Jones Corral Guard Station

Make sure to take a few AAA batteries for the lights. Very rustic cabin.

Never saw another person as soon as we left Antimony, until we returned. 😁

The good:
Would certainly stay again! One of the top ten cabins/lookouts we’ve stayed in out of 40. Nice improvements in past few years with new porch, much larger propane tank & nice new vault toilet.
Single room cabin with 2 sets bunk beds without ladders, small table with 4 chairs, futon, propane stove/oven, sink that drains, small wood heater and porch with chairs. Standard wall storage unit with pull down table. No running water.
There is a USDA weather station next to the cabin that you can check at https://wcc.sc.egov.usda.gov/nwcc/site?sitenum=1099 but we found the temperature was 10-15 degrees off. Also, as it’s in the trees the snow amount does not correlate with nearby snow free open fields and roads.
Good wind picks up about 10 AM until dusk so bring a kite.
We have Verizon & got 1 bar at times but if you drive about 3/4 miles west to the cliff we got 2 Bar 4G service. Also a GREAT view from there of Circleville and Junction.
Nice picnic table with fire pit along with a couple of extra tables.
Cows at times to entertain but a couple of cowboys took the herds away in prep for winter while there.
Please bring notebook as there were no journals.
The Bad:
It was hunting season so more traffic than usual. A surprising number of people came to the gate, saw we were there then left which leads us to the next comment.
There is a digital lock on the front door but no latch to place your own lock on the cabin door while you are gone. Previous renters have the lock combination, so don’t leave valuables in the cabin while away. If we weren’t there we’re sure some visitors would have looked around.
No kitchen items such as pots, pans, plates or glasses supplied compared to other cabins.
Notice posted that the price may be going to $45 night.
Very long rough 12 miles drive from Antimony but helps privacy.
Wood was there but very few pieces cut to fit the wood stove. No ax, maul or fire poker supplied.
They have greatly reduced the dates you can rent.

What is the price for solitude? 13 miles of bad road. I say it is worth it. We didn't see anyone for 3 days but did see deer, elk, eagles, turkeys, millions of stars and cows, of course. The enclosure keeps the cows away which was nice. Even though there is a bit of standing water with the spring, there weren't that many bugs. Be sure to walk to the overlook. It is beautiful and there is a lone, huge, bristlecone pine at the end of the road. I was really surprised to see it.
The cabin is really nice and we had plenty of room for the group. We had someone joining us that pulled a 19ft, single axel trailer to the site. It took them 1 hr and 45 min from the turn off but they made it. We did our cooking in the trailer so I can't comment on the stove. You have to bring your own water. There is a horseshoe pit that was fun. I highly recommend this site just be prepared for the last 9 miles to be really rough getting there.

I absolutely LOVE Jones Corral! Probably my favorite ranger station. It's very secluded and quiet and the cabin is in excellent shape. It is a very rough 12 mile road into the cabin, and so worth it. We bought four bundles of wood and wish we would have brought more. Since it's such a drive in, I would recommend to the next visitors to bring more if possible. Absolutely loved my second time here - can't wait to come back!
Also found the Jones Corral trail and it was stunning.!

Such a great location and well maintained cabin. Stunning views, especially at sunrise and sunset. If you love a clear night sky, this is the place to be - breathtaking. The horseshoe pit was great. The only downside to the stay was the yellowjacket issue. There were traps out but they didn't seem to be working, anytime I sat down outside I was immediately swarmed. I cut the stay short as I wasn't able to enjoy being outside during the day and wasn't willing to risk getting stung. I was impressed with how clean the cabin was and how well stocked it was with supplies for cleaning, etc. The woodpile was well maintained. The beds were comfortable and the outhouse was immaculate. Follow the signage from Antimony to the station - the road is not clearly marked at Forest Service Road, rather now is Mt. Dutton road. Once on the road, take your time - it is a rough road (as noted in the directions). Signage for turnoffs is clearly marked. If it is your first time to the area, I recommend having a full tank of gas as the gas stations are few and far between in the area. If you are looking to get off the grid, this is the place. I will go back.

Absolutely beautiful!

The cabin is quite remote. There is no electricity or water. The use of a large portable battery (e.g. Zero Yeti) can take care of most electricity needs, but the lack of water was the biggest issue. We brought enough for cooking and drinking, but not enough for showering. The area is prime for exploring with multiple hiking and ATV trails. At the end of the day, a nice shower would have capped the day nicely.

I called a week before the reservation to check on road conditions. The week I called was raining, but the day of my reservation it had stopped. I took the family minivan, which made it to the cabin, but had it been raining I doubt I would have. The undercarriage of the minivan hit a few large rocks. I was lucky not to puncture anything critical. For that reason, it is best to take a truck. If it rains, a 4x4 is a must. You can also take an RV, but a smaller one. There are some tight turns. It took us about an hour to travel the 12 miles from Antimony. It will be quicker on a truck.

The cabin is small, but tidy. There is a functioning wood stove and propane stove. There is also a sink that drains underground (no need to wash your dishes outdoors). The day we arrive we found a dead mouse in a mouse trap. The day we left we caught another. There are plenty of mouse traps available in the cabin. I recommend you keep your food supplies stored in closed containers.

The evenings are magnificent with minimal light pollution. The sky is bright with stars. The moon is particularly bright during its full cycle. It felt light a lamp post was parked outside the cabin. It was magnificent.

There are plenty of cows around, but I suspect few if any predators. We did not come across any at all (bears, mountain lions, wolfs, coyotes, none).

Lastly, there is ATT service 2 miles away from the cabin right at the intersection of 126 and 125. There is none at the cabin.

Solitude! Peace and quiet. A beuatiful spot with just enough comfort to make your stay easy and fun. Plenty of cows roaming around to entertain you too.

A great place to stay. Well off the grid. Lots of deer and elk.
The cabin was in great shape and very clean. Great parking an access. This was my seventh time at the cabin and it keeps getting better.