Cabin rental · U.S. Forest Service · Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest · Payson, UT

Payson Lakes Guard Station

Payson Lakes Guard Station is located in the Uinta National Forest, approximately 13 miles south of Payson, Utah, along the Mount Nebo Scenic Byway. The Guard Station was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935 as part of the New Deal Program. The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest offers the cabin for advance reservation so visitors can enjoy an experience similar to that of early Forest Rangers and their families.

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
PAYSON LAKES GUARD STATIONMain Cabin 6Main Cabin 8Main Cabin
Photos courtesy of Utah Recreation Company, Alexa Anderson · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Cabins with electric1
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, ftSurfaceShadeWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFiresRating
Guard StationBack-in30PavedPartialNo / –8 / 5YesPrime

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

Max vehicle length25 ft
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Fees$159.00 - 8 people, 5 vehicles maximum
  • Payson Lakes Guard Station can accommodate up to 8 overnight guests: 4 in the main cabin and 4 in the bunk house. Up to 7 additional visitors may join during the day.
  • Parking: Space for up to 5 family vehicles. Vehicles must stay on pavement
  • Horses: The adjacent pasture can hold up to 8 horses.
  • Stay Limits: Minimum stay is 2 nights, 3 nights on holidays, maximum is 7 nights.
  • What to bring: Guests need to bring their own bedding, plates, and utensils, pots, pans, etc.
  • Pets: Not allowed.
  • Firewood: Bring your own or purchase at the campground. Collecting firewood is not allowed.
  • Check-in: Guests must check in with the Payson Lakes Campground Host, who will escort them to the cabin

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Payson Lakes Guard Station20°30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 1.83 inches of precipitation, 13.4 inches of snowFebruary: 1.63 inches of precipitation, 13.3 inches of snowMarch: 1.94 inches of precipitation, 6.9 inches of snowApril: 2.20 inches of precipitation, 3.3 inches of snowMay: 1.91 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 0.91 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 0.73 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 0.76 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.19 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowOctober: 1.80 inches of precipitation, 0.8 inches of snowNovember: 1.53 inches of precipitation, 5.6 inches of snowDecember: 1.92 inches of precipitation, 11.7 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 28.6°F averageFebruary: 33.0°F averageMarch: 41.6°F averageApril: 47.7°F averageMay: 56.8°F averageJune: 67.2°F averageJuly: 76.3°F averageAugust: 74.5°F averageSeptember: 64.5°F averageOctober: 51.0°F averageNovember: 38.5°F averageDecember: 28.9°F average0 in5 in10 in15 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Santaquin Chlorinator, 8 miles from the campground at 5,160 feet, station USC00427686 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 18 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 55 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From I-15, take exit 250 toward north Payson/Salem and proceed south on Main Street to 100 North/Highway 198. Travel east to 600 East. Turn south onto 600 East, which becomes the Nebo Loop Scenic Byway/Payson Canyon Road. Travel south along the Nebo Loop Road 015 until you see the Payson Lakes Guard Station sign on the right.

Nearest townPayson, Utah
Coordinates39.9247° N, 111.6331° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • Collecting firewood is not allowed.

Charges and cancellations

  • Change and Cancellation Policies and Fees
  • Overnight and Day Use Facilities: To ensure fairness, reservation arrival or departure dates may not be changed beyond the booking window until 18 days after booking the reservation.
  • Camping / Day Use: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation (including campsites, cabins, lookouts, group facilities, etc.). The $10.00 service fee will be deducted from the refund amount.
  • You can cancel or change reservations through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
  • Late Cancellations
  • Overnight and Day Use Facilities: Late cancellations are those cancelled between 12:01 a.m. (Eastern) on the day before arrival and check out time on the day after arrival.
  • Individual Campsites: If a customer cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival they will be charged a $10.00 service fee and will also forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a single night's reservation will forfeit the entire use fee but no cancellation fee will apply.
  • Cabins / Lookouts: Customers will be charged a $10.00 cancellation fee and forfeit the first night's use fee if a cabin or lookout reservation is cancelled within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee.
  • Group Facility: If a customer cancels a group overnight facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date they will be charged the $10.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's use fee. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee.
  • Group Day Use Area: If a customer cancels a group day use facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date, they will forfeit the total day use fee with no service fee charge.
  • No-Shows
  • Camping / Day Use: A camping no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Reserved campsites and group overnight facilities will be held until check-out time on the day following your scheduled arrival. Group day-use facilities will be held until check-in time on your scheduled arrival
  • If a customer does not arrive at the campground or group facility by check-out time the day after arrival or does not cancel the reservation by the times listed under "Late Cancellations" above, the customer may be assessed a $20.00 service fee and forfeit use fees.
  • Refunds
  • Customers must request refunds no later than 14 days after the scheduled departure date. Recreation.gov will not grant refund requests after 14 days of departure.
  • Reservation Fee: For some facilities, tours or permits an additional reservation fee is charged. For some overnight and day-use facilities, an additional non-refundable reservation fee may apply. The non-refundable reservation fee for tours and tickets is $1.00. The non-refundable reservation fee for permits varies by location.
  • Refunds for Bankcard Purchases: Refunds for bank card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank card.
  • Refunds for Check or Cash Purchases: Refunds for Recreation.gov payments made by check or money order, and cash payments at selected campgrounds will be issued a check refund. A refund will be processed within 30 days of receipt and approval. Please Note: Refund requests made during or after departure can only be processed when approved by the facility management staff based upon local policy.
  • Refunds for Emergency Closures: In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team will attempt to notify users and offer alternate dates (as appropriate). If this is not possible, reservations will be cancelled and all fees paid will be refunded. Reservation fees for free tickets are non-refundable in the event of an emergency closure.
  • Recreation.gov Billing Information

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Spring Dell Rx

    28 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    San Pitch Rx

    40 mi from the campground · 15 acres

  • Prescribed
    Corner Canyon Rx

    40 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Pepperwood Rx

    44 mi from the campground

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

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗2.3 mi
Outdoor gearSportsman's Warehouse ↗20.4 mi
RV sales & serviceWestern Range Camps ↗28.6 mi

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

Explore

  • 0.2 mi
    Rock Spring ↗
    7.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
  • 0.5 mi
    Blackhawk Loop
    4.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.6 mi
    Jones Ranch
    2.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
  • 0.9 mi
    Payson Lake
    1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1 mi
    Box Lake
    0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.2 mi
    Loafer Mountain ↗
    5.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 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 →

Mount Nebo Wilderness begins about 6 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

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 Guard Station is nestled in a forest of aspen and Douglas fir trees at an elevation of 8,000 feet. The Payson Lakes area includes McClelland, Box and Big East Lakes. Summer wildflowers are abundant. A variety of wildlife makes its home around the lakes.

Recreation

The nearby Payson Lakes Recreation Area offers great canoeing and kayaking. Anglers enjoy fishing for rainbow and brown trout. There are many nearby trails for hiking, mountain biking and equestrian use.

Nearby

A popular day-use area is located on the shore of Big East Lake, with a small swim beach, picnic tables and flush toilets. A paved nature path begins at the parking area and circles the lake. The Mount Nebo Wilderness Area is adjacent, brimming with beautiful mountain scenery, pristine waters, abundant wildlife, vibrant summer wildflowers and numerous trail opportunities. The Nebo Loop Scenic Byway stretches 37 miles through high alpine terrain, dense forests and colorful meadows. Devil's Kitchen Geological Area can be found along the loop. It offers a 1/2-mile round-trip trail to interesting red rock hoodoos.

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 Payson Lakes Guard Station?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Payson Lakes Guard Station?

$159.00 - 8 people, 5 vehicles maximum

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Payson Lakes Guard Station?

Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Payson Lakes Guard Station?

Camping / Day Use: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation (including campsites, cabins, lookouts, group facilities, etc.). The $10.00 service fee will be deducted from the refund amount.

Source: Charges and cancellations

How many sites does Payson Lakes Guard Station have?

1 site, including 1 cabin with power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Payson Lakes Guard Station?

The longest site here provides 25 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

Can I have a campfire at Payson Lakes 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

What is there to do at Payson Lakes Guard Station?

The nearby Payson Lakes Recreation Area offers great canoeing and kayaking. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Payson Lakes Guard Station?

Payson, Utah. A popular day-use area is located on the shore of Big East Lake, with a small swim beach, picnic tables and flush toilets.

Source: Getting there

What if Payson Lakes Guard Station is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Payson Lakes (0.6 mi), Blackhawk (2.2 mi), and Maple Lake Campground (3.8 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby