Recreation Rentals of the Pacific Northwest

US Forest Service

Map of Forests

Bureau of Land Management

Oregon and Washington

National Park Service

North Cascades

Fry Meadow Guard Station - Oregon

Umatilla National Forest

History

This site was originally established as a ranger station before 1908 as part of the former Wenaha National Forest. The existing cabin was constructed in the early 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corp and was used as a remote guard station until about 1980.

The area, particularly the nearby Grande Ronde River and Valley, is steeped with native history and culture as it was home to the Nez Perce, Umatilla, Walla Walla, and Cayuse Indians. The tribes raised strong, wiry little horses (widely praised by white settlers for their keen ability to herd cattle) on the Grande Ronde Valley range, and often hunted and dug for camas roots in the area.

Description

Fry Meadow Guard Station, a two-room cabin with a combined living room/sleeping area and a kitchen, offers visitors a rustic camping experience. The cabin is furnished with four beds with mattresses and a table and chairs, and the kitchen is equipped with a propane cook stove. Both rooms have propane lights, but there is no heating.

There is no water on site, and visitors must bring plenty for drinking, cooking and washing. An outhouse is located near the cabin.

Area Attractions & Activities

The Fry Meadow Guard Station is located just south of the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness, and west of the wild and scenic Grande Ronde River. The Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness offers more than 200 miles of managed trails for hiking and horseback riding during summer months, and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. Hunting and fishing are also favored activities for the area. The Grande Ronde Wild and Scenic River offers spectacular scenery, float boating, salmon and steelhead fishing, and hunting. Also enjoy mushroom (morel and cauliflower) and berry (wild huckleberries, salmon berries and black berries) picking in season.

Amenities

• Outhouse
• No Water
• Propane Cook Stove
• Propane Lights

There is additional space in the yard for tent camping.

Pets

Pets are welcome but must be leashed and outside.

Smoking

No smoking.

Directions

This site is located approximately 25 miles northeast of Elgin, Oregon on the Umatilla National Forest.

From Pendleton, OR or Walla Walla, WA travel Oregon Highway 11 to Weston, Oregon and the junction with Oregon 204. Take Highway 204 to Tollgate. Turn left off Highway 204 onto Forest Service Road (FSR) 64. Follow FSR 64 for about 11 miles to the junction with FSR 63. Turn right on FSR 63 and travel about 8.8 miles to the junction with FSR 62. Turn left onto FSR 62 and travel for 3.9 miles to FSR 6235. Turn right on FSR 6235 and travel for about 1.1 miles to the Fry Meadow Cabin, which will be on the right.

From La Grande, OR travel Oregon Highway 82 to Elgin, OR, and then the Elgin-Palmer Junction County Road for about 15 miles to the junction with the Lookingglass Road/FSR 63. Go down Lookingglass Road for about 2 miles to the end of the pavement; FSR 63 starts here. Continue on FSR 63 for about 4.7 miles to the junction with FSR 62. Turn right on FSR 62 and travel about 3.9 miles to FSR 6235. Turn right on FSR 6235 and travel about 1.1 miles to the Fry Meadow Cabin, which will be on the right.

Automobile access to the site runs from June 1 to November 1, and parking is available at the cabin.

Winter use will require alternate transportation such as skis, snowshoes, or snowmobile. Skiers and snowshoers can access the cabin from Lookingglass Creek. Travel distance will vary with the snow conditions, but they should expect a travel distance of about 7 miles, including a 3 mile climb. The route follows existing roads designed for passenger car travel. Snowmobilers can also access the cabin from Lookingglass Creek, or they can park at existing sno parks along Oregon Highway 204 and follow snowmobile trails for about 25 miles to the cabin.