Congo Gulch Umatilla National Forest Oregon

Congo Gulch Overview

Congo Gulch is an old Forest Service cabin and is part of the Fremont Powerhouse complex, a hub for mining built in the early 1900s. It can have up to 12 guests and 4 vehicles. For larger groups, additional guests can also pitch tents in the grassy yard. There is plenty of shade in the area.  FS Road 52 is not available in the winter. From October through May, access is only available from Baker City.

The cabin is open year round. Amenities include 1 queen bed, 3 twin beds, as well as 2 full-over-queen bunkbeds. Also, there are 2 futons, dining tables, chairs to go with, and dressers in all bedrooms. In addition, there is a refrigerator, electric stove/oven, microwave, coffee pot, toaster, as well as cooking supplies and dishes. The cabin also has a full bath with a shower/tub and a flush toilet, electric lights and an oil heating stove. A picnic table and brick fireplace are next to the pond but no firewood is available. There are also cleaning supplies. Water is available June through September only. An outhouse is available for use from October to May. Items to pack include food, bedding, a first aid kit, flashlight, garbage bags, matches, and all other basic camping gear. Cell service is not available. Pets are okay. Some close by RV dump stations include Sumpter RV Park (31mi east) and Mountain View Holiday Trav-L-Park (57mi east).

Congo Gulch – Area & Recreation

The Umatilla National Forest lies in the Blue Mountains. It is home to ponderosa and lodgepole pine, larch, and douglas fir. The cabin is next to a small pond too. A grassy lawn in front spreads to the other three cabins in the area. There is tons of wildlife in the area. Birds include the black-back woodpecker, american kestrel, and the boreal owl. Also, black bear, cougar, wolves, elk and deer are among the native land mammals.

Some popular things to do here and in the area are hiking, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, as well as hunting. Guests can hike on the North Fork John Day Wilderness Area trails or go mountain biking on forest roads. A drive along the Blue Mountain Scenic Byway is a treat too. Also, there is berry picking, mushroom picking, and exploring the historical and cultural history of the area. The surrounding valleys once teemed with mining activity, primarily gold. The Fremont Powerhouse, built in 1908, was for an economical method for mining.

Olive Lake is nearby and offers boating, fishing and swimming. Congo Gulch is less than six miles from Granite, a ghost town that once bustled with prospectors and pioneers. The town provides groceries and fuel. Opportunities for horseback riding and a boat ramp, boating, fishing, and swimming are located within ten miles from the cabin.

Other campgrounds you might like are Olive Lake, Corrigal Spring, Oriental, Welch Creek, Middle Fork, Deerhorn, as well as Fremont Miners Retreat.

Make a Reservation for Congo Gulch

Amenities

• Cell Service - None
• Drinking Water
• Dumpsters
• Fire Pit
• Hiking & Biking Trails
• Pets OK
• Picnic Tables
• Showers

Activities

• Berry Picking
• Biking
• Bird Watching
• Cultural Sites
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Historic Sites
• Hunting
• Mountain Biking
• Nature Trails
• Photography
• Picnicking
• Prospecting
• Stargazing
• Swimming
• Wading
• Water Sports
• Wildlife Viewing