Jack Creek Guard Station

Medicine Bow-Routt NFs & Thunder Basin NG — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: SARATOGA, WY, WY

Price: From $80 per night

Rating: 2.8 out of 5 (4 reviews)

Season: May through October

The Jack Creek Guard Station is available mid-June through October, weather permitting. This was the northern ranger cabin for the historic Encampment Ranger District, built by Ranger Evie Williams in 1934, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The one-room cabin can accommodate up to four people with two bunk beds, a combination wood/propane cook stove, simple table and chairs.

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

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

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/jack-creek-guard-station to be notified when sites open up.

Historic 1934 ranger cabin on the National Register of Historic Places with quiet, scenic surroundings. Google reviewers consistently praise the peaceful atmosphere and appreciate the well-maintained vault toilet facilities.

Wildlife alert: Yellow-bellied Marmot, Sandhill Crane, and Wandering Garter Snake documented in the area.

Insider tips for Jack Creek Guard Station: Book early—this is a federal campground with only 1 site Bring bug spray; mosquitoes and bugs are thick according to verified reviews Water pump located near the entrance; vault toilet within walking distance

Skip Jack Creek Guard Station if: You need hookups—no hookups available at this site. You require indoor plumbing—vault toilet only, no indoor facilities. You visit outside May-October seasonal window.

Best time to visit Jack Creek Guard Station: August-early October — Mid-June through October availability; verified reviews from August and October report great conditions.

Nearby campgrounds: Jack Creek Crew Quarters (SARATOGA, WY), Jack Creek Campground (Wy) (saratoga, WY), Lost Creek Campground (Wy) (WY), Sandstone Cabin (SARATOGA, WY).

Cell Phone Coverage at Jack Creek Guard Station

Cell signal at Jack Creek Guard Station (SARATOGA, WY): 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.

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CamperWatch›WY›Jack Creek Guard Station
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Medicine Bow-Routt NFs & Thunder Basin NG — lakeside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Jack Creek Guard Station

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SARATOGA, WY, WY★ 2.8 (4 reviews)From $80/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

The Jack Creek Guard Station is available mid-June through October, weather permitting. This was the northern ranger cabin for the historic Encampment Ranger District, built by Ranger Evie Williams in 1934, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The one-room cabin can accommodate up to four people with two bunk beds, a combination wood/propane cook stove, simple table and chairs.

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

Verified facts

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

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsFishing
Recreation
Picnic Tables
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 at this site✕ You require indoor plumbing—vault toilet only, no indoor facilities✕ You visit outside May-October seasonal window

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground with only 1 site

Bring bug spray; mosquitoes and bugs are thick according to verified reviews

Water pump located near the entrance; vault toilet within walking distance

Best: August-early October

Mid-June through October availability; verified reviews from August and October report great conditions

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: Yellow-bellied Marmot, Sandhill Crane, and Wandering Garter Snake documented in the area.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
{}· Medicine Bow-Routt NFs & Thunder Basin NG
Getting there →

From Saratoga, travel west on County Road 500 approximately 16 miles to junction with County Road 405. Stay left and travel 3 miles to the forest boundary. The road changes to Forest Service Road 452. Travel on Forest Service Road 452 for 6.5 miles to Jack Creek Campground and the guard station. From Encampment, take State Highway 70 west for 7 miles and turn onto Forest Service Road 443 for approximately 15 miles to the junction of Forest Service Road 452. From there, go west for approximately

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 — Medicine Bow-Routt NFs & Thunder Basin NG fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Medicine Bow-Routt NFs & Thunder Basin NG 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 Jack Creek Guard Station cost per night?+
Jack Creek Guard Station costs $80 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Jack Creek Guard Station open?+
Jack Creek Guard Station is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Jack Creek Guard Station have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Jack Creek Guard Station?+
Jack Creek Guard Station is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Jack Creek Guard Station?+
Jack Creek Guard Station 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 Jack Creek Guard Station?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Jack Creek Guard Station is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Jack Creek Guard Station open, and what are check-in times?+
Jack Creek Guard Station is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
●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.

$80 /night★ 2.8 (4)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Jack Creek Guard Station cost per night?+
What season is Jack Creek Guard Station open?+
Does Jack Creek Guard Station have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Jack Creek Crew Quarters

SARATOGA, WY

From $225/night

Jack Creek Campground (Wy)

saratoga, WY

From $14/night

Lost Creek Campground (Wy)

WY

From $20/night

Sandstone Cabin

SARATOGA, WY

From $125/night

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