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Sunshine Guard Station
The Sunshine Guard Station is located approximately 43 miles from the town of John Day, Oregon at 3,700 feet in elevation. This rustic cabin has four rooms - a kitchen, a living room and two bedrooms. Each bedroom is furnished with a Queen size bed. The living room is furnished with a couch, living room chairs, and coffee tables. The kitchen is furnished with a kitchen table and four chairs. Sunshine has electric lights, cook stove, refrigerator, and heater. The guard station is located adjacent to the Middle Fork of the John Day River. A beautiful location to relax or explore.
At a Glance
| Current Conditions: | Visitors should be prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions. Please remember that if you pack it in, please pack it out with you. To make reservations please visit www.recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777. Be advised there is no cell coverage in or around the guard station. |
|---|---|
| Operational Hours: | Sunshine Guard Station is open year round. |
| Reservations: | For reservations phone 1-877-444-6777 or visit: www.recreation.gov. |
| Area Amenities: |
|
| Fees: | Price and Capacity: $60 per night per group, with a maximum of six occupants. Fees are used directly for the maintenance and preservation of the work station. |
| Open Season: | Open year round. |
| Usage: | Light |
| Closest Towns: | Prairie City, OR. |
| Water: | no |
| Restroom: | Vault Toilet |
| Information Center: | Prairie City Ranger District |
General Information
Directions:From Prairie City, OR., travel east on US Highway 26 approximately 13 miles to the junction of US Highway 7. Turn left on US Highway 7, travel one mile to the junction with County Road 20. Follow County Road 20 approximately 10 miles, the guard station will be on the right.
General Notes:
- No smoking
- Pets are welcome
- There is no additional camping on site
Amenities
- Vault Toilet
- Electric Lights
- Electric Heaters
- Refrigerator
- Cook Stove
Parking:
The parking area becomes hard to access during the winter months due to snow. Visitors can park at the end of the driveway and walk into the guard station, it is a short distance.
Activities
Cabin Rentals
The winding stream of the Middle Fork John Day River and surrounding mountain peaks provide a serene backdrop to the Sunshine Guard Station. This charming cabin, sits on the foothills of the Vinegar Hill-Indian Rock Scenic Area nestled between a unique riparian habitat and tall ponderosa pines. The sounds of songbirds and the waters of a small seasonal creek flowing past the front door into the river provide a peaceful setting. In the surrounding area you can find alpine wildflowers, big game species and upland game birds, unique geologic formations, and a rich history of prospecting
Sunshine Guard Station overlooks the State Scenic Waterway of the Middle Fork John Day River. Nearby, the high elevation area of Vinegar Hill-Indian Rock Scenic Area provides spectacular vistas of the North Fork John Day Wilderness, the Middle and North Fork drainages of the John Day River, and the peaks of the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness to the south. Nearby easy-moderate trails such as Arch Rock National Scenic Trail #258 with its unique geologic formations, offer spectacular vistas and challenges for all levels of hikers. Magone Lake Campground, about 20 miles west of Sunshine Guard Stations, is one of Grant County's most popular lakes and offers fishing, picnicking, camping, hiking and bike trails, boating, and swimming.