where the open windows are
68.2% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 21 of 66 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18 – Nov 22, 2026Not open online68.2%
Open site-nights21 / 66
Reserved (of online inventory)45 / 66
Weekday openings16
Weekend openings5
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 16 fall on weekdays and 5 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Nov 2026November holds the most room. 12 of 22 site-nights are still open there.
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 |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night. Thanksgiving: no online availability on any tracked night.
Availability
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| 001 | 21 |
This site currently has 21 site-nights available.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateMon · Sep 28
Next open weekendFri · Oct 16
The next bookable night is Sep 28; the first open weekend starts Oct 16. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
21 open site-nights across 1 site at Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 5 2-night, 5 3-night, 1 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 28 at site 001.
All 1 site with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Not recorded | None | 21 | 8 nights | Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 14, Oct 15, Oct 16, Oct 20, Oct 21, Oct 22, Nov 2, Nov 3, Nov 4 +9 more |
About Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab
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.
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.
1 monitored siteNo hookups1 shadedPets OKFire pitsMax party 6
Getting there
From Lexington, OR, take Highway 74/207 east to Heppner. At the junction just outside the southern edge of Heppner, take a left (east) on paved Willow Creek Road. Travel 23 miles past Willow Creek Lake, Cutsforth County Park and up Coalmine Hill. At the top of the hill, take a right (west) on Forest Service Road 21 (a gravel road) and travel 3.5 miles. The cabin is located on a hill on the north side of the road and is accessed by two short entrance roads (Forest Service Road 050 and 051).
P.O. Box 7, Heppner, OR 97836541-676-9187
Berry PickingCampingFishingHikingHorseback RidingHuntingMushroom PickingWildlife Viewing
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-234145 · facility
Photo gallery
Roll CS-234145 · Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab · Heppner OR5 frames · facility
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab?
Reservations for Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab are made through Recreation.gov. 21 of 66 tracked site-nights are currently open (31.8%). Campsite Sniper has also detected 5 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 Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab?
Campsite Sniper detected 5 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 Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab?
5 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Sep 28 at site 001. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which month has the most availability at Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab?
November 2026, with 12 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 22.
When is the next open date at Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Mon, Sep 28 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Oct 16. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
Stop refreshing. Let the app watch it.
Filter
Lakefront, hookups, your RV length, weekends only - set it as picky as you want.
Watch
We run paced availability checks for Ditch Creek Guard Station Cab. One watch covers every matching site.
Get the ping
When a match opens, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.