Recreation Rentals of the Pacific Northwest

US Forest Service

Map of Forests

Bureau of Land Management

Oregon and Washington

National Park Service

North Cascades

Imnaha Guard Station - Oregon

Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

History

The guard station cabin at Imnaha Springs was built in the 1930s, replacing a one-room Forest Service "shack" built there almost twenty years earlier. The cabin, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This small, rustic cottage is considered to be an outstanding example of CCC construction in the Pacific Northwest, and was used as a fire-watch or guard station by the Butte Falls Ranger District through the late 1970s. From the time of its construction during the Depression until well into the 1950s, Imnaha Guard Station lay at the "end of the road" from Butte Falls; now, instead of a horse trail, Forest Service Road 37 connects the town Butte Falls with the community of Prospect to the north.

Description

Curl up with a good book or a cup of cocoa in the pine-paneled living room in front of the lava-rock fireplace. (Firewood is stocked at the beginning of the season, and is stored outside and in the garage; supplies may run low.) Enjoy the comforts of a bathroom featuring running water, a hot shower and flush toilet. The bedroom furnishings include a full-size bed, a small closet and two dressers. The kitchen is equipped with a table and chairs, as well as a sink and small countertop for meal preparation. Visitors should bring cookware, utensils and dishes. The stove, refrigerator, and kitchen light are operated by propane, and potable water for drinking and cooking is available from the faucet. A picnic table in the backyard permits comfortable outside dining.

A very small Forest Service campground with four sites, also called Imnaha, is located within sight of the cabin. However, the cabin’s yard is fenced, and campers typically respect the cabin occupants’ privacy. They may stroll nearby on their way to visit the beautiful nearby Imnaha Springs, but the access trail passes on the far side of the garage building from the cabin itself.

Area Attractions & Activities

The Imnaha Guard Station is located in the southwest portion of Oregon’s magnificent volcanic Cascade Range, at an elevation of 3,800 feet. Attractions such as Imnaha Springs and "The Big Tree" are within short walking distance. Imnaha Springs, situated up a trail behind the cabin, is where sizable Imnaha Creek springs "fully grown" from the lava rock. The startlingly large volume of water that issues from the springs is crystal clear and almost ice cold. Imnaha Springs forms separate rivulets that flow along a scenic path through yellow monkeyflower and moss. It’s a special place.

Amenities

• Drinking Water
• Flush Toilet
• Propane Heat
• Heated Shower
• Refrigerator
• Fireplace
• Firewood

No tents are permitted in the fenced cabin area. "Extra" people using the cabin are welcome to camp at one of the numbered campsites in the nearby Imnaha Campground.

Pets

Pets are welcome.

Smoking

No smoking.

Directions

Drive east from Butte Falls on the Butte Falls-Fish Lake Highway (County Road 821). Less than a mile from town, turn left onto the Butte Fall-Prospect Highway (County Road 992) and travel north on CR 992. Go 9 miles on CR 992 to Forest Service Road (FSR) 34. Turn right, go 8 miles on FSR 34 until its junction with FSR 37. Travel N/NE on FSR 37 4.5 miles. Take Imnaha Campground turn-off and continue through campground to find the cabin.

For an alternative route to Imnaha that bypasses the town of Butte Falls, take State Highway 62 to the town of Prospect. At the Prospect Hotel turn east onto the Butte Falls-Prospect Hwy (County Road 992), travel 2 or 3 miles and take the left turn-off onto FSR 37, which continues south to Imnaha Campground turn-off.

Wheeled-vehicle access is possible only from late spring through early fall, depending on snow conditions.

Resource Concerns

Enjoy viewing Imnaha Springs but do not walk on or remove the moss or other vegetation; keep any pets on leash while visiting the springs. Far better yet, leave your dog back at the guard station.