Cabin rental · U.S. Forest Service · Caribou-Targhee National Forest · Montpelier, ID

Eight Mile Guard Station

Eight Mile Guard Station is a short drive from Soda Springs, Idaho. It was established as early as 1908. Several buildings have appeared on this site, although most were replaced or relocated. The current cabin was built in 1962. The guard station only accessible by snowmobile or skiing in winter, and guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety. Many conveniences are provided, especially in the warmer months, but additional supplies and gear may be needed to ensure a comfortable stay.

Cabin rentalReservable · Recreation.gov1 site
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Eight Mile Guard StationEight Mile Guard StationEIGHT MILE GUARD STATIONEIGHT MILE GUARD STATION
Photos courtesy of US Forest Service · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Cabins1
This cabin is booked as a single unit on Recreation.gov. The booking page shows which dates are open and how far ahead they release. How the booking window works

Site guide

1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteSurfaceShadePeople / vehicles
001GravelFull75 / 6

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Amenities & rules

The guard station has a maximum capacity of 75 people. The cabin can sleep eight people on the four bunk beds provided; there are no mattresses. Renters will need to provide sleeping pads and bedding. The cabin contains an indoor bathroom with a seasonally available flush toilet and shower. A large kitchen is equipped with a dining area and propane range with oven. The living room has a propane heater and wood stove. Firewood may be provided during the winter months but must be chopped. The cabin is equipped with a solar lighting system and propane lights are used for backup lighting. Propane is provided for the lights, range and heater. An outhouse with vault toilet is just behind the cabin. There is also a campfire circle with benches. The large garage has been renovated to be used as an outdoor dining/entertainment facility. Guests should come prepared with their own water supply. Bedding, cookware, kitchen utensils and emergency supplies are not provided. Guests are expected to clean the cabin and pack out their trash upon departure. Garbage bags and cleaning supplies are not available.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Eight Mile Guard Station20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 1.35 inches of precipitationFebruary: 1.35 inches of precipitationMarch: 1.41 inches of precipitationApril: 1.38 inches of precipitationMay: 2.32 inches of precipitationJune: 1.24 inches of precipitationJuly: 0.79 inches of precipitationAugust: 1.06 inches of precipitationSeptember: 1.81 inches of precipitationOctober: 1.05 inches of precipitationNovember: 0.77 inches of precipitationDecember: 1.19 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 21.2°F averageFebruary: 23.5°F averageMarch: 31.7°F averageApril: 41.1°F averageMay: 50.1°F averageJune: 58.0°F averageJuly: 66.0°F averageAugust: 64.8°F averageSeptember: 55.1°F averageOctober: 43.5°F averageNovember: 32.1°F averageDecember: 21.7°F average0 in0.5 in1 in1.5 in2 in2.5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Soda Springs AP, 8 miles from the campground at 5,842 feet, station USC00108535 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 16 inches a year.

Getting there

Eight Mile Guard Station is located 11 miles southwest of Soda Springs. Head east on Main Street in Soda Springs. Turn right onto South 3rd Street E for 1 mile. Continue onto Bailey Creek 8 Mile Road for 3.5 miles. Turn left onto 8 Mile Road for half a mile. Continue onto Nounan Road for 1.5 miles.

Nearest townMontpelier, Idaho
Coordinates42.5319° N, 111.5758° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • Water is not guaranteed, and there is no electricity.

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearMountain Top Outdoor Shop ↗34.6 mi
RV sales & serviceRV sales & service ↗35.6 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗38.3 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Worth a stop

Soda Springs attracts visitors for its variety of parks and historical landmarks. Visitors can see covered wagon ruts left in the soil from pioneers traveling the Oregon Trail, as well as explore Formation Springs and Cave. There's also a museum, a golf course and several places to shop and dine.

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.5 mi
    Bailey Creek ↗
    5.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 0.5 mi
    North Wilson
    2.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
  • 0.5 mi
    South Wilson
    3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.9 mi
    Sotter Creek
    1.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.6 mi
    Aspen Springs
    2.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 1.7 mi
    Cow Fork Bench
    2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The cabin sits in a meadow at an elevation of 6,000 feet, surrounded by stands of tall conifer trees. Eightmile Creek meanders nearby. The rugged limestone and dolomite peaks of the Bear River Range stretch out around the cabin. Visitors enjoy viewing summer wildflowers and an abundance of wildlife. Large populations of deer, elk and moose inhabit this rugged backcountry. Pikas and marmots are sometimes seen, and beavers make their home around mountain streams.

Recreation

Hikers, mountain bikers and off-road vehicle enthusiasts can all find trails nearby ( Idaho OHV safety message ). The winter months attract snowmobilers and cross-country skiers. Anglers can fish in Eightmile Creek. This is also a popular area for hunting game and game birds.

Guidebooks for Idaho

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Eight Mile Guard Station?

Sites at Eight Mile Guard Station are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Eight Mile Guard Station?

Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Eight Mile Guard Station have?

1 site, including 1 cabin.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at Eight Mile Guard Station?

The cabin contains an indoor bathroom with a seasonally available flush toilet and shower.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Eight Mile Guard Station?

Hikers, mountain bikers and off-road vehicle enthusiasts can all find trails nearby ( Idaho OHV safety message ). The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Eight Mile Guard Station?

Montpelier, Idaho. Soda Springs attracts visitors for its variety of parks and historical landmarks.

Source: Getting there

What if Eight Mile Guard Station is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Emigration Campground (11.2 mi), Summit View Campground (14.3 mi), and Maple Grove Campground (18.9 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby