California / Modoc County / Modoc National Forest

Patterson Guard Station

Closed — Closed for the season. The cabin operates from July 1 through late October and is available for reservation via Recreation.gov starting 6 months in advance. The access road is not maintained for winter travel.

About

Patterson Guard Station has stood since 1921, serving the Modoc National Forest as a fully staffed fire office and guard station until 1981. After recent renovations, this historic cabin is now available for overnight rentals from July through late October. Set at 7,112 feet elevation on the edge of a meadow surrounded by aspen, fir, and pine trees, the station offers a remote wilderness experience with modern convenience. The cabin sits just footsteps from the Summit Trail and one-quarter mile from the South Warner Wilderness boundary, making it an ideal basecamp for exploring the dramatic Warner Mountains. The South Warner Wilderness features trails for hiking and horseback riding through wild landscapes shaped by ancient volcanism and dramatic uplift. South-facing slopes host lodgepole and ponderosa pine, while north-facing slopes feature fir trees and aspen groves along streams. The cabin accommodates up to 8 people with one set of bunkbeds (two mattresses provided). A large turnaround parking area can accommodate camper trailers, smaller RVs, and gooseneck horse trailers, though no hookups are available. Groups exceeding 8 people can use the adjacent Patterson Campground's 6 developed sites. The station includes a dining table, picnic area, and an outhouse roughly 100 feet from the front door. Visitors must bring all drinking water as potable water is not available on-site. Blue Lake, 9 miles west, offers boating and fishing opportunities, while many surrounding roads outside the wilderness permit OHV use.

Directions

From Alturas, travel south on U.S. Highway 395 for 18 miles to Likely and turn left (east) onto County Road 64. Continue 9 miles toward Jess Valley and stay right at the fork toward Blue Lake (Blue Lake Road). Pavement ends in approximately 6.5 miles where the road becomes Forest Road 39N01 (South Warner Road). Continue 7.5 miles and turn left (north) at the sign for Patterson Campground (Forest Road 39N28), then stay left to reach Patterson Guard Station. Road not maintained for winter travel.

Nearby Campgrounds