Wyoming / Carbon County / Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest

Jack Creek Guard Station

Closed — Closed for the season. The guard station typically operates mid-June through October, weather permitting. Reservations available through Recreation.gov.

About

The Jack Creek Guard Station is a historic Forest Service cabin built in 1934 by Ranger Evie Williams, who served as the northern ranger for the Encampment Ranger District. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this one-room log cabin was constructed following Forest Service Plan A-4, with Ranger Williams reportedly spending most of his construction budget on the foundation and chimney, then using personal funds to complete the windows and roof. Situated in a clearing surrounded by lodgepole pine, aspen, and mixed conifer forest at 8,500 feet elevation, the cabin offers a unique lodging experience in the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. The facility accommodates up to four people with two bunk beds, a combination wood/propane cook stove, simple table and chairs, and basic cooking and eating utensils. There is no indoor plumbing; a vault toilet is located within walking distance. Water is available during the operating season from a freeze-proof hydrant outside the cabin and from the nearby Jack Creek Campground. The area provides excellent opportunities for fishing in Jack Creek and nearby streams, hiking, backpacking, and wildlife viewing. Elk, deer, black bear, and moose are commonly seen in the area. The guard station serves as a convenient base for exploring the surrounding Sierra Madre Range, including access to wilderness areas and Continental Divide National Scenic Trail segments. Guests must pack in bedding, food, personal items, and pack out all trash.

Directions

From Saratoga, travel west on County Road 500 approximately 16 miles to the junction with County Road 405. Stay left and travel 3 miles to the forest boundary where the road becomes Forest Service Road 452. Continue on FSR 452 for 6.5 miles to Jack Creek Campground and the guard station. From Encampment, take State Highway 70 west for 7 miles, turn onto Forest Service Road 443 for approximately 15 miles to the junction of FSR 452, then go west for approximately 8 miles.

Nearby Campgrounds