Jack Creek Guard Station

About

Jack Creek Guard Station offers a unique opportunity to stay in a piece of Forest Service history. Built in 1934 by Ranger Evie Williams as the northern ranger cabin for the Encampment Ranger District, this one-room cabin is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Oral history recounts that Ranger Williams spent most of his construction budget on the foundation and chimney, finishing the windows and roof with his own funds. The cabin sits in a clearing of lodgepole pine, aspen, and mixed conifer forest at 8,500 feet elevation in the Sierra Madre range. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, with elk, deer, bear, and moose frequenting the area. The nearby Jack Creek Campground and access to the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail make this an ideal base for fishing and hiking. The cabin accommodates up to four guests on two sets of bunk beds. A combination wood and propane cook stove provides heat and cooking capability, and basic cooking utensils are supplied. There is no indoor plumbing; a vault toilet is located within walking distance. Potable water is available seasonally from a freeze-proof hydrant. Guests must bring bedding, food, trash bags, and toilet paper. Tents, trailers, and pack animals are prohibited at the site.

Directions

From Saratoga, travel west on County Road 500 approximately 16 miles to 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.