Johnson Guard Station

Caribou-Targhee National Forest — fishing, hiking

Location: Montpelier, ID, ID

Price: From $60 per night

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (8 reviews)

Season: May through October

Johnson Guard Station is located 30 miles east of Soda Springs, Idaho, on a site that was established in 1910. The current building was constructed in 1934, and is named after James J. Johnson, who served as ranger of the Georgetown Ranger District from 1907-1913.

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

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

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

Historic 1934 cabin located 30 miles east of Soda Springs with clean facilities and propane amenities. Google reviewers praise the cabin condition and scenic area, though mosquitoes are prevalent.

Wildlife alert: Shiras Moose, American Beaver, Mule Deer, Ruffed Grouse, Canada Jay, and garter snakes present within 8km

Insider tips for Johnson Guard Station: Book early—federal campground with high demand Bring bug spray for mosquitoes Cabin includes propane tank and oven for cooking

Skip Johnson Guard Station if: Need hookups—no hookups available. Planning winter visit without snowmobile access. Want multiple site options—only 1 site available.

Best time to visit Johnson Guard Station: May-October — Official operating season; accessible by car during warmer months.

Nearby campgrounds: Diamond Creek Guard Station (Montpelier, ID), Stump Creek Guard Station (Montpelier, ID), Summit View Campground (DUCK CREEK, ID), Clear Creek Guard Station (MONTPELIER, ID).

Cell Phone Coverage at Johnson Guard Station

Cell signal at Johnson Guard Station (Montpelier, 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.

CamperWatch
CamperWatch›ID›Johnson Guard Station
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Caribou-Targhee National Forest — fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Johnson Guard Station

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Montpelier, ID, ID★ 3.5 (8 reviews)From $60/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Johnson Guard Station is located 30 miles east of Soda Springs, Idaho, on a site that was established in 1910. The current building was constructed in 1934, and is named after James J. Johnson, who served as ranger of the Georgetown Ranger District from 1907-1913.

Best for:AnglersHikersFamiliesSites: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 RingsElectric Hookups
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:✕ Need hookups—no hookups available✕ Planning winter visit without snowmobile access✕ Want multiple site options—only 1 site available

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

federal campground with high demand

Bring bug spray for mosquitoes

Cabin includes propane tank and oven for cooking

Best: May-October

Official operating season; accessible by car during warmer months

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: Shiras Moose, American Beaver, Mule Deer, Ruffed Grouse, Canada Jay, and garter snakes present within 8km

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
208-847-0375· Caribou-Targhee National Forest
Getting there →

From Soda Springs, take Highway 34 north approximately 12 miles to the China Hat turnoff (Blackfoot River Narrows). This road will follow Blackfoot River for another 11 miles to a junction; there is a Forest Service sign at this point. Take the right fork (Caribou National Forest Road 102) southeast for another 10 miles to the guard station. The road will turn into Diamond Creek Road. Maps are available upon request at the district office.

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 — Caribou-Targhee National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Caribou-Targhee 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 Guard Station cost per night?+
Johnson Guard Station costs $60 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Johnson Guard Station open?+
Johnson Guard Station is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Johnson Guard Station have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Johnson Guard Station?+
Johnson Guard Station is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Johnson Guard Station?+
Johnson 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 Guard Station?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Johnson 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 Guard Station open, and what are check-in times?+
Johnson 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.

$60 /night★ 3.5 (8)
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 Guard Station cost per night?+
What season is Johnson Guard Station open?+
Does Johnson Guard Station have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Diamond Creek Guard Station

Montpelier, ID

From $35/night

Stump Creek Guard Station

Montpelier, ID

From $60/night

Summit View Campground

DUCK CREEK, ID

From $17/night

Clear Creek Guard Station

MONTPELIER, ID

From $35/night

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