Facility Details - HEMLOCK CABIN, OR

Overview

Hemlock Butte Cabin is a very primitive backcountry winter experience, and guests who stay here should be experienced in winter backcountry travel. It is this remoteness that makes the 4-mile ski or snowshoe to the cabin worth the effort.

The cabin was built by the Edelweiss Ski Club in 1990 and has room for about 12 people. There are often occupants from several different groups staying in the cabin at the same time. Only a few basic amenities are offered, so guests should be prepared to pack in most of their own supplies and gear.

Natural Features:

The cabin is situated at the base of Southern Oregon's Mount Bailey in Umpqua National Forest, near scenic Diamond Lake. Mount Bailey is a popular ski destination, averaging 600 inches of snow per year and boasting 6,000 acres of ideal skiing terrain.

Mount Bailey, part of the Cascade Mountain Range, is a shield volcano topped with a 2,000-foot tephra cone. The mountain is heavily forested with pine at lower elevations, which gives way to hemlock and fir at higher elevations. The peak rises above treeline and crests at 8,363 feet.

Recreation:

Several winter recreation trails crisscross the area. The Hemlock Butte Trail, which is used to access the cabin, is a challenging backcountry ski experience. Skiers on this trail can enjoy views of Mount Thielsen, Mount Bailey and even the rim of Crater Lake on a clear day.

Advanced skiers can make the difficult trek up Mount Bailey, a 2-mile trip from the cabin with an elevation gain of 3,300 feet.

Skiers should make sure to have proper backcountry equipment and be aware of avalanche dangers.

Facilities:

The cabin is a three-story A-frame with a wood stove for heating the cabin and melting snow. The ground floor serves as the living area with benches around the stove. The middle floor is the sleeping area. The top floor is available for additional sleeping space via a wall-mounted ladder. The only provided cooking pot is for melting snow.

Firewood is provided through Edelweiss Ski Club volunteers and U.S. Forest Service staff, but guests are asked to use it conservatively. An outhouse with vault toilet is located near the cabin.

No electricity or drinking water is provided. Guests typically melt snow to use for drinking, cooking and washing. The cabin does not have beds.

Guests should bring sleeping bags and pads, a camp stove, cookware and utensils, lanterns or flashlights, a first aid kit, matches, extra toilet paper and garbage bags. All trash and food should be packed out, and guests are expected to clean the cabin before leaving.

Activities and Amenities

Within Facility
Birding Cabin Rentals Cross Country Skiing Firewood Hiking Trail	Snowshoeing Trails Vault Toilets Wildlife Viewing Wood Stove
Within 10 Miles
Parking Area	Snow Park

Know Before You Go

Drinking water is not available at the cabin; a pot is provided for melting snow
The cabin is only available to reservation holders; there is no first-come, first-served use
The cabin has a capacity of 12 people per night
Guests who make a reservation for two people for a single night could potentially be sharing the cabin with 10 others from multiple groups; please be respectful of others
Pets are not allowed in the cabin or surrounding area
Please pack out all trash and leave the cabin cleaner than found
Mid-season firewood restocking is impossible; please be conservative with the firewood
Snowmobiles are not permitted on the Hemlock Butte Trail
Learn more about Umpqua National Forest

Due to the spread of invasive insects, firewood from outside the area is not permitted. Help protect our forests by purchasing or collecting firewood at or near your camping destination and burning it on-site. Click here for more information.

Getting There:

GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude):
43.13306, -122.1975
43°7'59"N, 122°11'51"W

From Roseburg, OR, take Highway 138 E/NE Diamond Lake Blvd. Continue to follow OR-138 E for approximately 83 miles. Turn right onto OR-230 west and follow for 3 miles to Three Lakes Sno-Park/Trailhead (Forest Road 3703). Park in Sno-Park lot and ski or snowshoe in approximately 4 miles.

From Medford, OR, take Highway 62 E/Crater Lake Highway toward Crater Lake/Klamath Falls for approximately 55 miles to Highway 230 N for approximately 21 miles. The Three Lakes Sno-Park/Trailhead (Forest Road 3703) will be on the left.

Guests need to purchase a Sno-Park permit to park at Three Lakes Sno-Park. These can be purchased at Diamond Lake Resort or other outlets. Click here for permit information and a list of outlets.