USDA Forest Service · Idaho
Johnson Creek Guard Station
USDA Forest Service · Idaho, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 electric
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- No
- Showers
- Yes
- Elevation
- 5,141 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- ANTIMONY (NFSR 416) · native material · high clearance vehicles
- Lake
- Boise National Forest
- Nearest town
- Cascade
- Address
- PO Box 696, Cascade, ID, 83611
- Phone
- 208-382-7400
- Activities
- Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Historic Sites, Hunting, Mountain Biking, Wildlife Viewing
Season dates aren't confirmed for this campground yet - opening and closing dates haven't been verified. Check the operator's page or call ahead before you plan a trip.
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - the site map below shows each with its facts and pictures.
Site map
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one on the imagery, with the operator's own facts and pictures for each site where it publishes them. Tap a site to rate it, keep a note and add your own photos; press and hold the map for a pin of your own. Your ratings, notes, pins and photos are kept with the campground on your Saved list, the same list the camping map and the drive page keep.
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About
Overview
Johnson Creek Guard Station was built in 1922 and offers a charming mountain respite with modern conveniences. The cabin offers nearly everything needed for a pleasant and comfortable stay.
Peak season for the cabin is typically early June through late September. It can be accessed by most vehicles via dirt and gravel roads, but trailers are not
recommended.
Recreation
The cabin is near several trailheads into the Frank Church - River of No Return Wilderness. These non-motorized trails are popular for hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians. Off-road vehicle trails are also nearby. Click here for an Idaho OHV safety message.
The South Fork Salmon River and Johnson Creek offer opportunities for fishing. Berry picking and hunting are popular pastimes in season.
Facilities
The rustic cabin has two twin beds with mattresses in the loft, as well as two cots, a couch and a heater. A full size bed is in separate bedroom. The kitchen is equipped with a table and four chairs, an electric range and a refrigerator. Cookware and utensils are provided, including saucepans, pots and lids, plates, bowls, cups, mugs, utensils, knives, a cutting board, salad bowl and cookie sheet.
A modern bathroom with a flush toilet and shower is available. Two picnic tables, a campfire ring and two grills are located outside behind the cabin.
Guests must bring garbage bags to pack out their own trash. Bedding, lanterns or flashlights, towels and emergency drinking water are not provided.
Natural Features
Johnson Creek sits in a pretty mountain meadow a stone's throw from scenic Johnson Creek, a tributary of the South Fork Salmon River. Mountain slopes covered in dense pine forest surround the cabin.
Wildlife watchers may see deer, elk, bear and moose. Bald eagles are often spotted soaring overhead.
Nearby Attractions
The tiny community of Yellow Pine is a few miles north of the cabin and offers limited services. The popular Yellow Pine Music & Harmonica Festival is held annually in August.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 34° | 21° | 0° | 46° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 35° | 21° | -3° | 48° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 42° | 27° | 11° | 58° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 45° | 29° | 14° | 67° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 54° | 36° | 27° | 72° | 6 of 11 |
| June | 70° | 46° | 30° | 86° | 2 of 11 |
| July | 84° | 59° | 41° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 83° | 58° | 44° | 91° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 71° | 48° | 35° | 85° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 56° | 36° | 19° | 73° | 7 of 10 |
| November | 45° | 26° | -2° | 63° | 9 of 10 |
| December | 34° | 20° | 7° | 47° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Trails nearby
- Hennessey Meadows / Riordan Trailhead · 2.7 mi as the crow flies
Riordan Lake 5.4 mi Hike, Horse Heaven Meadow 3.0 mi Hike · Drive there - Parks Creek Trailhead · 3.2 mi as the crow flies
Parks Peak 6.7 mi Hike · Drive there - Meadow Creek / Summit Trailhead · 6.2 mi as the crow flies · Drive there
- Thunder Mountain Road / Riordan Trailhead · 7.5 mi as the crow flies
Thunder Mountain 3.5 mi Hike · Drive there - Rainbow Lake / Caton Lake Trailhead · 8.8 mi as the crow flies
Caton Lake 7.4 mi Hike · Drive there
All 494 trails in Boise National Forest · All 357 trails in Payette National Forest
Trailheads the Park Service and the Forest Service map, within 10 miles as the crow flies; each trail's page has its length, climbing and the Service's description.
Nearby campgrounds
- Golden Gate Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 9 sites
- Yellow Pine Campground · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi · 14 sites
- Ice Hole Campground · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 10 sites
- Four Mile · USDA Forest Service · 11 mi · 5 sites
- Camp Creek · USDA Forest Service · 12 mi · 5 sites
All public campgrounds in Idaho · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.