Idaho / Caribou County / Caribou-Targhee National Forest

Clear Creek Guard Station

Open — Open year-round for reservations via Recreation.gov. Call the district office at (208) 847-0375 four days prior to arrival to confirm security combination. Snow conditions often affect accessibility from November through June; contact the Montpelier Ranger District before reserving during winter months.

About

Clear Creek Guard Station is located 20 miles northeast of Montpelier, Idaho, at an elevation of 6,500 feet near the confluence of Crow Creek and Clear Creek. The historic site has served as an administrative location since 1910, with the current A-frame cabin constructed by the Young Adult Conservation Corps in 1980. The single-room cabin accommodates up to 15 guests with three single beds, a wood stove for heat, table and chairs, and basic amenities. An outhouse, picnic table, and campfire ring are located outside. The cabin is accessible by car during snow-free months, but winter access requires snowmobiling approximately 5 miles from Crow Creek or 10 miles from Montpelier Reservoir. Guests must bring their own water, sleeping pads, bedding, lighting, cook stove, cooking supplies, and pack out all trash. The surrounding landscape is rugged and mountainous, featuring mixed conifer and aspen forests and mountain meadows. The area provides excellent year-round recreation including snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, hiking, off-road vehicle use, fishing in Clear Creek, and seasonal hunting. Wildlife in the region includes black bear, grizzly bear, wolf, elk, moose, mule deer, bison, mountain lion, and pronghorn.

Directions

From Montpelier, take Highway 89 east for 7 miles. At Montpelier Reservoir, turn north on Crow Creek Road/Forest Road 111 and travel 13 miles to the guard station. From Afton, Wyoming, take Highway 89 south and turn right on WY 236 North. Drive 2.6 miles to County Road 142/Fairview North Road. In less than a mile, turn left onto County Road 141/Crow Creek Road and follow for 16.5 miles. The guard station is off this road to the right.

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