Cabin rental · U.S. Forest Service · Bridger-Teton National Forest · Kemmerer, WY

Scaler Guard Station

Historic Scaler Guard Station, located 78 miles north of Kemmerer, Wyoming, provides an excellent hideaway for cabin camping enthusiasts. The cabin allows pets and horses. Hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails are in the vicinity. Constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the former ranger guard station dates back to 1937.

Cabin rentalFirst-come, first-servedFires ok

Sites are first-come, first-served. Recreation.gov lists this campground for paying on site, and you may be able to pay with the Scan and Pay feature of its app.

SCALER GUARD STATIONSCALER GUARD STATIONSCALER GUARD STATIONSCALER GUARD STATION
Photos via Recreation.gov

Amenities & rules

CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

The three-room guard station is a traditional 1930s-era forest cabin that sleeps six guests on three bunkbeds with mattresses. A picnic table and campfire ring are located outside in front of the cabin. There is no running water available at this cabin. The cabin is equipped with a propane stove and oven, a propane refrigerator, lights and a wood stove. A vault toilet is located behind the structure. No electricity, linens or bedding are provided. In winter, no drinking water is available, so guests should bring plenty for drinking and cooking. Recommended items to bring include dish soap, dish towerls, toilet paper, gargbag bags and a flashlight. If wood is available, please use only what you need. Always be prepared to collect wood locally or bering to site from local resources.

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

Getting there

From Kemmerer, WY, follow US-189 north to the junction of La Barge Road, about a mile south of the town of La Barge. Turn left on La Barge Road and drive 25 miles to the forest boundary. If coming from Big Piney, WY go south on US-189 then turn right about a mile south of the town of LaBarge onto LaBarge Rd.

Nearest townKemmerer, Wyoming
Coordinates42.4300° N, 110.5817° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • Some dishes, pots, pans and utensils are provided, however the presence of these items is not guaranteed.
  • If firewood is on site, this is a courtesy but is not guarenteed.

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearMountain Top Outdoor Shop ↗25.3 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗39.9 mi
RV sales & serviceAirstream of Wyoming ↗48.7 mi

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

Explore

Worth a stop

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →

Trailheads within three miles

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

Natural features

Sagebrush and grasses cover the area behind the cabin. A few pines are dispersed in the vicinity, but shade by the cabin is limited. Moose, elk, eagles and sandhill cranes are among the wildlife likely to be seen. An abundance of wildflowers color the landscape in summer. The Bridger-Teton National Forest offers more than 3.4 million acres of public lands for outdoor recreation. With its pristine watersheds, abundant wildlife and immense wildlands, the forest comprises a large part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the largest intact ecosystem in the lower 48 states.

Recreation

The nearby Absaroka Ridge Trailhead leads hikers and horseback riders along Fontenelle Creek, and provides access into Pomeroy Basin. This trail also attracts big game hunters. Other trails throughout the LaBarge Creek area are ideal for mountain bikers and horse travel.

Guidebooks for Wyoming

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

  • Camping Wyoming and the Black Hills
    Kenneth Lee Graham, 2023
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Moon Montana, Wyoming and Idaho Camping
    Becky Lomax, 2015
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Hiking Wyoming's Wind River Range
    Ben Adkison, 2023
    Find at Bookshop.org

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

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Scaler Guard Station?

No. Scaler Guard Station is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.

Source: How first-come camping works

Can I have a campfire at Scaler Guard Station?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

What is there to do at Scaler Guard Station?

The nearby Absaroka Ridge Trailhead leads hikers and horseback riders along Fontenelle Creek, and provides access into Pomeroy Basin. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Scaler Guard Station?

Kemmerer, Wyoming.

Source: Getting there

What if Scaler Guard Station is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Hobble Creek Campground (10.6 mi, first-come), Middle Piney Lake Campground (12 mi, first-come), and Sacajawea Campground (13.3 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby