La Prele Guard Station

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

Location: DOUGLAS, WY, WY

Price: From $100 per night

Rating: 4.4 out of 5 (5 reviews)

Season: Late May through September

La Prele Guard Station is located south of Douglas, Wyoming in Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. It was originally built as a remote ranger station in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps and was converted into a work center when the La Prele Ranger District was discontinued in 1956. The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.

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, Firewood for Sale

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

Historic 1936 CCC-built guard station in Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest offering a unique lodging experience with amenities like flush toilets, showers, and fishing access. Highly rated by campers (4.7/5 stars) for family visits with nostalgic features like a wood stove and fireplace.

Wildlife alert: Dusky Grouse, Clark's Nutcracker, Bullsnake, and Smooth Greensnake documented in the area

Insider tips for La Prele Guard Station: Bring your own drinking water — tap water is not potable Book early — federal campground with only 1 site available Firewood available for purchase on-site

Skip La Prele Guard Station if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available. You're visiting outside late May through September — seasonal operations only. You want a large campground — only 1 tent site total.

Best time to visit La Prele Guard Station: Late May - September — Official operating season per verified campground data.

Nearby campgrounds: Campbell Creek Campground (Douglas , WY), Curtis Gulch Campground (Douglas , WY), Friend Park Campground (Wheatland, WY), Esterbrook Campground (Douglas, WY).

Cell Phone Coverage at La Prele Guard Station

Cell signal at La Prele Guard Station (DOUGLAS, 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›La Prele Guard Station
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Medicine Bow-Routt NFs & Thunder Basin NG — fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

La Prele Guard Station

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DOUGLAS, WY, WY★ 4.4 (5 reviews)From $100/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

La Prele Guard Station is located south of Douglas, Wyoming in Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. It was originally built as a remote ranger station in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps and was converted into a work center when the La Prele Ranger District was discontinued in 1956. The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.

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
SeasonLate May through September
Stay limit14 days
Max RV20 ft
HookupsNo hookups.
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsDrinking WaterFishing
Recreation
Picnic TablesShowersFirewood for Sale
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:✕ You need RV hookups — no hookups available✕ You're visiting outside late May through September — seasonal operations only✕ You want a large campground — only 1 tent site total

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Bring your own drinking water

tap water is not potable

Book early

federal campground with only 1 site available

Firewood available for purchase on-site

Best: Late May - September

Official operating season per verified campground data

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: Dusky Grouse, Clark's Nutcracker, Bullsnake, and Smooth Greensnake documented in the area

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
307-358-4690· Medicine Bow-Routt NFs & Thunder Basin NG
Getting there →

From Douglas (37 miles) From I25 Exit 140, turn right onto S Riverbend Dr. Turn right onto WY-94 (Esterbrook Road) and right on WY-91 (Cold Springs Road). In 3 miles, turn left on WY-91 (Cold Springs Road). Continue on CR 24 (Cold Springs Road) for 33.8 miles. From I25 Exit 146, East on WY-96. In 3.1 miles, turn right on WY-91 (Cold Springs Road). Continue on CR 24 (Cold Springs Road) for 33.8 miles. From Laramie (105 miles) Follow HWY 30 (N) from Laramie to Medicine Bow. Take HWY 487 North and

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 La Prele Guard Station cost per night?+
La Prele Guard Station costs $100 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is La Prele Guard Station open?+
La Prele Guard Station is open Late May through September. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does La Prele Guard Station have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at La Prele Guard Station?+
La Prele Guard Station can accommodate RVs up to 20 feet.
How do I make reservations at La Prele Guard Station?+
La Prele 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 La Prele Guard Station?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at La Prele Guard Station is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is La Prele Guard Station open, and what are check-in times?+
La Prele Guard Station is open Late May through September. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest and Thunder Basin National Grassland
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.

$100 /night★ 4.4 (5)
SeasonLate May through September
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does La Prele Guard Station cost per night?+
What season is La Prele Guard Station open?+
Does La Prele Guard Station have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Campbell Creek Campground

Douglas , WY

From $20/night

Curtis Gulch Campground

Douglas , WY

From $14/night

Friend Park Campground

Wheatland, WY

From $20/night

Esterbrook Campground

Douglas, WY

From $20/night

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