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 ↗



Site mix
| Cabins with electric | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guard Station | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | No / – | 8 / 5 | Yes | Prime |
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 length | 25 ft |
| Campfires | Allowed, 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
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 town | Payson, Utah |
| Coordinates | 39.9247° 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
- PrescribedSpring Dell Rx
28 mi from the campground
- PrescribedSan Pitch Rx
40 mi from the campground · 15 acres
- PrescribedCorner Canyon Rx
40 mi from the campground
- PrescribedPepperwood 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 station | Dump station ↗ | 2.3 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Sportsman's Warehouse ↗ | 20.4 mi |
| RV sales & service | Western Range Camps ↗ | 28.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miRock Spring ↗7.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 0.5 miBlackhawk Loop4.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.6 miJones Ranch2.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 0.9 miPayson Lake1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1 miBox Lake0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.2 miLoafer 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
Mount Nebo Wilderness begins about 6 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 6 miMount Nebo Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 27,075 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
- Santaquin Junior High SchoolBuilding · Santaquin · 8.2 mi
- Ira W. Gardner HouseBuilding · Salem · 9.2 mi
- Payson Presbyterian ChurchBuilding · Payson · 9.3 mi
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




