Idaho / Caribou County / Caribou-Targhee National Forest

Johnson Guard Station

Open — Open year-round for reservations via Recreation.gov at $60 per night. Accessible by car during warmer months and by snowmobile in winter. Guests should call the Montpelier Ranger District at (208) 847-0375 four days prior to arrival to confirm the security combination and check snow conditions November through June.

About

Johnson Guard Station sits on a site established in 1910, with the current cabin constructed in 1934. Named after James J. Johnson, who served as Georgetown Ranger District ranger from 1907-1913, this historic building has served various purposes from summer headquarters to housing work crews. The cabin is located 30 miles east of Soda Springs in a scenic meadow at 6,500 feet elevation, surrounded by the peaks of Dry Ridge and the Webster subrange. The guard station accommodates up to 15 people with one sleeping room containing four single beds. The kitchen features a gas stove for cooking and a dining table with chairs. Propane is provided for lights, cook stove, and gas furnace heating. A vault toilet and picnic table are located outside. Guests must bring their own water, bedding, sleeping pads, cookware, utensils, cleaning supplies, and garbage bags to pack out all trash. No electricity is available. The Bear Canyon OHV Trail is located about 1 mile north of the station, with additional trails nearby for hiking and mountain biking. Diamond Creek offers fishing opportunities, while the surrounding Caribou-Targhee National Forest attracts game and game bird hunters. In winter, the area becomes a playground for snowmobilers and skiers. Wildlife in the area includes elk, moose, mule deer, black bears, wolves, mountain lions, grizzly bears, bison, and pronghorn.

Directions

From Soda Springs, take Highway 34 north approximately 12 miles to the China Hat turnoff at Blackfoot River Narrows. Follow Blackfoot River Road for 11 miles to a junction with a Forest Service sign. Take the right fork onto Caribou National Forest Road 102 southeast for 10 miles to the guard station. The road becomes Diamond Creek Road.

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