Warm Springs Guard Station in ID -- Campground & RV Camping in Idaho
Warm Springs Guard Station in ID
U.S. Forest Service allows overnight stays only at the designated sites here.
Built in a narrow mountain valley at 4,700 feet along the South Fork Payette River, the restored Warm Springs Guard Station offers a primitive cabin surrounded by ponderosa pines. The rustic single-room structure sleeps six across one double and three single beds, equipped with a wood stove, dry sink, propane stove, fridge, and basic cookware. Outside sits a vault toilet, fire ring, and a summer hand pump for drinking water; winter stays require melting snow. The location provides easy access to river trout fishing, local trails, and nearby Bonneville Hot Springs.
Road difficulty 3 of 5 -- a rough drive in. Recorded as maintained for passenger cars, dirt, pitching to 8%. Flat ground is scarce -- under a tenth of the terrain within a few hundred yards is level.
Eightmile Mountain stands 3,281 ft above the site, 2.6 miles northwest. South Fork Payette River runs 0.1 mi off. Exposed here -- the nearest through road is 0.1 miles off, a 2-site campground. Cabins and shelters rather than pads. The nearest town, Cascade, is 44 mi off.
September normals 45–75°F, 1.1″ rain. Monthly averages, PRISM 1991–2020.
Set by U.S. Forest Service. Stage 1 and 2 orders change within days -- check the current order before you build a fire.
fs.usda.gov