USDA Forest Service · Idaho
Johnson Guard Station
USDA Forest Service · Idaho, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Drinking water
- No
- Elevation
- 6,962 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- JOHNSON GS (NFSR 50276) · native material · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- Caribou-Targhee National Forest
- Nearest town
- Montpelier
- Address
- 322 N. 4th St., Montpelier, ID, 83254
- Phone
- 208-847-0375
- Activities
- Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Mountain Biking, Snowmobile Trails
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Johnson Guard Station is located 30 miles east of Soda Springs, Idaho, on a site that was established in 1910. The current building was constructed in 1934, and is
named after James J. Johnson, who served as ranger of the Georgetown Ranger District from 1907-1913. It's been used for various purposes over the years, from serving
as summer headquarters to housing work crews.
The cabin is accessible by car in warmer months and by snowmobile in winter. The cabin provides a few conveniences, so guests should be prepared to bring the supplies
and equipment they need to make their stay more comfortable.
Recreation
The Bear Canyon OHV Trail is about 1 mile north of the guard station (Idaho OHV safety message).
Hikers and mountain bikers will also find trails nearby. The area surrounding the cabin is a playground for snowmobilers and skiers in the winter months.
Anglers can fish in nearby Diamond Creek. The surrounding area also attracts game and game bird hunters.
Facilities
The guard station has a maximum capacity of 15 people. One sleeping room is available with four single beds.. Guests need to provide bedding and sleeping pads. The kitchen has a gas stove for cooking and a dining table with chairs. A gas furnace heats the cabin. Propane is provided for the lights, cook stove and heater. A vault toilet and picnic table are located outside.
No water or electricity is available at the cabin. Guests will need to supply their own water for drinking, washing and cooking. Bedding/sleeping pads, cookware, kitchen utensils and emergency supplies are not provided.
Guests are required to bring garbage bags to pack out their trash. The cabin should be cleaned before leaving, so guests should bring some cleaning supplies.
Natural Features
The cabin sits in a meadow at an elevation of 6,500 feet surrounded by the peaks of Dry Ridge and the Webster subrange in southeastern Idaho. Stands of aspen and
lodgepole pine dot the landscape.
Wildlife in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest includes black bears, wolves, elk, moose, mule deer, bison, grizzly bears, mountain lions and pronghorn
(bear safety tips).
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27° | 10° | -14° | 40° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 29° | 13° | -13° | 45° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 38° | 20° | 4° | 53° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 41° | 24° | 9° | 56° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 54° | 30° | 19° | 64° | 11 of 11 |
| June | 67° | 43° | 30° | 84° | 4 of 11 |
| July | 80° | 52° | 38° | 91° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 78° | 51° | 41° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 68° | 42° | 28° | 77° | 1 of 11 |
| October | 53° | 30° | 1° | 71° | 10 of 10 |
| November | 39° | 18° | -14° | 55° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 28° | 10° | -9° | 40° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Diamond Creek Guard Station · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 1 sites
- Stump Creek Guard Station · USDA Forest Service · 8 mi · 1 sites
- Mill Canyon Campground · USDA Forest Service · 10 mi
- Summit View Campground · USDA Forest Service · 12 mi · 21 sites
- Clear Creek Guard Station · USDA Forest Service · 14 mi · 1 sites
All public campgrounds in Idaho · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-05-22. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.