By:
Submission
Musick Guard Station is located in a remote setting in southwestern Oregon, offering visitors a glimpse into a historic mining community in Umpqua National Forest. Situated atop a narrow forested ridge between Fairview Peak and Grouse Mountain, the guard station and outbuildings were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1934 to provide fire protection to the Bohemia Mining district. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Musick Guard Station became an important public contact point and administrative center for the Forest Service. Later it was used as summer barracks for trail crews and firefighting crews. The Guard Station was named after the nearby Musick Mine, a major gold producing mine in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Today the guard station continues to offer visitors a unique lodging experience and plenty of opportunities for relaxation and recreation. This site is located in National Forest System lands. These sites are popular with the recreating public so you may find visitors interested in the area and the facilities. While you do not have to let them inside the facility they are allowed to be in the area. Recreation For hiking and sightseeing, the nearby Bohemia Mountain Trail leads up a steep grade to the rocky summit of Bohemia Mountain, the highest point on the Cottage Grove Ranger District. Just east of the summit along a ridgeline hikers will be treated to dramatic views of the Cascade mountains and a wildflowers blooming along rocky outcrops and bluffs in late June through early August. For history buffs and fortune seekers, Musick Mine, one of the most productive gold mines in the district during the late 1800s and into the early 1900s, is a point of interest not to be overlooked. The area is named after James "Bohemia" Johnson, a mountaineer and prospector, who discovered gold-bearing quartz in 1863. The discovery created much short-lived excitement in the valley, but settlers soon realized the gold had to be extracted from the rock by machinery, not panned from the many streambeds, and by 1910 most of the ore had been removed. Some mining continues today. Facilities The main floor of the two-story guard station features a central room with an adjoining kitchen and bedroom. The upstairs bunkroom provides additional sleeping quarters. It is furnished with two double wooden platform beds and four bunk beds without mattresses, a table with chairs, a wood stove for heat, and wood cook stove and oven. Outside, a picnic table, campfire ring, and vault toilet are provided. An area for pitching a tent is also on site. There is no refrigerator, water or electricity available at the site. Guests must bring water necessary for drinking, cooking and washing. Guests must also bring a lantern or other reliable light source, cooking utensils, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, towels, dish soap, matches, cooking gear, toilet paper, first aid kit and garbage bags. Firewood may be available, however the supply cannot be guaranteed, and guests are encouraged to bring their own. Natural Features Musick Guard Station is surrounded by rugged summits up to 6,000 feet in elevation, and steep, heavily forested slopes of fir, spruce and hemlock. Nearby Fairview Peak, located in the heart of the Bohemia Mining District at an elevation of 5,933 feet, provides an excellent panoramic view of the surrounding area. On a clear day, the Cascade Range peaks can be viewed from Mt. Hood to the north and Mount McLoughlin to the south. Large mammals such as elk, deer, black bear, and cougar, as well as the smaller residents like squirrels, fox, raccoons and bats, are supported by the area's diverse forest habitats.- Learn more about bear safety. Nearby Attractions Visitors may want to take some time to visit nearby Crater Lake National Park for a glimpse into the area's fascinating geological and cultural history. ADA Access: N
From Interstate 5 in Oregon take the Cottage Grove exit 174. Take Row River Road 2400 east for 19 miles to Brice Creek Road #2470. Keep right and continue on Brice Creek Road for 12 miles to Noonday Road 2212. Turn right and travel for 8.8 miles to Champion Saddle. Keep to your left, traveling on Sharps Creek Road 2460, for 0.4-mile to Road 2460-480 on the right. There is a gate at this junction and Musick Guard Station is 100 yards up this road. Parking is limited and visitors are discouraged from parking on Road 2460.
There are several alternative access routes to the Guard Station. Please contact the Cottage Grove Ranger District during regular office hours for this information as well as current road conditions.
Nice place to rent. Beautiful. Bring your atvs or horses. The roads getting there can be rough. Very rough. Do your research on how to get there!!
Would have been better if some idiots didn't vandalize the cabin and restroom. Some people 😓
Beautiful. Cozy cabin and a great area to explore. Not really a great place for cars. 4x4 is the way to go. Especially if you're following google maps direction which is not maintained
What a great cabin! The route that I took was NF-22 --> Champion Creek Rd. The vehicle that was driven was a FWD Mini Cooper. Before I left I called the Cottage Grove Ranger District to ask if a sedan could make the drive mentioned earlier and I was answered with a hesitant "yes". While this is correct I would not recommend this drive in a sedan unless you have experience muddin' or driving off road. Lots of opportunists were presented to high center and get your car stuck.
I would also recommend bringing a laminated sign that says the cabin is rented. It can be clipped to the welcome sign when you first enter the driveway to the cabin. If you don't you will get lots of visitors.
The cabin is two stories and can sleep a total of 10 people; eight on the 2nd floor and two on the 1st floor. No electricity or water is provided so don't forget your drinking water and lanterns. A proper wood burning cooking stove is provided in the main living room. The stove had two burners on the top and a oven big enough to cook a couple of pies. The dinning table can comfortable seat 8 people. The kitchen has a small table for preparing food and enough counter space to cook a meal big enough for 10 people. While the cabin does not have running water the sink does drain to the outside (some of the forest service cabins I have rented in the past have the sink drain into a bucket under the sink).
On the deck there is a firewood box with no wood in it. The outside area has a large picnicking table next to a fire ring and a 'mini" stove that you could cook food on with a pan.
Keep in mind that this cabin is located in a area where ATV's and dirt bikes are used and you will hear them. Other than that this is a great little cabin and I cant wait to come visit it again!
