Medicine Bow - Routt National Forests
Thunder Basin National Grassland

USDA Forest Service
Medicine Bow-Routt
National Forests,
Thunder Basin
National Grassland
2468 Jackson Street
Laramie, WY 82070
307-745-2300

Telephone for the
Hearing Impaired
307-745-2307

The Jack Creek Guard Station once served as the northern ranger cabin for the historic Encampment Ranger District. This cabin, which was completed by Evie Williams in 1934, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Local District oral history states that Ranger Williams spent most of his construction dollars on the material for the foundation and chimney and used his own funds to finish the windows and roof. It consists of a one-room cabin that can accommodate up to four people on two sets of bunk beds. A combination wood and propane cook stove heats it. There is no indoor plumbing, but a new vault toilet is located nearby. Water is available during the summer months from the frost-free hydrant outside and during the winter months, from the Jack Creek Campground, which is located a short distance away. Evie Williams’ grave site lies just a short distance from the cabin.

Items that should be brought along include bedding/sleeping bag, food, dish soap and sponge, trash bags, paper towels, warm clothing, first aid kit, flashlight, towels and washcloths, personal hygiene items and other personal items. Basic cooking and eating utensils, plates, knives, forks, spoons, cups, and basic pots and pans are furnished. If you use these, they need to be cleaned and put up after use. The garbage is pack it in, pack it out.

The cabin is available for overnight stays year round (check www.reserveamerica.com for the specific availability). The access to the cabin during the winter months is either by snow machine or skis. It is an excellent cabin to enjoy warm summer evenings or for the weekend snow machiner. The rate is $40 per night. In consideration of all users of the cabin and its historic value, we ask that you smoke your cigarettes or pipe outside.

The cabin is not universally accessible.

Access

To reach Jack Creek Guard Station from Saratoga, Wyoming, turn west off Highway 130/230 on Bridge Street across from the Wolf Hotel, travel west on County Road 500 to the forest boundary approximately 20 miles, then on National Forest System Road (NFSR) 452 for 5 miles. The Jack Creek Guard Station will be located on the left (north) side of the road. From Encampment, Wyoming, take State Highway 70 west for 7 miles to NFSR 443, turn north (left) onto NFSR 443 and travel to the junction with NFSR 452 (approximately 16 miles) turn west on NFSR 452 and travel approximately 8 miles. The Jack Creek Guard Station will be located on the north (right) side of the road. From Baggs, Wyoming, take State Highway 70 east approximately 23 miles to the junction of NFSR 801. Turn north and travel approximately 5 miles to the junction to the junction of NFSR 830. Turn right and travel approximately 13 miles to the junction of NFSR 452, turn west (left) for approximately 2 miles. The Jack Creek Guard Station will be located on the north (right) side of the road.

Attractions & Considerations

This beautiful area is a mixture of lodge pole pine, aspen and mixed conifer forest with fishing, hiking, mountain biking, picnicking, horseback riding and hunting available in the general area. If you bring your own stock, saddle or pack animals may be kept in the meadow across the road from the Jack Creek Guard Station, where ample feed and water are available or in the small corral located across the road. A rate of $1.00 per night per head of livestock will be charged. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail is located west not far from the quarters. A variety of wildlife is located in the general vicinity including elk, deer, bear and moose.

Narrative

The Jack Creek Ranger Station was the northern ranger cabin of the Encampment Ranger District. This area was first designated the Sierra Madre Forest Reserve in 1906 and actually included area in Colorado. In 1908 it became the Hayden National Forest and in 1929 this area was renamed the Medicine Bow National Forest, Hayden Division. District records indicate that a guard cabin was built in this area in 1908; the present guard cabin was constructed and finished in 1934 by Ranger Evie Williams.

This cabin, which was completed by Evie Williams in 1934, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Local District oral history states that Ranger Williams spent most of his construction dollars on the material for the foundation and chimney and used his own funds to finish the windows and roof. Evie Williams’ grave site lies just a short distance from the cabin.

The Jack Creek Guard Station is an exceptional example of double dovetail log notch method. This construction method results in the cabin corner being very square with the ends of the logs being sawn-notched that has a locking double angle. This particular notch locks and holds tighter as the cabin settles over the years.