The Long Way
Curry County
A small white building with a wooden porch and ramp surrounded by trees.
Plate I. Exterior of Packers Cabin. From recreation.gov
Two people standing on the porch of a cabin in the woods.
Plate II. Porch and exterior, Packers Cabin. From recreation.gov
Interior view of a rustic room with a wooden table, chairs, and red lantern.
Plate III. Cabin interior, Packers Cabin. From recreation.gov
An interior view showing wooden bunk beds with mattresses.
Plate IV. Bunk beds inside Packers Cabin. From recreation.gov

Packers Cabin

Brookings, Curry County, Oregon. Cabin.

Details

Map. Brookings, Curry County, Oregon. Larger map
Where
Brookings, Curry County, OR. No street address stated. Directions
Season
Campground management has not identified season dates.
Getting there
From Brookings, Oregon, take U.S. Highway 101 and turn onto County Road 784 (North Bank Chetco River Road). This becomes Forest Road 1376. Follow this Forest Road 1376 to the junction with Forest Road 1917. Follow Forest Road 1917 for 5 miles to Forest Road 1917-110, the entrance to Packer's Cabin.
Fees
$65 per night (up to 12 people).
Access
No water on site; visitors must bring a sufficient supply for drinking, cooking and washing.
Walk-in or reserve
Entry by combination lock; combination in the Recreation.gov confirmation letter; call the Gold Beach Ranger District at (541)247-3600 four days before arrival.
Phone
541-247-3600
Website
fs.usda.gov
Managed by
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.
Established
1930s.
Coordinates
42.24501, -124.08401.

Packers Cabin was originally built during the 1930s and served as the headquarters for the Forest Service packer who supplied lookouts and field crews by horse or mule pack trains.

Notable Events

  1. 1889The area was enclosed within a Native American allotment; the page says Van Pelt and early pioneer settlers married into the Chetco band. fs.usda.gov
  2. 1914The Forest Service had begun using the site; the Long Ridge Lookout phone line was completed and the spring was probably used for a camp. fs.usda.gov
  3. 1930sRemote fire lookouts depended on a packer making rounds with mules carrying food, cooking supplies, and tools. fs.usda.gov
  4. 2002The lightning-caused Biscuit Fire burned near the cabin, but the historic site was not affected. fs.usda.gov
  5. 2017The Galice Wildand Fire Module conducted firing operations around the cabin and saved it from the lightning-caused Chetco Bar Fire. fs.usda.gov
  6. 2024The cabin was temporarily closed because of vandalism. fs.usda.gov
  7. 2025The Cabin Fire burned near the cabin in the afternoon of September 2nd and destroyed the historic cabin despite a rapid response. fs.usda.gov

People

  • Van Pelt, Early pioneer settler; married into the Chetco band.

Sources

  1. fs.usda.gov/r06/rogue-siskiyou/recreation/packers-cabin
  2. fs.usda.gov/r06/rogue-siskiyou/newsroom/releases/cabin-fire-destroys-historic-packers-cabin
  3. recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234160
  4. ktvl.com/news/local/cabin-fire-destroys-historic-packers-cabin-on-the-rogue-river-siskiyou-national-forest
  5. visittheoregoncoast.com/cities/harbor/accommodations/packers-cabin