Malheur Field Station — Local services in Burns

It was nice having a really dark area for night photography. We were the only group there so we didn't have to deal with other people or worry about messing them up. It was also nice having plumbing, electricity and solid walls to go back to.

The staff was really nice and super friendly. The bird blind was quality and nice to have. With its current location using it in the evening was pretty bad once the sun got low enough.

Not ADA friendly. The front stairs suck on Dorm E. The toilets didn't have much needed hand bars and the seats were barely attached. Urinals both said out of order. Super tall and olfd beds. Appeared to be metal hospital beds from the 1950s–60s. There was a low Hollywood frame available on the Woman Wing so I stayed in that room with my wife. The Hollywood frame on the Mens Wing was already claimed. The building with the cafeteria has a nice long ramp that doesn't go anywhere useful. The actual steps were spiked metal grating. The only other ramp I saw was really short and steep (looked unuseable tbh). Super hot water from the sinks — nice!

Our room, #6 (I believe) on the "Woman's wing" suddenly had a really odd smell that I didn't smell anywhere else in the dorm. I don't even know how to describe it other than unpleasant. The vent was blowing for the first time that I remember when this first showed up.

After all that, I'd go back for...

I can't say enough about how wonderful our trips to the Malheur Field Station, year after year, have been. We are in our mid 70s, and have been coming back for 20 years. This is a wild, remote corner of Oregon, so if you are expecting down duvets or perfumed bath soap, keep driving down the road. Lodging here can be anything from a trailer, an efficiency tiny house, a space for large groups. Terrific flexibility. The manager will send you information on what to expect. Read it! Bugs in season, potable water that you pump from a bottle, non- potable water from the tap, a need to bring your own bedding, wild weather. And you will find yourself under the big wide sky of the Malheur Ntnl Wildlife Refuge. Stars from one corner of the sky to the next, coyotes yipping at night, and BIRDS!...

Unfortunately, we had a negative experience at MFS and will not be returning or recommending anyone to stay here, especially if you do research.

Main takeaways: water is not potable and there is no mention of this when booking, communication is poor, animals will share your space with you.

I’ve edited my review to respond to the below comment. My experience was documented and I have receipts to prove that these events took place. A What To Expect file was never sent to me or anyone on my team. I never spoke with this person on the phone. I returned a singular call where I received their voicemail and left a message for them. All other communication took...