I don’t think it would qualify for an Instagram post as ‘glamping‘, but this week we spent a couple of nights in a cabin on the John Day River.
Winter snowstorms still pester the Bend area, but at the park we enjoyed sunny days and mild spring-like temperatures.
Oregon State Parks offers overnight stays in cabins, teepees and yurts at parks all over the state. Most of these exist at coastal parks, however a dozen parks east of the Cascades have structured camping options.
Most importantly for us, there is always at least one cabin that allows pets.
Cottonwood Canyon SP has four “rustic” cabins available by reservation year-round. These two room units can sleep 8 people, have electricity to provide lighting, wall mounted heaters and an AC unit.
Cooking isn’t allowed inside, but there’s a gas grill, picnic table and fire pit next to each cabin.
A covered porch offers un-obstructed views east across a grassy flat, willow-lined river and the canyon walls.
Our first morning was spent watching Big Horn Sheep graze on the rocky north face just above the campground.
Later in the day, we hiked up to the foot of that slope and the Pinnacles Trail Head. This trail and one on the opposite side of the river (Lost Corral Trail) follow the John Day for 4.3 miles around a couple of bends in the river.
Winter runoff made fishing impossible, but we managed to fill our time catching up on reading, watching wildlife, and relaxing.
Reservations are snapped up quickly, but we’ve managed to find a couple of open slots in the fall and hope to become regular visitors.
