Recreation Rentals of the Pacific Northwest

US Forest Service

Map of Forests

Bureau of Land Management

Oregon and Washington

National Park Service

North Cascades

Butler Butte Cabin - Oregon

Umpqua National Forest

History

The Butler Butte cabin was built in 1942 as an Aircraft Warning System (AWS) Station. The site was chosen as a strategic location to watch for Japanese planes and balloons loaded with incendiary devices meant to set American west coast forests on fire. Observers manned the stations on the mountain tops and watched for any signs of an invasion or fire. Carpenters added a ground house and a wood shed. A 20-foot lookout tower, built in 1932 for fire lookout purposes, was also used by AWS from early 1942 to October 16, 1943. After the threat of invasion subsided the lookout and cabin were used for fire observation purposes.

Description

The one room cabin is furnished with a double bed and two single beds, as well as a table and chairs. It is equipped with a propane heater, cook stove and oven, refrigerator and lights. There is no water on site; visitors must bring plenty of water for drinking, cooking and washing. Potable water is available at a spigot in front of the Tiller Ranger Station office.

There is a metal outdoor fire pit with a metal barbeque grill for cooking and a campfire ring, as well as a picnic table. A vault toilet is located near by.

Area Attractions & Activities

Enjoy hiking and horseback riding in the summer months, as well as picking Huckleberries and watching many varieties of birds fly in for a meal. During the winter, go snowmobiling, snow shoeing, and cross-country skiing or build a snow fort. The cabin is also within a short driving distance of the scenic road along the Rogue-Umpqua Divide. Be sure to bring a camera and binoculars.

Amenities

• Vault Toilet
• Propane Heater
• Cook Stove
• Oven
• Refrigerator
• Lights
• Barbeque
• Fire Pit
• Picnic Table

There is an additional area for tent camping.

Pets

Pets are welcome. Please do not let pets roam freely, as they may endanger wildlife and plants.

Smoking

No smoking.

Directions

From Tiller Ranger District office, take County Road 46 five miles to Jackson Creek Road 29. Follow Road 29 for 9.7 miles to the junction with Road 2925. Follow Road 2925 for 6.5 miles to the five-way junction of Roads 2925, 600, 700, and 800. From here there is a choice of two routes.

For the first route, follow Road 800 for 2.5 miles to the junction with Road 810 and then follow the road to the cabin. This is the shortest and most direct route; however, be aware that the 800 Road is an old logging road with water bars cut into it and may not be the best choice for passenger cars.

For the other route, follow the 700 Road approximately six miles to the junction with the 800 Road at Tucker Gap. The 700 and 800 Roads form a big loop and this is where they rejoin. At this point make a sharp switchback turn to the right, onto the 800 Road. Follow the 800 Road for two miles to the junction with the 810 Road and then follow the 810 Road to the cabin.

A 4-wheel drive or high clearance vehicle is recommended. The roads are not plowed in the winter. During an average winter, generally up to a five-mile snowmobile, cross country ski, or snowshoe excursion is required to reach the cabin.