American River Guard Station
American River Guard Station is located about 40 miles west of Naches, Washington on the banks of the American River in the eastern Cascade Mountains. The rustic cabin and outhouse were built by the men of the 932nd Camp Naches Civilian Conservation Corps crew in 1941 as a summer residence and work site for fire patrol and recreation management personnel. In the 1970s, volunteers and permit holders sporadically used the cabin, until it was found eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. Today, the cabin offers visitors a wonderful setting for year-round recreation and relaxation.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins with electric | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | 300 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 4 |
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
| Max vehicle length | 15 ft |
The Depression-era rustic cabin has a small kitchen, a living/sleeping area, one bedroom and a full-sized sleeping loft and storage room. There is a queen-size sleeper sofa in the living room, a full-size bed and mattress in the bedroom and four twin size beds with mattresses in the upstairs loft. Sleeping bags and sleeping pads are not provided. The cabin is furnished with a dining table and chairs for four people (with hidden leaf to expand for eight people), a small refrigerator and an electric range. There is a wood stove, electric light fixtures and a living room electric baseboard heater. Guests should be aware that open flame devises such as propane stoves, gas lanterns, and candles are prohibited indoors. The kitchen is equipped with a coffee maker, pots, dishes and glassware, but guests must bring several of their own supplies including food, cooking utensils, dish soap, towels, matches, garbage bags and a first aid kit. Outside, near the cabin, there is a picnic table and campfire ring. The original two-seater outhouse has been restored. Wood may be available, but the supply cannot be guaranteed.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Located off State Route (SR) 410 near milepost 88. For security purposes, access to the cabin is through a locked gate; Doors to the cabin are also locked. The combination to the gate lock will be included in your confirmation letter. This same combination will open a security box by the main cabin door, which contains the cabin key.
| Nearest town | Naches, Washington |
| Coordinates | 46.9770° N, 121.1671° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireWest Fork
26 mi from the campground · 310 acres · 16% contained
- WildfireThree Queens
31 mi from the campground · 9,575 acres · 33% contained
- WildfireKing
34 mi from the campground · 3,427 acres · 36% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 10.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | OpenRoad RV ↗ | 27.4 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Worley-Bugger Fly Shop & Guide Service ↗ | 29.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
Boulder Cave Trail is one of the most popular places in the Naches District. Visitors can walk the accessible trail along the river or explore Boulder Cave. Interpretive signs along the trail explain the geology, plants, animals and history of the area. Other nearby activities include trails for horseback riding, biking, a lake with motorized and non-motorized access and a boat ramp, and winter opportunities for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Hikers may want to traverse a portion of the spectacular Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), one of the world's premier National Scenic Trails. Enjoy some of North America's most fantastic scenery, as the trail winds from Mexico to Canada through Washington state.
- 0.5 miAmerican Ridge Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 6.8 miCrow Lake Way Trailhead / Sno-Park ↗Trailhead
- 10.2 mi
Trails nearby
- 0.5 miAmerican Ridge ↗25.7 mi trail
- 1.3 miIndian Flat1.7 mi trail
- 2.1 miWest Quartz Creek Loop ↗12.5 mi trail
- 2.9 miRavens Roost ↗12.9 mi trail
- 3 miNew Roost ↗5.4 mi trail
- 3 miFifes Ridge ↗7.4 mi trail
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.5 miAmerican Ridge Trailhead ↗Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
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
William O. Douglas Wilderness begins about 4.9 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 4.9 miWilliam O. Douglas Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 168,955 acres
- 5.1 miNorse Peak Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 52,294 acres
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.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
Historic landmarks nearby
Natural features
The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest is defined by its diverse landscapes, boasting high, glaciated alpine peaks, lush valleys of old growth forest, and rugged shrub-steppe country. The American River Guard Station is nestled in an old-growth forest of Douglas fir, western hemlock, and a cedar understory with grassy areas, ferns and mosses. With the William O. Douglas and Norse Peak Wilderness areas nearby, the location is home to abundant wildlife, including deer, porcupine, native fish, and migratory birds. Endangered and threatened species, including the Northern Spotted Owl, gray wolves and grizzly bears also find havens in local ecosystems. Summer temperatures are generally sunny and warm with little precipitation, and winters boast mostly clear skies, but plenty of snow.
Recreation
The cabin setting provides ready access to Bumping Lake, where boating and fishing are popular. Hiking and horseback riding trails extend into the William O. Douglas and Norse Peak Wilderness areas, and off-road vehicle and snowmobile access draws visitors to the Little Naches drainage. In winter, snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing are popular in the American River area. The cabin is also conveniently located 30 minutes below the summit of Chinook Pass and Mt. Rainer National Park. A trip along the scenic Mather Parkway is a fantastic outing. The American River, adjacent to the cabin, offers a scenic backdrop for anglers. Its cold, clear waters sustain populations of rainbow and brown trout. Whitewater enthusiasts may enjoy a paddle on the American River or one of its tributaries.
Guidebooks for Washington
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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 American River Guard Station?
Sites at American River 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 American River Guard Station?
Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does American River Guard Station have?
1 site, including 1 cabin with power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at American River Guard Station?
The longest site here provides 15 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
What is there to do at American River Guard Station?
The cabin setting provides ready access to Bumping Lake, where boating and fishing are popular. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to American River Guard Station?
Naches, Washington. Boulder Cave Trail is one of the most popular places in the Naches District.
Source: Getting there
What if American River Guard Station is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are American Forks Campground (under 0.1 mi, partly first-come), Cedar Springs Campground (0.3 mi), and Indian Flat Group Site (0.9 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby