1961 Creek-Side Cabin in Mt. Hood National Forest — $140,000

Still Creek runs right outside the door. In fall, salmon spawn in it. That alone is the reason to look at this place.

The cabin is 320 square feet, built in 1961, on a lot in Mt. Hood National Forest outside Rhododendron, Oregon. It has vaulted ceilings, wood floors, a galley kitchen, and an open living area on the main floor with a sleeping loft above. A big window looks out to the trees. The covered deck is large. There is a gated driveway.

There is no water to the cabin. There is an outhouse. No bathroom. Those are the two facts that will determine whether this works for you or not, and they belong at the front of any honest conversation about it.

What you get in exchange is a 320-square-foot room on a creek in a national forest, an hour from Portland. The water is calm enough for kids and dogs to wade in, with deeper pools nearby. The mountain bike trail to Trillium Lake starts at the property. The agent description calls it a basecamp, which is an accurate word for what this is.

The listing says sold as-is. The agent description is thin on specifics beyond that, so the condition of the structure, the state of the systems, and what the lot situation actually looks like are things you would need to see in person and ask about directly.

At $140,000, you are paying for the location and the creek access. The cabin itself is small and old and has no plumbing. Whether that price makes sense depends entirely on how much you want to be on Still Creek in the fall watching salmon move through, and how willing you are to work around the rest of it.