January 3, 2005
Remote cabins for rent to public
By PAUL FATTIG
Mail Tribune
For rent: one-bedroom rustic, remote mountain cottage deep in forest, lava-rock fireplace, propane cookstove, refrigerator and lantern.
The historic Imnaha Guard Station cabin some 25 miles northeast of Butte Falls is one of 11 remote sites the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest is offering for rent beginning Jan. 5 via the Internet
from a national registry.
"The National Recreation Reservation Service is an excellent system that allows forest visitors to check rental dates and place their reservations online or by telephone for not only these
cabin rentals, but many campgrounds as well," said Jim Heck, the forest’s recreation program manager, in a prepared statement.
The sites, located from the Cascade Range to the coast, include four cabins, six fire lookouts and one tent. Most have no electricity or indoor plumbing.
They rent for $10 to $50 a night.
The sites have been available for rent in the past through local forest offices but they will now be part of a national registry.
To book any of the sites, visit the Reserve America Reservation System at www.reserveusa.com or call toll free, 877-444-6777. The system is available seven days a week.
The move to the national reservation system will offer more consistency in reservations and also get the word out to the public on those lesser-known sites, Heck said.
The Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service use the system to accept reservations for more than 49,500 facilities nationwide.
The system, the largest camping reservation service on the continent, charges reservation fees.
In addition to the Imnaha Cabin, which was built in the 1930s, rentals include:
Willow Prairie Cabin about five miles north of Fish Lake. Built by a Forest Service trail crew in 1924, it became a fire guard station during the summers. It was later used as a line shack
by area ranchers running cattle in the high mountains.
Ludlum House, a group-use recreational rental about 30 miles southeast of Brookings. Located along the Winchuck River, the relatively new building offers a nearby swimming hole and plenty of
fishing.
Packers Cabin about 25 miles northeast of Brookings. Built around 1930, it was originally used by Forest Service packers.
Rainbow Tent, an old canvas wall tent along the Chetco Gorge Trail. Located about 16 miles northeast of Brookings, it includes cots and a fire ring.
Six fire lookouts include Bald Knob Lookout, Bolan Mountain Lookout, Lake of the Woods Lookout, Onion Mountain Lookout, Snow Camp Lookout and Quail Mountain Lookout. None of those lookouts are
being used for summer wildfire watch.
Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at
pfattig@mailtribune.com
