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. It can be accessed by most vehicles via dirt and gravel roads, but trailers are not
recommended.
Seasonal information
2026
(Current year)
2026 Season availability
Current season
Operating hours and availability for the current season.
Upcoming seasons
Planned operating dates for future seasons to help you plan ahead.
Past seasons
Historical operating dates from previous years for reference.
Closed periods
View dates when this campground is temporarily closed during the season.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently closed
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Pet friendly
Private Bathroom
Restrooms
Kitchen
Water and Hygiene
Restrooms
Cooking and Fire
Campfire Ring
Pets and Policies
Pet friendly
Cabin Interior
Private Bathroom
Private Shower
Hot Water
Kitchen
Missing information?
Select check-in and check-out dates to see availability.
Johnson Creek Guard Station is a well-kept cabin in a beautiful setting, featuring a fully equipped kitchen and hot water, making it a great choice for a relaxing stay. Guests enjoyed activities like alpine lake fishing and dining nearby, with the cabin being pet-friendly. Minor issues included a lack of provided firewood and an overheating heater; however, these did not significantly detract from the overall positive experience.
This is the 2nd time staying at this cabin in the past 2 years with my Fifty boys, always a great time and the cabin is fantastic, Yellow Pine is a very quint place, we will stay again in a couple years, we try to go to different places, the different cabins available are great, thank you for opening them up
This is a very nice, well-kept cabin in a beautiful setting with hot water, fully equipped kitchen, and a reasonably comfortable bed(s). The floors and grounds also make it a very pet-friendly place.
We enjoyed alpine lake fishing, dinner at the Corner Bar, trip into Cinnabar, and relaxing at the cabin. The airstrip traffic did not bother us. One of the baseboard heaters in main room would not turn off, so it did not cool down as much as we would have liked for sleeping.
Great location. Reasonably clean. Fix the bathroom sink, just needs a trap. From comments in the visitor log in the cabin, this has been an ongoing issue.
Nice little cabin in a great spot along Johnson Creek. Enjoyed our stay including fishing the east fork south fork salmon river and visiting yellow pine. This one is well kept.
We very much enjoyed our stay. There were four of us and it was nice to have so much space, both indoors and out to ourselves. There is plenty of parking space well off the road's dust and noise. The fire pit and area is nice to share, though we were glad we brought plenty of our own "safe" wood. Everything in the house seemed to work. For us the box springs made the beds too soft, so we put the mattresses on the floors and slept fine. All the windows have screens so we could have nice cross ventilation. It is a bit mousy. And we recommend you bring your own skillets and mugs. Very well furnished.
Helpful
Location & Directions for Johnson Creek Guard Station
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 mi. Turn left/north on Road 413/Johnson Creek Road. Stay on this road for about 22 mi. The cabin sits on t...
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 mi. Turn left/north on Road 413/Johnson Creek Road. Stay on this road for about 22 mi. 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 steep.
For additional information, the Cascade District Office is located in Cascade on the north end of town off Highway 55 on the right side of the road.
Office hours are Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed on federal holidays. Please call the office at (208) 382-7400 for information on alternate routes.
Note Warm Lake Summit can be closed due to snow, if so, take FS 474 north to FH48, head east and then south on Johnson Creek Road.
The Johnson Creek Guard Station is accessible via ID-55, which is approximately 15 miles south in Cascade, ID. The directions mention use of FH-22/Warm Lake Road, which connects to ID-55.
Policies & Rules
General
Guests must bring the combination to the lock and directions to the cabin
Cabin is pack-it-in/pack-it-out
The campfire ring can be used, but no large bonfires please
Tents, RVs and motor homes are not allowed at this site
The cabin is accessible by most vehicles but trailers are not recommended
Guests should be aware that there may be air traffic overhead coming to and from a nearby airstrip.
Click here for more information about Boise National Forest
Livestock are not permitted at this site
Don't Move Firewood: Help prevent the spread of tree-killing pests in our national forests by obtaining firewood near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org.