Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-234206
When Congo Gulch reopens
Congo Gulch's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
0
Openings · last 90 days
4
Only 4 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 · Nov 2, 2026 – May 3, 2027 · of 1 monitored site
Of the 183 tracked site-nights (Nov 2, 2026 – May 3, 2027): 175 open for online reservation · 7 reserved · 1 unavailable (cause unspecified).
Where the open windows are
4.4% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 175 of 183 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Nov 2, 2026 – May 3, 2027Not open online4.4%
Open site-nights175 / 183
Reserved (of online inventory)7 / 182
Weekday openings100
Weekend openings75
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 100 fall on weekdays and 75 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Nov 2026 – May 2027March holds the most room. 31 of 31 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 1 site| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Jan 1 | 0 | None open | |
| Memorial Day | FRI May 28 | 0 | None open |
| SAT May 29 | 0 | None open | |
| SUN May 30 | 0 | None open | |
| MON May 31 | 0 | None open |
Thanksgiving: no online availability on any tracked night. Christmas: 1 site is available for the complete two-night stay. New Year: no online availability on any tracked night. Memorial Day: no online availability on any tracked night.
Availability
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| 001 | 175 |
This site currently has 175 site-nights available.
Next windows
As of Nov 2, 2026 snapshotNext open dateTue · Nov 3
Next open weekendFri · Nov 6
The next bookable night is Nov 3; the first open weekend starts Nov 6. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
175 open site-nights across 1 site at Congo Gulch, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 3 2-night, 3 3-night, 3 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Nov 3 at site 001.
All 1 site with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Not recorded | Yes | 175 | 122 nights | Nov 3, Nov 4, Nov 5, Nov 6, Nov 7, Nov 8, Nov 9, Nov 10, Nov 11, Nov 12, Nov 13, Nov 14 +163 more |
About Congo Gulch
Overview
Congo Gulch is an old Forest Service cabin that allows guests to relax in the outdoors and step back in time to when the cabin was used during bygone gold mining days. It is part of the Fremont Powerhouse complex, a hub for mining built in the early 1900s. As one of four cabins located at the site, the cabin offers flexibility for large groups. Guests can rent all cabins and also pitch tents in the grassy yard. The surrounding valleys once teemed with mining activity, primarily gold. The Fremont Powerhouse was built in 1908 as an economical method for mining. Two dams were constructed at Olive Lake, and water from the lake was piped through an 8-mile wood and steel pipeline to the powerhouse to generate electricity. Homes were constructed to shelter workers who monitored the pipeline. Today, these same shelters are available as recreational rentals. Congo Gulch is named for the small creek that runs beside the property. Winter access may require skis, snowshoes or snowmobiles.
Recreation
Guests can hike on North Fork John Day Wilderness Area trails or go mountain biking on forest roads. A drive along the Blue Mountain Scenic Byway is a treat, as are activities like huckleberry and mushroom picking, bird watching, wildlife viewing and photographing the vast landscape. Nearby Olive Lake offers boating, fishing and swimming.
Facilities
The two-story white cabin with wood siding and a metal roof can accommodate up to 12 guests. It features: · two bedrooms upstairs with dressers, a queen bed, 3 twins, and a full-over-queen bunkbed; · one bedroom downstairs with a dresser and full-over-queen bunkbed; · parlor with dining table/chairs, 2 futons and end tables; · kitchen with refrigerator, electric stove/oven, microwave, coffee pot, toaster, cookware, dishes, and a second dining table with chairs; · full bath with shower/tub and flush toilet. The cabin has electric lights and an oil heating stove. A picnic table and brick fireplace are provided next to the pond (bring your own firewood). Cleaning supplies are also provided and renters are required to clean the house before they leave. Water is available June through September only. No water or indoor plumbing from October to May. Instead, an outhouse is available for use. In these seasons, guests are asked to bring plenty of water for drinking, cooking and washing. Other items to pack year-round include food, bedding, a first aid kit, flashlight, matches and all other basic camping gear. Click here for more cabin details.
Natural Features
The cabin sits at about 5,000 feet in elevation and is neatly tucked under a large Douglas-fir, next to a small pond. A grassy lawn in front spreads to the other three cabins in the area. The forest lies in the Blue Mountains and is home to Ponderosa pine lodgepole pine, larch, and Douglas fir. Birds in the area include the black-backed woodpecker, American kestrel and the boreal owl. Black bear, cougar, wolves, elk and deer are among the native land mammals. Click here to learn about bear safety.
Nearby Attractions
The cabin is located less than six miles from Granite, Oregon, a ghost town that once bustled with prospectors and pioneers. The town provides groceries and fuel. Opportunities for horseback riding and a boat ramp, boating, fishing, and swimming are located within ten miles from the cabin.
1 monitored site1 with hookups1 shadedPets OKMax party 12
Getting there
From Pendleton, Oregon: Travel south on Highway 395 for 50 miles to the Ukiah exit. Turn left on Highway 244 to Ukiah. Turn right (south) just before the city park; this road becomes Forest Service Road (FSR) 52 at the Forest boundary. Travel 50 miles to the small town of Granite. From Granite go west on County Road 24 for approximately 6 miles. The main road veers left along the creek bed. At this junction turn right (uphill) on FSR 10 and follow the signs to the Fremont Powerhouse, towards Fremont Congo Gulch Cabin. Do not use between October and June without confirming this route is open with the Ranger District. From Baker City, Oregon: Travel west on Highway 7 and continue 20 miles to the junction with FSR 73. Proceed north through Sumpter and another 17 miles to the small town of Granite. From Granite go west on County Road 24 for approximately 6 miles. The main road veers left along the creek bed. At this junction turn right (uphill) on FSR 10 and follow the signs to the Fremont Powerhouse, towards Fremont Congo Gulch Cabin. This route is plowed in the winter and provides the only winter access.
P.O. Box 158, Ukiah, OR 97880541-427-3231
Berry PickingBirdingCampingHikingHistoric & Cultural SiteHuntingMushroom PickingWildlife Viewing
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-234206 · facility
Photo gallery
Roll CS-234206 · Congo Gulch · Ukiah OR4 frames · facility
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Congo Gulch?
Reservations for Congo Gulch are made through Recreation.gov. The current snapshot shows substantial availability: 175 of 183 tracked site-nights are open (95.6%), though availability can change. Campsite Sniper has also detected 4 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 Nov 2, 2026 17:20 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 Congo Gulch?
Campsite Sniper detected 4 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 Congo Gulch?
3 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Nov 3 at site 001. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which month has the most availability at Congo Gulch?
March 2027, with 31 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 31.
When is the next open date at Congo Gulch?
As of the Nov 2, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Tue, Nov 3 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Nov 6. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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