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A dark green Toyota pickup with a roof tent parked in tall dry grass as mist closes in.

Forest Service cabin or lookout

Walker Cabin

Forest Service cabin or lookout in Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Idaho County, Idaho. About 4,500 feet.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
Forest Service Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests
Elevation
About 4,500 ft As the Forest Service states
Sites
1 1 cabin non-electric
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Idaho County

Overview

Walker Cabin is nestled among trees just off Crooked River Road #233, which leads into the Gospel-Hump Wilderness Area, in the Nez Perce National Forest.

The cabin was originally built around 1930 as a summer home. Jerry and Helen Walker purchased the cabin in 1967, then donated it to the U.S. Forest Service in the 1980s. It is now available for public recreational use. The cabin must be reserved in advanced; there are no walk-ups.

Recreation

Crooked River is a popular area for many recreational opportunities, including hiking, trout fishing, hunting, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. A nice hiking trail is located behind the cabin.

Nearby trails lead to the Orogrande Summit, Buffalo Hump and Gospel Hump. Snowshoes may be required on the trails in winter. There are several lakes within a 3-mile radius that are easily accessible by foot or off-road vehicle.

Facilities

The rustic cabin has two bedrooms with two single beds each, a living room with a wood insert in the fireplace, several chairs, a table, a broom and a kitchen with a wood cook stove. A vault toilet is located in a separate building. Guests can find firewood in a shed behind the cabin.

Running water and electricity are not available. Guests should bring their own water supply and garbage bags to pack out their trash. Cookware, kitchen utensils, bedding and blankets are not provided. A lantern or flashlight and extra batteries are recommended ( click here for more details about this cabin ).

Natural Features

Walker Cabin sits at an elevation of 4,500 feet near the northern part of Gospel-Hump Wilderness, an area that is moist and densely forested. Big game species like elk, mule and whitetail deer, black bear, cougar, moose, mountain goat and mountain sheep live within the Wilderness. Chukar, grouse, squirrels and songbirds make their home here as well.

Nearby Attractions

The cabin is less than a mile from Orogrande, a historic mining site that is now a ghost town. The closest town, Elk City, Idaho, is a remote community with limited facilities that include a grocery store, restaurant, bar, laundromat, convenience store and gas stations.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • biking
  • camping
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • hunting
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Walker Cabin

The ringed pin is this cabin or lookout; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Nearest campgrounds

Camping near

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.

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