Johnson Creek Guard Station

Boise National Forest — riverside, fishing, hiking

Location: Cascade, ID, ID

Price: From $100 per night

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 (12 reviews)

Season: May through October

Johnson Creek Guard Station was built in 1922 and offers a charming mountain respite with modern conveniences. The cabin offers nearly everything needed for a pleasant and comfortable stay. Peak season for the cabin is typically early June through late September.

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

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Drinking Water, Showers, Electric Hookups, Fishing

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

Historic 1922 cabin offering modern convenities with access to Frank Church - River of No Return Wilderness trailheads. Near excellent fishing and non-motorized recreation opportunities.

Wildlife alert: American Pika, Red Fox, Columbian Ground Squirrel, Tree Swallow, Western Tanager, Chipping Sparrow, Common Merganser

Insider tips for Johnson Creek Guard Station: Book early — federal campground with seasonal operations Access via dirt and gravel roads from ID-55 north of Cascade; trailers not recommended Nearby trailheads offer biking and hiking into Frank Church - River of No Return Wilderness

Skip Johnson Creek Guard Station if: Traveling with a trailer — not recommended on access roads. Need hookups — no hookups available. Outside May-October season — seasonal operations only.

Best time to visit Johnson Creek Guard Station: June-September — Peak season for cabin operations per RIDB official description.

Nearby campgrounds: Golden Gate Campground (ID), Yellow Pine Campground (Cascade, ID), Ice Hole Campground (Cascade, ID), Four Mile (McCall, ID).

Cell Phone Coverage at Johnson Creek Guard Station

Cell signal at Johnson Creek Guard Station (Cascade, ID): 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›ID›Johnson Creek Guard Station
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Boise National Forest — riverside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Johnson Creek Guard Station

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Cascade, ID, ID★ 4.8 (12 reviews)From $100/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Johnson Creek Guard Station was built in 1922 and offers a charming mountain respite with modern conveniences. The cabin offers nearly everything needed for a pleasant and comfortable stay. Peak season for the cabin is typically early June through late September.

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
Hookups1 electric sites
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsDrinking WaterFishing
Recreation
Picnic TablesShowers
Family & Pets
Flush ToiletsElectric Hookups

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:✕ Traveling with a trailer — not recommended on access roads✕ Need hookups — no hookups available✕ Outside May-October season — seasonal operations only

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

federal campground with seasonal operations

Access via dirt and gravel roads from ID-55 north of Cascade; trailers not recommended

Nearby trailheads offer biking and hiking into Frank Church - River of No Return Wilderness

Best: June-September

Peak season for cabin operations per RIDB official description

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: American Pika, Red Fox, Columbian Ground Squirrel, Tree Swallow, Western Tanager, Chipping Sparrow, Common Merganser

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
208-382-7400· Boise National Forest
Getting there →

From Cascade, ID, head north on ID-55/Main Street toward McCall, ID. Turn right/east on FH-22/Warm Lake Road. Stay on this road for about 35 miles. Turn left/north on Road 413/Johnson Creek Road. Stay on this road for about 22 miles. The cabin sits on the right/east side of the road. Look for the Forest Service sign. This is good unpaved road, but there are a few narrow and steep sections with few pull-outs, and there may be some washboard sections. Use low gears. Some sections of the road are s

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 — Boise National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Boise 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 Johnson Creek Guard Station cost per night?+
Johnson Creek Guard Station costs $100 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Johnson Creek Guard Station open?+
Johnson Creek Guard Station is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Johnson Creek Guard Station have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Johnson Creek Guard Station?+
Johnson Creek Guard Station is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Johnson Creek Guard Station?+
Johnson 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 Johnson Creek Guard Station?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Johnson 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 Johnson Creek Guard Station open, and what are check-in times?+
Johnson Creek Guard Station is open May through October. 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★ 4.8 (12)
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 Johnson Creek Guard Station cost per night?+
What season is Johnson Creek Guard Station open?+
Does Johnson Creek Guard Station have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Golden Gate Campground

ID

From $10/night

Forest campground camping

Yellow Pine Campground

Cascade, ID

From $10/night

Ice Hole Campground

Cascade, ID

From $10/night

Four Mile

McCall, ID

From $10/night

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