24mi from Odell · 1 siteOur Fire Watch Cabin: Off-Grid'ish at the Base of Mt. Adams
Want the off-grid feeling without giving up all the comforts of home? Come stay at our little retired DNR Fire Watch Cabin in Trout Lake, WA, tucked right at the foot of Mt. Adams.
The cabin sleeps up to 2 adults and 2 kids, with a queen bed and a fold-out cot tucked underneath. It's true off-grid, with solar and battery lights and propane heat, but you're not totally roughing it. Just a short walk to the barn you'll find a full bathroom with shower and a kitchenette (fridge, microwave, coffee pot, air fryer), reserved just for cabin guests. There's a porta-potty right next to the cabin too, so no midnight walks to the barn. We provide all linens and towels and can set you up with some basic cooking utensils if you need. If you need to get some work done while you're here, we have Starlink and reliable Wi-Fi.
There's a barbecue right outside your cabin for your use, plus a fire pit (campfires welcome whenever there's no burn ban - we are in one right now Aug-Sept).
This is an off grid cabin, and thus there is no AC. Please consider this when making your booking during higher temperature seasons. It can get very warm there.
You're not just near the outdoors here. You're at the front door of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, 1.3 million acres of old-growth forest, alpine lakes, lava tubes, and glaciers wrapped around Mt. Adams. Here's what that looks like season to season from our front yard:
Summer: Prime time in the forest. Hike, swim, fish, and mountain bike; the Sleeping Beauty trail is minutes away for a big-view climb. Cool off in the Guler Ice Caves, a 2,000-foot lava tube where you can wander past frozen stalactites and stalagmites even in the heat of summer, or explore the neighboring Cheese Caves, an old natural cheese cellar you climb down into. Chase the reflection shot at Takhlakh Lake, where crystal-clear water mirrors Mt. Adams, or spend a day at Goose Lake and Council Lake. For the ambitious, Mt. Adams offers sport climbing routes and the South Climb up the glaciated summit, one of the most iconic experiences in the whole forest. And you're still just 30 minutes from White Salmon and Hood River for wineries when you want a break from the trail.
Fall: My favorite season. Unbeatable colors through the forest, the Hood River fishery has been on fire lately, and it's a beautiful, quiet time to wander the backcountry as the crowds thin out.
Winter: A snow playground. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing straight into the national forest, plus we're sled-friendly: ample parking for snowmobile trailers and a shop where you can wrench on your sleds. Or just bring a good book and hibernate in a hammock.
Spring: Gorgeous up here, and turkey season is a favorite. Wildflower meadows start opening up in the high country, and there's room for boats and trailers if you're headed to Drano Lake (about 30 min) for springer salmon. If you like exploring, the Big Lava Bed, a 12,500-acre crater of crevasses, small caves, and rock formations, is a wild, otherworldly day trip about 40 minutes out.
A few good-to-knows: pets are welcome, just keep them well-behaved and close to the cabin. If you are coming up to Mount Adams or Gifford Pinchot to mountain bike or ride dirt bikes, we do have an adjacent workshop and a full set of tools. If you need to wrench on those or your snowmobiles in the winter, let us know in advance and we can arrange access to the workshop for you.
We can arrange rentals of e-mountain bikes through a third party if you wish. Just let us know in advance.
We can't wait to meet you!