Campground Details - LOUELLA CABIN, WA - ReserveAmerica

Overview

Located in the northeast portion of Olympic National Forest, Louella Cabin offers guests a unique lodging experience. It was built in 1912 by Forest Service employee, E. M. Cheney, who dedicated the structure to his wife, Louella. A fireguard was stationed at the cabin during the summer and fall.

During the Great Depression, a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp was built in the lower part of the meadow below the cabin and consisted of barracks, a bathhouse and mess hall. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the CCC worked on many projects in the area, including fire lookouts, trails, bridges, roads and planting trees after forest fires. After the CCC camp closed in 1939, the guard station was used by various agencies until 1976.

Today, the site offers guests year-round recreation and relaxation in Olympic National Forest. Access to the cabin is by vehicle; however, snow chains may be required in winter. The cabin offers several amenities, but guests will need to bring a few of their own supplies for a truly enjoyable stay.

Natural Features:

Louella Cabin sits on a gentle slope overlooking a valley and flanked by a canopy of towering Douglas fir.

Buckhorn Wilderness is accessible from the cabin. Located in the northeast corner of Olympic National Forest, the wilderness area is divided into northern and southern portions by the Dungeness River. The northern portion descends from higher mountainous terrain to lowlands, heavily forested in fir, hemlock, and cedar with an understory of moss, ferns, and berry bushes. South of the river, the terrain soars skyward to alpine meadows and rocky ridges.

Magnificent old-growth western hemlock, western red cedar and Douglas fir dominate the forest, providing habitat for elk, black-tailed deer, black bears and mountain lions.

Recreation:

The cabin is conveniently located near the Buckhorn Wilderness, which offers excellent opportunities for backpacking, horseback riding, hunting, mountain climbing and hiking, with over 58 miles of trails.

Anglers will enjoy fishing the wild and scenic Dungeness River, and are drawn to it for steelhead and cutthroat trout, as well as chinook, coho and a unique pink salmon that is an entirely native wild stock with no hatchery influence. The river is the second steepest river in the United States, with its headwaters high on Mount Mystery in Olympic National Park, and descending into Dungeness Bay on the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Facilities:

The four-room cabin can accommodate six people. The living room has a futon. One bedroom has a double bed and the other has twin bunk beds. The kitchen has a table and chairs, cook stove, refrigerator, dishes, pots, silverware and cooking utensils. The cabin also has electricity, lights and a propane heater. Propane is furnished.

An outdoor portable toilet is available that is serviced weekly. There is also a fire ring near the cabin for outdoor barbecuing and campfires, as well as a covered picnic table.

No drinking water is available at this facility. Guests must bring enough water for cooking, drinking and other household uses throughout their stay.

Guests need to provide their own sleeping bags, pillows, flashlights, towels, dish soap, matches, first aid kit, toilet paper and garbage bags. All trash and food must be packed out, and guests are expected to clean the cabin before leaving.

Nearby Attractions:

Take some time to visit Olympic National Park, known for its diverse and spectacular ecosystems.

Activities and Amenities

Within Facility
Bed(s) With Mattress Biking Birding Broom & Dust Pan Bunkbed(s) With Mattresses Cabin Rentals Campfire Rings Cleaning Supplies Climbing Cooking Pots Cooking Utensils Electric Stove Electricity Fire Extinguisher Fishing Futon(s)	Hiking Hunting Kitchen Lights Mountain Biking Parking Area Picnic Area Portable Toilets Propane Propane Heat Refrigerator River Access Table & Chairs Trails Wildlife Viewing

Know Before You Go

There is no potable water at this site
Entry to the cabin is by a key stored in a lock box; the required combination to gain access to the key pickup box must be obtained by calling the Hood Canal Ranger Station in Quilcene at (360) 765-2200 (ffice hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed on holidays)
Please contact the Ranger District prior to arriving at the cabin to check on any restrictions or conditions, such as fire or road closures, weather or storms that may affect the quality of your visit
The maximum cabin capacity is 6 people, although provisions can be made for extra people on a case by case basis with approval by the District Ranger; an extra $5.00 per person per night will be charged with payment and approval through the Quilcene Office
Pets are not allowed at this facility
Pack out all food and garbage and clean the facility before you leave
Doors and windows should be locked and all personal items removed upon departure
The cabin is a no-smoking facility
The nearest phone is 5 miles away at Sequim Bay State Park.
Learn more about Olympic National Forest

Due to the spread of invasive insects, firewood from outside the area is not permitted. Help protect our forests by purchasing or collecting firewood at or near your camping destination and burning it on-site. Click here for more information

Getting There:

GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude):
47.99333, -123.0825
47°59'36"N, 123°4'57"W

From Sequim, travel 4 miles east, across from Sequim Bay State Park. Turn southwest on Louella Road. Travel 1 mile, then turn left onto the Palo Alto Road and travel approximately 4 miles. The access drive to Louella Cabin is by the bulletin board on the right. Turn into the driveway, go past the first building, and Louella Cabin is on the right.

Access to the cabin by vehicle may require chains in the winter during periods of heavy snow; the last 1/8 mile of road is not plowed.