USDA Forest Service · Idaho
Clear Creek Guard Station
USDA Forest Service · Idaho, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 6,906 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
- CLEAR CR GS (NFSR 30203) · native material · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- Caribou-Targhee National Forest
- Nearest town
- MONTPELIER
- Address
- 322 N 4TH STREET, 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
Clear Creek Guard Station is located 20 miles northeast of Montpelier, Idaho. Not much is known about the history of this guard station site, but it's believed to have been an administrative site since 1910. Several different buildings have
either been built or relocated to this site since then. The current A-frame cabin was built by the Young Adult Conservation Corps in 1980.
The cabin is accessible by car when there is no snow. Guests should be prepared to snowmobile in winter, and they are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety. The snowmobile trip is about 5 miles from Crow Creek and 10 miles from Montpelier Reservoir.
The cabin provides some basic comforts, but guests will need to bring some of their own supplies and gear to make their stay comfortable.
Recreation
This area offers myriad recreational opportunities. Nearby trails attract mountain bikers, hikers and off-road vehicle enthusiasts (Idaho OHV safety message). Snowmobiling and cross-country skiing are popular
winter activities.
Anglers can fish in Clear Creek. Hunting is available in season.
Facilities
The guard station has a maximum capacity of 15 people. This single-room cabin has three single beds. Please bring your own sleeping pads and bedding. A wood stove is
provided for heat and firewood may be available. A table and chairs are provided. An outhouse, picnic table and campfire ring are located outside.
Water is not provided at the cabin. Guests are required to bring their own water, as well as garbage bags for packing out trash. Lighting, a cook stove, cooking pots,
kitchen utensils, bedding, towels and first aid supplies are not available.
Natural Features
Clear Creek Guard Station is tucked up against a mixed conifer and aspen forest at the edge of a meadow at an elevation of 6,500 feet. The cabin sits near the
confluence of Crow Creek and Clear Creek. The surrounding landscape is rugged and mountainous. Area wildlife includes black bear, wolf, elk, moose, mule deer, bison, grizzly bear, mountain lion 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 | 28° | 12° | -13° | 40° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 30° | 15° | -12° | 45° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 38° | 20° | 3° | 53° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 42° | 24° | 10° | 58° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 55° | 31° | 19° | 65° | 11 of 11 |
| June | 68° | 44° | 31° | 85° | 2 of 11 |
| July | 80° | 53° | 39° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 78° | 51° | 41° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 69° | 43° | 29° | 78° | 1 of 11 |
| October | 53° | 32° | 0° | 70° | 9 of 10 |
| November | 40° | 19° | -12° | 55° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 29° | 12° | -10° | 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
- Summit View Campground · USDA Forest Service · 7 mi · 21 sites
- Diamond Creek Guard Station · USDA Forest Service · 12 mi · 1 sites
- Johnson Guard Station · USDA Forest Service · 14 mi · 1 sites
- Montpelier Canyon Campground · USDA Forest Service · 14 mi · 15 sites
- Stump Creek Guard Station · USDA Forest Service · 19 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.