Lodgepole Guard Station
The guard station at Lodgepole Meadow was built in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps to replace the original station built in 1911. Lodgepole Meadow was used as a remote guard station for the early Forest Service crews working in the area. During WWII, Herb and Zella Wright, a husband and wife lookout team, lived throughout the winter high up on the Blue Rock Lookout several miles away watching for enemy aircraft. Lodgepole Guard Station served as their base camp. Today, Lodgepole Guard Station is a perfect destination for horse enthusiasts, families and those looking for a unique camping experience in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Pull-through | 50 | Gravel | 6 / 4 | Yes | Standard |
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
| Max vehicle length | 40 ft |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
Considered to be an outstanding example of Civilian Conservation Corps construction in the Pacific Northwest, the one story cabin is designed to comfortably sleep 4 occupants. The bedroom is furnished with a full-size bed, a small closet and one dresser. The living room is furnished with a futon and coffee table. The kitchen is equipped with a table and chairs, a sink, a refrigerator, a stove, and basic cooking utensils. The bathroom has running water, a shower and flush toilet. The heater, stove and refrigerator are operated by propane and potable water may be available for drinking and cooking from the faucet. Guests will also need to bring sleeping bags & towels. A former bunkhouse, tool shed, barn and stable with several horse paddocks, are also on site. There is additional space for tent camping in the yard.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Butte Falls, OR, drive east on the Butte Falls - Fish Lake Highway (County Road 821). Less than a mile from town, turn left onto the Butte Fall - Prospect Highway (County Road 992) and travel north on County Road 992. Go 9 miles on County Road 992 to Forest Road 34.
| Nearest town | Butte Falls, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 42.6539° N, 122.3791° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- (call ranger station to check status of water at cabin) A picnic table in the backyard permits comfortable outside dining.
- Lighting is not available at the site, so bringing lanterns and flashlights is a must.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx Long Prairie
29 mi from the campground · 112 acres
- PrescribedRx Cold Springs
46 mi from the campground · 158 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Mazama Campground Dump Station ↗ | 18.3 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Water World boats ↗ | 30 mi |
| RV sales & service | Blue Dog RV of Oregon ↗ | 31 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
Diamond Lake Resort, Crater Lake National Park, Lost Creek Lake, Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway, National Falls, Rogue Gorge, Natural Bridge and Mount McLoughlin are all wonderful sights to see.
- 11.6 miRed Blanket Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 12.5 miVarmint Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 2.2 miGiant Sugarpine0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.6 miSouth Fork ↗11 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 2.5 miLower South Fork Trailhead ↗Rogue River-Siskiyou 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
Sky Lakes Wilderness begins about 0.4 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 0.4 miSky Lakes Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 113,571 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
On the National Register nearby
- Lodgepole Guard StationBuilding · Butte Falls · 0 mi
- Imnaha Guard StationBuilding · Butte Falls · 4.2 mi
- Parker Meadows ShelterStructure · Butte Falls · 4.6 mi
Natural features
Lodgepole Guard Station is surrounded by 40 acres of cross-fenced pastures dotted with pines, and surrounded by forested rolling hills. The large grassy meadow has a long history of being a major grazing area for horses and cattle, and that tradition continues today. Diverse landscapes of the Rogue River Siskiyou National Forest provide habitat for a wide-range of wildlife in the area, including spotted owls and bull elk to salamanders and salmon. These species, along with many others, depend on the surrounding undeveloped wilderness, undisturbed wetlands, clean streams, and diverse forests to live.
Recreation
The meadow offers plenty of room and even terrain for a large group of visitors to spread out, camp, horseback ride, hike, mountain bike or just relax. Additional horseback riding trails are a short trailer ride away, and include the Alta Lake, Middle Fork and Seven Lakes Trails, all of which lead into the Sky Lakes Wilderness.
Guidebooks for Oregon
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 Lodgepole Guard Station?
Sites at Lodgepole 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 Lodgepole Guard Station?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Lodgepole Guard Station have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Lodgepole Guard Station?
The longest site here provides 40 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
Are there showers or a dump station at Lodgepole Guard Station?
The bathroom has running water, a shower and flush toilet.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Lodgepole Guard Station?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 2 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Lodgepole Guard Station?
The meadow offers plenty of room and even terrain for a large group of visitors to spread out, camp, horseback ride, hike, mountain bike or just relax. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Lodgepole Guard Station?
Butte Falls, Oregon. Diamond Lake Resort, Crater Lake National Park, Lost Creek Lake, Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway, National Falls, Rogue Gorge, Natural Bridge and Mount McLoughlin are all wonderful sights to see.
Source: Getting there
What if Lodgepole Guard Station is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Fourbit Ford Campground (10.7 mi), Whiskey Springs Campground (11.1 mi), and River Bridge Campground (13 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby