Cabin rental · U.S. Forest Service · Ashley National Forest · Vernal, UT

Trout Creek Guard Station

Trout Creek Guard Station is located in the Trout Creek area, approximately 21 miles west of U.S. Highway 191 near Vernal, in eastern Utah. It is part of the beautiful Ashley National Forest. The Civilian Conservation Corps built the complex in 1934 as part of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal instituted during the Great Depression. It was a residence for rangers who patrolled the forest on horseback prior to the age of modern vehicles. The Ashley National Forest Vernal Ranger District has chosen to rent this guard station to the public so guests can enjoy a primitive experience similar to that of the first rangers.

Cabin rentalReservable · Recreation.gov1 sitePets okFires ok
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Trout CreekTrout Creek WinterTROUT CREEK GUARD STATIONTrout Creek Interior
Photos courtesy of Claire Wille 5/30/2024, Claire Wille 2024, USFS · Recreation.gov
4fires
active
D1 Pondo Rx (prescribed burn) · 11 mi away · 532 acres
3 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

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.

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
001Back-in80GravelPartial4 / 2YesYes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Amenities & rules

PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
AccessibilitySite 001 is listed accessible

The cabin can sleep two to four people on one twin-sized bunk bed. No linens, bedding or pillows are provided. The kitchen contains basic amenities including a sink, propane stove, refrigerator, table and four chairs. Very limited cookware is provided. Guests are required to bring their own cooking supplies. Combination code required to enter cabin. (Some combination locks used have off-set entry lines. The cabin has a wood stove inside for heat, and a campfire ring with a grill outside. A vault toilet is provided outside the cabin. Solar lights are provided, however, due to varying weather conditions, they are not reliable. Please be prepared with battery powered lanterns or flashlights. From approximately mid-September to mid-June (winter), most amenities are shut off, including the refrigerator. The operable amenities during this time are an outdoor vault toilet, propane stove for cooking and a wood-burning stove for heat.

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Trout Creek Guard Station20°30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 0.86 inches of precipitation, 13.5 inches of snowFebruary: 0.88 inches of precipitation, 13.2 inches of snowMarch: 1.19 inches of precipitation, 7.8 inches of snowApril: 1.23 inches of precipitation, 5.4 inches of snowMay: 1.56 inches of precipitation, 0.7 inches of snowJune: 0.93 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 0.91 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 1.18 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.66 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 1.54 inches of precipitation, 2.5 inches of snowNovember: 0.81 inches of precipitation, 7.6 inches of snowDecember: 0.89 inches of precipitation, 11.4 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 22.8°F averageFebruary: 27.5°F averageMarch: 38.2°F averageApril: 45.4°F averageMay: 54.4°F averageJune: 63.8°F averageJuly: 71.5°F averageAugust: 69.6°F averageSeptember: 60.4°F averageOctober: 48.0°F averageNovember: 34.1°F averageDecember: 23.0°F average0 in5 in10 in15 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Maeser 9Nw, 13 miles from the campground at 6,448 feet, station USC00425268 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 14 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 62 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

Follow the mileage indications below and look for signs on the ground when traveling to Trout Creek Guard Station. Leave with plenty of time to arrive at the guard station before dark. From Vernal, travel north on U.S. Highway 191/Vernal Avenue for approximately 20 miles.

Nearest townVernal, Utah
Coordinates40.7547° N, 109.6742° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • If code is not working, try off-setting entry line).

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    D1 Pondo Rx

    11 mi from the campground · 532 acres

  • Prescribed
    Hole In The Rock Rx

    28 mi from the campground · 85 acres

  • Prescribed
    Middle Beaver Rx

    29 mi from the campground · 50 acres

  • Prescribed
    Western Roughneck Rx

    38 mi from the campground · 472 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗11.7 mi
Outdoor gearRedneck Archery and Pro Shop ↗22.2 mi

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

Explore

Worth a stop

Numerous scenic driving routes on maintained dirt roads crisscross the area, providing miles of trails for off-road enthusiasts, hikers and mountain bikers. Trails lead to Oaks Park, East Park and Long Park Reservoirs, as well as smaller lakes, overlooks, forests, meadows and historic sites. The Ashley-Karst National Geologic Recreation Area offers dramatic canyons, densely forested backcountry areas, and vast networks of caves.

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.1 mi
    Trout Creek
    3.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.2 mi
    East Galloway
    2.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 1.3 mi
    North Fork Ashley
    2.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 1.6 mi
    Taylor Mtn Overlook
    1.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2 mi
    Ashley Driveway Spur B
    1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2 mi
    Ranger Peak
    2.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 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.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Ashley National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The charming red cabin sits at the edge of a meadow, just above Trout Creek. A scenic forest of pines and aspens surrounds the expansive meadow. Wildlife and summer wildflowers are abundant.

Recreation

In summer months, numerous hiking, biking and off-road trails crisscross the area. In winter months, endless snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing opportunities are right out the door.

Guidebooks for Utah

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

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Trout Creek Guard Station?

Sites at Trout Creek 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 Trout Creek Guard Station?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Trout Creek Guard Station have?

1 site, including 1 cabin.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Trout Creek Guard Station?

Yes, pets are allowed at Trout Creek Guard Station. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Trout Creek Guard Station?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 4 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.

Source: Fire nearby

Are there accessible sites at Trout Creek Guard Station?

Site 001 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Trout Creek Guard Station?

In summer months, numerous hiking, biking and off-road trails crisscross the area. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Trout Creek Guard Station?

Vernal, Utah. Numerous scenic driving routes on maintained dirt roads crisscross the area, providing miles of trails for off-road enthusiasts, hikers and mountain bikers.

Source: Getting there

What if Trout Creek Guard Station is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Oaks Park Campground (2.8 mi, first-come), South Fork Camping Area (3.6 mi, first-come), and Kaler Hollow Campground (4.8 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby