Bagby Guard Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bagby Guard Station
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| Location | Mount Hood National Forest |
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| Nearest city | Estacada, Oregon |
| Built | 1913 |
| Architect | Phillip Putz |
| Architectural style | Oregon Rustic |
| NRHP reference No. | 99001088 |
| Added to NRHP | September 13, 1999 |
The Bagby Guard Station is a cool old cabin hidden deep inside the Mount Hood National Forest in western Oregon, United States. It's right next to the famous Bagby Hot Springs. This special cabin was first built to give firefighters a place to stay while they watched over the huge forest. Today, the Bagby Guard Station is so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
A Look Back in Time
Back in the 1920s and 1930s, it was really hard to get around in the huge National Forests. There weren't many roads. Forest Service workers often had to walk or ride horses for many miles. They carried all their tools and gear with them. Because of this, it wasn't practical for them to go home every day.
To help workers do their jobs in far-off places, the Forest Service built small cabins called guard stations. These were placed in important spots throughout the forest. They gave firefighters and other work crews a place to live and rest.
After World War II, the Forest Service built many more roads. This meant workers could reach most forest areas in just a few hours. Because of the new roads, many guard stations were no longer needed. Some were used for new things, but most were torn down or left empty.
The Bagby Guard Station is in the Mount Hood National Forest. It's about 40 miles (64 km) southeast of Estacada, Oregon. The cabin is just outside the Bull of the Woods Wilderness area. Phillip F. Putz, a Forest Service guard, built it in 1913 right next to Bagby Hot Springs. He also built a small storage shed nearby.
For many years, the guard station was a place for Forest Service fire crews. They stayed there during the summer fire season to patrol the forest. In 1925, Putz built his own home in Colton, Oregon.
During the 1920s, summer fire crews built other buildings at the site. These included a barn, a dam, a bathhouse, and more shelters. But all of these buildings are now gone. Over time, the first guard station cabin started to fall apart. So, the Forest Service built a new cabin for the Bagby guard in 1974.
The original cabin is special because of its old-fashioned style and its history. It shows what early Forest Service buildings were like. Because of this, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. In 2006, volunteers helped the Forest Service fix up and save the old Bagby Guard Station cabin.
About the Cabin
The Bagby Guard Station is in a quiet part of the Clackamas Ranger District. It sits on the western side of the Cascade Mountains, about 2,272 feet (693 m) high. The cabin is surrounded by a beautiful, untouched old-growth forest. You can see tall Douglas-fir, western hemlock, and western red cedar trees all around it.
The guard station is a traditional log cabin. It has a wood shingle roof and a stone foundation. It's one big room, about 24 feet (7.3 m) long and 16 feet (4.9 m) wide. The logs used to build it were cut and peeled right there. This helps the cabin blend in with the forest landscape. The small shed that was built long ago is still next to the cabin. Both of these old buildings were fixed up in 2006. However, they are not open for people to go inside.
Besides the two old buildings, there are seven other buildings at the Bagby site. These include the newer guard station and a storage shed built in 1974. There are also three bathhouses built between 1983 and 1986. Plus, there are two outhouses for visitors to use.
Fun Things to Do
The guard station is right in the middle of Bagby Hot Springs. There are three main hot springs and a few smaller ones here. The biggest spring flows 24 gallons (91 liters) of hot water every minute at 138 degrees Fahrenheit (59 degrees Celsius)! The other two main springs are also very warm.
There are three bathhouses at the site. The Main Bathhouse has five cedar log tubs. Each tub is in its own private, rustic room. Nearby, the Lower Bathhouse has three log tubs and a big round tub on an open deck. The Upper Bathhouse is about 100 yards (91 m) southeast of the Main Bathhouse. It has one large round tub on an open deck. Bagby Hot Springs is only for day visits. You cannot camp at the hot springs or along the trail leading to them.
The Bull of the Woods Wilderness is a huge area, about 27,427 acres (111 km²). It's only about half a mile (0.8 km) up the trail from the guard station. This means visitors can easily get to the wilderness trails from Bagby. Bull of the Woods Peak is at the center of a 68-mile (109 km) trail system. The Pansy Lake Trail takes hikers to the peak's 5,523-foot (1,683 m) summit. From there, an old lookout tower gives amazing views of the area. Wilderness trails also lead to a dozen beautiful lakes with native trout. Twin Lakes and Elk Lake are the most popular. The Collawash, Breitenbush, and Little North Santiam Rivers all start in the Bull of the Woods Wilderness.
How to Get There
There is no road that goes right to Bagby Guard Station. Visitors must hike a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) trail from a Forest Service parking area to reach the site. It's a fairly easy hike, with only about a 200-foot (61 m) climb in elevation. The Forest Service and volunteers help keep the trail in good shape.
It's about 40 miles (64 km) from Estacada to the Bagby trailhead. To get there from Estacada, take Highway 224 for about 26 miles (42 km) to Ripplebrook Guard Station. Then, follow Forest Service Road 46 for 4 miles (6.4 km) until you reach Forest Service Road 63. Turn right and follow Road 63 for 4 miles (6.4 km) to Forest Service Road 70. Turn right onto Road 70 and follow it for 6 miles (9.7 km) to the Bagby Trailhead. You need a $5 Forest Service permit to park your car at the trailhead. Bagby is usually open all year. However, the roads to the trailhead might close after some winter snowstorms.
Images for kids
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Bagby Guard Station cabin repair project
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Local area map of Bagby Guard Station and Bagby Hot Springs
