Musick Guard Station
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.
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.
Notifications and Alerts
Location Closure: Due to extensive vandalism and destruction of property at Musick Guard Station, a CLOSURE of the site is now in effect. The extensive damage has made the location unfit for use at this time. Repairs and modifications need to be completed before reopening, including historical feature repair. The closure will likely remain in effect for the 2024 camping season. All current reservation holders will receive a full refund for any existing reservations. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. For more information, please call the Umpqua National Forest - Supervisor's Office at: (541) 957-3200
Need to Know
- Cell phone coverage in the area is unreliable and intermittent
- Maximum capacity of the guard station is ten people
- This cabin is an all-wood structure; extreme caution must be taken when using gas lanterns, cook stoves, or any other flammable appliances
- Pets are welcome, but please clean up after them
- While exploring the area, please respect the rights and improvements of the private property owners by not disturbing or removing any mining equipment, debris or mineral samples
- It is not safe to enter or explore any mining shaft or tunnel
- All garbage and food must be packed out
- Doors and windows should be locked and all personal items removed upon departure
- Please contact the Ranger District at (541)767-5000, Pacific Standard Time, prior to arriving at the cabin to check on any restrictions or conditions, such as fire or road closures, weather or storms that may affect the quality of your visit
- Learn more about Umpqua National Forest
- Don't Move Firewood: Please protect Pacific Northwest forests by preventing the spread of invasive species. Firewood can carry insects and diseases that can threaten the health of our western forests. You can make a difference by obtaining and burning your firewood near your camping destination. Visit Dontmovefirewood.org for further information.
- The cabin is a non-smoking facility
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.
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.
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.
Contact Information
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78405 Cedar Park Rd COTTAGE GROVE OR 97424
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 541-767-5000
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
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.
