Timber Butte Cabin, Fall Creek, Oregon
Rustic · Nature · Wildlife
It was supposed to be an epic birthday spent in a remote wilderness cabin. Fire lookout rentals in Oregon are hard to come by and even with a six month’s lead time they are hard to land. So I was nothing but grins upon booking the Timber Butte Cabin in the Willamette National Forest about 20 miles outside of Lowell, Oregon. The only thing matching my excitement at the chance to leave the crowded campgrounds behind for the true wilds of Oregon was my husband’s dread.
Not one to be deterred by someone else’s dread with an epic birthday on the line, I pressed ahead packing and preparing to be totally self-sufficient for four days. No running water. No plumbing. No electricity. No Wi-Fi. No problem. A day before we were supposed to leave for the cabin, my husband suspiciously had something come up at work. After the appropriate amount of disappointment and shaming I gave him a resigned sigh. “All right,” I said. “The boys and I will still have fun.”
“Um – no,” said my husband. “Those forest service roads are crazy! What if you get lost out there?” He had a point. It wouldn’t be the first time a family ran into catastrophe on a forest service road in Oregon. After further discussion we reached a compromise. I’d take the boys camping at Tugman and Honeyman State Parks near Florence for two days then on the third day my husband would meet us on the covered bridge in Lowell so we could drive out to the Timber Butte Cabin together.
By the time we met up with my husband in Lowell, I was obnoxiously giddy. “This is going to be so fun!” I gushed. My husband still looked like a man about to walk the plank. Fortified with written instructions, satellite GPS and my phone with Google maps, I took the lead. Up the winding road we drove until the pavement turned into gravel. Gravel gave way to dirt and soon enough we were hiking through the forest in our car. Finally I was using the all-wheel drive on my Subaru – and it was freaking awesome! Like treasure hunters we kept our eyes peeled for the tiny, inconspicuous signs naming each forest service road. As expected, Google Maps failed when we lost cell service. But thanks to our satellite GPS and written instructions, we made it to the locked gate without any problems. It was there that I had my first twinge of worry.
Growing between tire ruts of the dirt road was dry, foot high grass. It was summer and the height of wildfire season in Oregon. And the very last thing I wanted to do on my birthday weekend was start a forest fire! I got out of my car to consult with my husband who promptly rolled his eyes, saw an opportunity to ditch the whole thing then chose to reassure me anyway. Carefully we proceeded up the butte - me watching my rearview mirror like a maniac for signs of fire - until at last we reached the outhouse at the top of the hill. Exhausted from the last mile of driving, I got out of my car and took a look at the place.
My husband looked confused. “Wait,” he said. “Where’s the cabin?”
I nodded to the path leading up another big hill. “It’s 100 yards that way,” I answered, not daring to look at him. “Alright boys,” take as much as you can. It’s a long way there and back.”
First impressions of the cabin went from favorable to puzzled about where everyone was going to sleep to mildly disturbed by the trail of ants crawling across the floor to some pantry items left in the corner. Still we were here – ready to commune with nature! I just needed to make sure our kids didn’t wander too far from the cabin and get lost in the forest. And since we were in bear country they needed to know to make noise when they were out walking around. And they should definitely know to use the outhouse when everyone else does because it was a long way there and back! Still – it was going to be fun. After dinner we’d just sit on the porch and watch the stars come out. Tomorrow we’d wake with the sun and have the whole day to relax and play in the forest. This was what I wanted for my birthday – a chance to unplug, unwind and be still with the Divine.
I thought about all of this as I washed the dinner dishes in the setting sun on a porch overlooking the forest. I thought about how I missed being okay with quiet. In the stress of life I had somehow grown anxious with my own thoughts. It was easier to stay busy. What would it feel like to just stop running?
I stopped and stared at the rustling bushes 10 yards from where I was standing. Something was over there, something big enough to rustle bushes five feet off the ground. I swallowed hard then straightened my shoulders. “Hey bear,” I bravely called out, clanging the blue enamelware mugs I was holding. “Get out of here bear! Go on – get out of here!”
In five seconds flat my husband was out on the porch from the cabin where he’d been entertaining our boys. “What’s going on?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” I said. “There was something moving in the bushes over there. It seemed pretty big.”
My husband grabbed the mugs from my hands and began to beat them together so furiously that flecks of blue enamelware went flying into the night. A minute later we were in lockdown inside our glass cabin with the curtains drawn as if that could somehow save us. Our two boys were bawling in terror while my desperate husband was already on the phone in the corner of the cabin with cell reception.
“Hello,” he said, as if the word was a lifeline. “Is this the Bandon Inn?”
And like that, my epic birthday plans were brought to a screeching halt. After breakfast the next morning we headed back down the forest service roads to Lowell. West to Eugene we drove then onward to the coast again. It was the second time in two days I had made the 102 mile drive. But outnumbered three to one I was overruled – even on my birthday. Totally deflated, I drove another 75 miles south to my favorite Oregon beach town and decided to make the best of it in Bandon. You know what they say. When life gives you bears, eat crab cakes.
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5 tips for renting a fire lookout or remote cabin
So our trip to the Timber Butte Cabin did not go quite as expected. That’s okay. It was still an Oregon adventure all our own! Here are five tips for renting your Oregon Fire lookout or remote cabin:
Plan ahead. Fire lookouts and remote cabins can be booked six months in advance through Recreation.gov - but good luck to you. These popular rentals are notoriously difficult to land. So be patient, flexible and keep an eye out for cancelations.
Fire lookouts and cabins are remote. This may sound like the most amazing aspect of the whole thing, but it also means navigating poorly marked and maintained forest service roads where cell service is unlikely. Getting lost or injured on a forest service road without cell service can have serious consequences. Make sure someone knows your planned route. Carry extra supplies and a first aid kit in your car. And consider investing in a satellite communicator (I use the Garmin inReach Mini). Do not rely on Google Maps.
Be mindful of wildlife. Black bears and cougars are common in Oregon’s forests. Generally, these animals would prefer not to meet you but they can be attracted to your site by food or startled when you’re out hiking. Read, understand and make sure your kids understand the information provided by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (black bear, cougar). Use bear bells when hiking in areas with bears and cougars. And consider carrying and knowing how to use bear mace (I carry Counter Assault Bear Deterrent).
Expect to be self-sufficient. This means bringing your own water, food, fuel, bedding, toilet paper - basically everything that you will need to live minus the structure. Double check your packing and always bring a little more than you think you will need. Some fire outlooks and remote cabins have an outhouse. Not all structures do, so you may need to bring a trowel.
Summer is wildfire season in Oregon. Be aware of fire restrictions in the area and know that just because there is a fire ring doesn’t mean you should or can legally have a fire. Consider carrying a fire extinguisher in your car and be informed about fire prevention and restrictions in Oregon.
As always, be sure to check local resources for weather, road conditions and COVID-19 related closures when planning your trip. And don’t forget to post your photos to #lifelivedoregonstyle on Instagram. We’ll see you out there!