USDA Forest Service · Idaho
Stump Creek Guard Station
USDA Forest Service · Idaho, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 6,230 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- Verizon weak · T-Mobile none · AT&T none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- COW CREEK (NFSR 50398) · native material · high clearance vehicles
- Lake
- Caribou-Targhee National Forest
- Nearest town
- Montpelier
- Address
- 322 N. 4th St., Montpelier, ID, 83254
- Phone
- 208-847-0375
- Activities
- Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Historic Sites, Hunting, Mountain Biking, Snowmobile Trails, Wildlife Viewing
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Stump Creek Guard Station is located along what was once the Lander Cutoff for the Oregon Trail. Visitors can trace the path that covered wagons
traveled on over 150 years ago on their way to the Pacific Northwest. Wagon ruts are still carved into the soil.
The guard station is accessible by car during warmer months, but guests should be prepared to ski, snowshoe or snowmobile more than a mile to reach he cabin in winter. Guest will need to bring much of their own supplies and gear to ensure a comfortable stay.
Recreation
Hikers, horseback riders, cross-country skiers and mountain bikers have access to the Stump Creek/Lander Trail, which is now on the National Register of Historic
Places. Off-road vehicle trails are nearby (Idaho OHV safety message).
Anglers can fish in Stump Creek. Hunting for game and game birds is also a popular pastime in the area.
Facilities
The cabin can accommodate a maximum of 15 people. One large sleeping room is available with a total of two bunk beds. Please bring your own sleeping pads. The kitchen has a gas stove for cooking, a few dishes and cups and a table with chairs. A propane heater and propane lanterns are provided, and propane is available. A vault toilet is on-site. Water and electricity are not available at the cabin. Guests must provide their own drinking water, as well as garbage bags for parking out trash. Bedding, towels, dish soap and emergency supplies like flashlights and a first aid kit are not provided. Guests should be prepared to shovel snow in the winter to access the cabin and outhouse.
Pets are not allowed inside the guard station. Pets must be on a leash at all times when on the guard station site. Clean up all pet waste before checking out of the facility
Natural Features
The guard station is situated at an elevation of 6,500 feet in a scenic mountain valley dotted with mixed-growth pines. The dwelling sits in an open, grassy area
surrounded by sagebrush. Thickets of willow line meandering Stump Creek, which flows adjacent to the cabin.
Wildlife in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest includes black bear, wolf, elk, moose, mule deer, bison, grizzly bear, mountain lion and pronghorn
(bear safety tips).
Nearby Attractions
Auburn, Wyoming is the nearest town for groceries and supplies.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29° | 11° | -14° | 42° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 32° | 15° | -10° | 48° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 41° | 22° | 6° | 56° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 44° | 26° | 10° | 63° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 57° | 32° | 22° | 70° | 11 of 11 |
| June | 71° | 45° | 31° | 87° | 1 of 11 |
| July | 83° | 54° | 40° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 80° | 53° | 44° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 71° | 44° | 31° | 80° | 1 of 11 |
| October | 55° | 32° | 6° | 74° | 9 of 10 |
| November | 41° | 19° | -13° | 58° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 30° | 11° | -5° | 42° | 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
- Johnson Guard Station · USDA Forest Service · 8 mi · 1 sites
- Diamond Creek Guard Station · USDA Forest Service · 9 mi · 1 sites
- Swift Creek Campground · USDA Forest Service · 10 mi
- Pine Bar Campground · USDA Forest Service · 14 mi
- Mill Canyon Campground · USDA Forest Service · 14 mi
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.