Utah / Cache County / Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest

Blacksmith Fork Guard Station

Open — Open year-round for reservations via Recreation.gov. Wheeled vehicle access to the Guard Station is typically available from approximately April 15 to December 1, with winter access requiring over-snow travel.

About

Blacksmith Fork Guard Station is a historic cabin rental in the Cache National Forest, approximately 11 miles east of Hyrum in northern Utah. Constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1934 as part of the New Deal Program, the station represents an era when Forest Service stations were typically spaced a "days ride by horseback" from each other. The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest now rents this cabin to the public so visitors can enjoy a rustic experience similar to that of early Forest Rangers and their families. The small green and white cabin sits on the bank of the Left Hand Fork of the Blacksmith Fork River at an elevation of 5,400 feet. It is surrounded by box elder and oak trees with the steep canyon wall behind the cabin covered in Douglas fir trees. The Guard Station complex can sleep 5 people inside the cabin, with additional space for up to 4 tents outside and room for a small travel trailer in the driveway. The location offers excellent access to outdoor recreation, with hiking, biking, horseback riding, and off-road vehicle trails crisscrossing the surrounding area. The cabin is less than one mile from the Richards Hollow Trailhead and Friendship Campground. Hardware Ranch Wildlife Management Area is approximately 5 miles southeast along the main fork of the Blacksmith Fork River. Visitors should note there is no drinking water, electricity, or sewer hookups at the cabin, and the area is common for rattlesnakes during warmer months.

Directions

From Logan, Utah, drive south on US 89 for approximately 1 mile then merge left onto State Route 165. Travel south for about 5.8 miles then turn left onto State Route 101 and follow it east up Blacksmith Fork Canyon for approximately 9 miles. Turn left into Left Hand Fork Canyon and travel approximately 3 miles on the improved gravel road to the Guard Station.

Nearby Campgrounds