Govt Mineral Springs Guard Sta

Gifford Pinchot National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: TROUT LAKE, WA, WA

Price: From $100 per night

Rating: 4.2 out of 5 (50 reviews)

Season: Year-round

Nestled in a grove of towering old-growth conifer trees, the Government Mineral Springs Guard Station is a delightful setting for guests seeking relaxation and recreation in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The Government Mineral Springs area has been a draw to recreation enthusiasts since the early 1900’s. Fox and the Star Brewing Company of Portland began construction of a hotel near Trapper Creek, which eventually became known as Government Mineral Springs.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Fishing

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/govt-mineral-springs-guard-sta to be notified when sites open up.

Nestled in old-growth conifer trees within Gifford Pinchot National Forest, this historic Guard Station offers a scenic setting for relaxation and recreation with access to fishing, hiking, and water sports.

Wildlife alert: Humboldt's Flying Squirrel, Mule Deer, Townsend's Chipmunk, Red-tailed Hawk, Dark-eyed Junco, Common Nighthawk, Western Wood-Pewee, Northwestern Garter Snake, Common Garter Snake

Insider tips for Govt Mineral Springs Guard Sta: Book early — this is a federal campground with only 1 site and high demand Bring your own water — the mineral spring pump is non-functional and water is not certified for human consumption Explore the old cabin on the grounds and historic CCC-built structures

Skip Govt Mineral Springs Guard Sta if: You need hookups — no hookups available. You require maintained facilities — campground is unmaintained per recent reports. You need potable water — drinking water source is unreliable.

Best time to visit Govt Mineral Springs Guard Sta: Year-round — Campground operates year-round with winter sports available.

Nearby campgrounds: Government Mineral Springs Campground (Trout Lake, WA), Beaver Campground (Carson, WA), Paradise Creek Campground (CARSON, WA), Panther Creek Campground (CARSON, WA).

Cell Phone Coverage at Govt Mineral Springs Guard Sta

Cell signal at Govt Mineral Springs Guard Sta (TROUT LAKE, WA): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

CamperWatch
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Gifford Pinchot National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Govt Mineral Springs Guard Sta

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TROUT LAKE, WA, WA★ 4.2 (50 reviews)From $100/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Nestled in a grove of towering old-growth conifer trees, the Government Mineral Springs Guard Station is a delightful setting for guests seeking relaxation and recreation in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The Government Mineral Springs area has been a draw to recreation enthusiasts since the early 1900’s. Fox and the Star Brewing Company of Portland began construction of a hotel near Trapper Creek, which eventually became known as Government Mineral Springs.

Best for:AnglersHikersBoatersWildlife watchersFamiliesSites:Tent
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonYear-round
Stay limit14 days
HookupsNo hookups.
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsDrinking Water
Recreation
Picnic TablesFishing
Family & Pets
Vault Toilets

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need hookups — no hookups available✕ You require maintained facilities — campground is unmaintained per recent reports✕ You need potable water — drinking water source is unreliable

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground with only 1 site and high demand

Bring your own water

the mineral spring pump is non-functional and water is not certified for human consumption

Explore the old cabin on the grounds and historic CCC-built structures

Best: Year-round

Campground operates year-round with winter sports available

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Humboldt's Flying Squirrel, Mule Deer, Townsend's Chipmunk, Red-tailed Hawk, Dark-eyed Junco, Common Nighthawk, Western Wood-Pewee, Northwestern Garter Snake, Common Garter Snake

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
509-395-3400· Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Getting there →

From Portland take Interstate 84 east, take Cascade Locks Exit 44 and cross the Bridge of the Gods (toll bridge) to Highway 14 in Washington State. Turn east (right) on Highway 14 and drive 5 miles to the Carson junction with the Wind River Highway. Follow the Wind River Highway through Carson and northwest approximately 14 miles to the Carson National Fish Hatchery. Continue northwest for 1 mile on Forest Road 3065 to the entrance for Government Mineral Springs recreation site. From approximate

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Gifford Pinchot National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Gifford Pinchot National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
  • Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Govt Mineral Springs Guard Sta cost per night?+
Govt Mineral Springs Guard Sta costs $100 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Govt Mineral Springs Guard Sta open?+
Govt Mineral Springs Guard Sta is open Year-round. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Govt Mineral Springs Guard Sta have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Govt Mineral Springs Guard Sta?+
Govt Mineral Springs Guard Sta is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Govt Mineral Springs Guard Sta?+
Govt Mineral Springs Guard Sta is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Govt Mineral Springs Guard Sta?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Govt Mineral Springs Guard Sta is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Govt Mineral Springs Guard Sta open, and what are check-in times?+
Govt Mineral Springs Guard Sta is open Year-round. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
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●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$100 /night★ 4.2 (50)
SeasonYear-round
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Govt Mineral Springs Guard Sta cost per night?+
What season is Govt Mineral Springs Guard Sta open?+
Does Govt Mineral Springs Guard Sta have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Government Mineral Springs Campground

Trout Lake, WA

From $10/night

Beaver Campground

Carson, WA

From $27/night

Paradise Creek Campground

CARSON, WA

From $25/night

Panther Creek Campground

CARSON, WA

From $25/night

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