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Yellowjacket Guard Station Bedroom
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Yellowjacket Guard Station
Looking Back on Yellowjacket Guard Station

About Yellowjacket Guard Station

Yellowjacket Guard Station is a historic Forest Service Ranger Station and Work Center. Originally constructed in 1925 and remodeled in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the structure is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

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Currently closed

Campground Amenities

On Site Services

On Site Services

  • Propane
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001, Loop: YELLOWJACKET GUARD STATION

$75
/ per night
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  • 4 guests
  • Pet Friendly

Site Details

Up to 4 guests
Driveway entry: Back-in
Campfire
Pet Friendly
View Site Details

Reviews

18 reviews

Summary

AI generated

The Yellowjacket Guard Station offers a charming, historic cabin experience with clean, well-supplied amenities like propane lights and a wood stove that keeps guests warm. Visitors appreciate the beautiful surroundings, plentiful hiking trails, and access to water from a nearby stream, making it an ideal spot for outdoor enthusiasts. However, some have noted the need for improvements to the outhouse, but overall, guests express a strong desire to return for another stay.

Based on guest feedback

4.1

Overall rating

Based on 18 reviews

Write a review
5 stars 61.1% (11)
4 stars 22.2% (4)
3 stars 0.0% (0)
2 stars 0.0% (0)
1 star 16.7% (3)

Showing 18 reviews

Jennifer H

Verified

October 4, 2020 Stayed at: 001, Loop: YELLOWJACKET GUARD STATION

What a delightful stay! The cabin is way off the beaten path, well-stocked, and in a gorgeous location. This was the perfect escape from 2020.

Helpful

Jennifer H

Verified

October 4, 2020 Stayed at: 001, Loop: YELLOWJACKET GUARD STATION

What a delightful stay! The cabin is way off the beaten path, well-stocked, and in a gorgeous location. This was the perfect escape from 2020.

Helpful

Linda D

Verified

June 17, 2021 Stayed at: 001, Loop: YELLOWJACKET GUARD STATION

Terrible experience. This cabin is in a gorgeous location but very poorly managed. I called the person in charge of this cabin before I went and despite asking, “Is there anything else I should Know?” I was not told any of the following. The road going in is long and really not well suited for a regular passenger car but it is passable just VERY slow going. The cabin itself is a disappointment. It really doesn’t deserve to be treated like an abandoned structure. The stove, oven and refrigerator were non operational. There were instructions for lighting the pilots on the oven and stove but I don’t travel with the required screw driver. There were no instructions for the refrigerator and we needed it to store insulin for a child. Forest service does not provide wood for heat although they don’t tell you to bring your own. Most forests specifically tell you NOT to bring your own to avoid spreading pests. There are no functioning smoke detectors. There are no shovels to help extinguish a campfire or assist if a fire should get away. The only outhouse is up a hill and it is reached by a very narrow trail. Nothing about this location is ADA compliant and because of its historic nature it’s not required to be but they also don’t tell you that. It was dirty upon arrival and just generally gross. Also LOTS of ticks. Came home early and called forest service to report the issues. Doubt anything will be done.

Helpful

Linda D

Verified

June 17, 2021 Stayed at: 001, Loop: YELLOWJACKET GUARD STATION

Terrible experience. This cabin is in a gorgeous location but very poorly managed. I called the person in charge of this cabin before I went and despite asking, “Is there anything else I should Know?” I was not told any of the following. The road going in is long and really not well suited for a regular passenger car but it is passable just VERY slow going. The cabin itself is a disappointment. It really doesn’t deserve to be treated like an abandoned structure. The stove, oven and refrigerator were non operational. There were instructions for lighting the pilots on the oven and stove but I don’t travel with the required screw driver. There were no instructions for the refrigerator and we needed it to store insulin for a child. Forest service does not provide wood for heat although they don’t tell you to bring your own. Most forests specifically tell you NOT to bring your own to avoid spreading pests. There are no functioning smoke detectors. There are no shovels to help extinguish a campfire or assist if a fire should get away. The only outhouse is up a hill and it is reached by a very narrow trail. Nothing about this location is ADA compliant and because of its historic nature it’s not required to be but they also don’t tell you that. It was dirty upon arrival and just generally gross. Also LOTS of ticks. Came home early and called forest service to report the issues. Doubt anything will be done.

Helpful

Abbie G

Verified

October 20, 2021 Stayed at: 001, Loop: YELLOWJACKET GUARD STATION

This was our 2nd stay here. Fall is a wonderful time to visit. The cabin was clean and in good condition. Lots of beaver dams to check out on Meadow Creek (note, the trailhead for Meadow and Beaver Creek is at the same location on Beaver Creek- don't go by the map). The trail by Beaver Creek is good for biking or an easy hike, and it's closed to ATV's after Labor Day.

Helpful

Abbie G

Verified

October 20, 2021 Stayed at: 001, Loop: YELLOWJACKET GUARD STATION

This was our 2nd stay here. Fall is a wonderful time to visit. The cabin was clean and in good condition. Lots of beaver dams to check out on Meadow Creek (note, the trailhead for Meadow and Beaver Creek is at the same location on Beaver Creek- don't go by the map). The trail by Beaver Creek is good for biking or an easy hike, and it's closed to ATV's after Labor Day.

Helpful

Carolyn N

Verified

July 4, 2022 Stayed at: 001, Loop: YELLOWJACKET GUARD STATION

We absolutely loved staying here! Enjoyed the peacefulness and the flowing stream!

Yellowjacket Lake is a beautiful place to check out! Too much snow our second day here but could drive in with our sxs two days later!

Middle Fork Peak Lookout is another beautiful place! We drove our sxs within a mile of lookout!

We don’t expect this to be a 5 star motel but we do believe that the guard station could be cleaner. The propane refrigerator did not work; the freezer portion barely kept food cool.

The bottom line is we would stay here again! We can’t begin to say how much we enjoyed our 4 nights here!

Helpful

Carolyn N

Verified

July 4, 2022 Stayed at: 001, Loop: YELLOWJACKET GUARD STATION

We absolutely loved staying here! Enjoyed the peacefulness and the flowing stream!

Yellowjacket Lake is a beautiful place to check out! Too much snow our second day here but could drive in with our sxs two days later!

Middle Fork Peak Lookout is another beautiful place! We drove our sxs within a mile of lookout!

We don’t expect this to be a 5 star motel but we do believe that the guard station could be cleaner. The propane refrigerator did not work; the freezer portion barely kept food cool.

The bottom line is we would stay here again! We can’t begin to say how much we enjoyed our 4 nights here!

Helpful

Emmeline H

Verified

July 5, 2024 Stayed at: 001, Loop: YELLOWJACKET GUARD STATION

We loved our stay at the cabin. It did take us a day to figure out how to turn the gas oven or the lights on (the guard flame was out and we are not familiar with either a gas oven or gas lights). A short paragraph on how to turn them on would be nice. The cabin had plenty of firewood and was reasonably clean (a dead mouse in a cupboard, but something like that is to be expected). Regardless, we had a great time at the cabin and will definitely be back!

Helpful

Emmeline H

Verified

July 5, 2024 Stayed at: 001, Loop: YELLOWJACKET GUARD STATION

We loved our stay at the cabin. It did take us a day to figure out how to turn the gas oven or the lights on (the guard flame was out and we are not familiar with either a gas oven or gas lights). A short paragraph on how to turn them on would be nice. The cabin had plenty of firewood and was reasonably clean (a dead mouse in a cupboard, but something like that is to be expected). Regardless, we had a great time at the cabin and will definitely be back!

Helpful

Location & Directions for Yellowjacket Guard Station

311 Mcpherson St, Salmon, ID 83467 United States

Elevation: 1,880 ft

Getting There

From Salmon, Idaho, take Highway 93 south 5 mi, to a right turn at Shoup Bridge onto Forest Road 021 and travel 44.5 mi to Cobalt Work Center facility on Panther Creek Road 055. Continue 8 mi south on Panther Creek Road, where you will come to Por...

Nearest town

Salmon, ID - 57 mi

About over 2 hr (150 min) to downtown

Highway access

Yellowjacket Guard Station is accessible via Highway 93, which is approximately 8 miles from Challis, Idaho, and 5 miles from Salmon, Idaho.

Policies & Rules

General

  • No walk-ins allowed; reservations must be made via this National Recreation Reservation Service website
  • Water is not available at the facility; guests will need to bring their own
  • Bring garbage bags; this is a pack it in, pack it out facility
  • Hay brought in for horses must be certified weed-free
  • The guard station remains locked; the combination code for the back door can be found in the reservation confirmation letter
  • Fire restrictions may be in effect, prompting possible closures
  • Due to the remoteness of this rental and budget/personnel constraints, the Forest Service cannot guarantee all services and amenities including a supply of firewood
  • Guests should be aware of the risk of exposure to hantavirus when visiting remote cabins; click here to learn more
  • Click here for more information on the Salmon-Challis National Forest
  • 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.

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Last updated: November 4, 2026

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