Warm Springs Guard Station

$40.00/night

7359 HIGHWAY 21
LOWMAN, ID 83637

Overview

Historic Warm Springs Guard Station is open year-round and has recently been restored to reflect its original finishes and paint. It's accessible by car from mid-April through mid-December but can only be reached by snowshoes or cross-country skis for the remainder of the year. This charming cabin offers a rustic retreat with a few amenities. Guests should be prepared to bring most of the supplies and gear they need for a comfortable stay. PLEASE CALL THE DISTRICT OFFICE WITH YOUR RESERVATION NUMBER DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS (8AM - 4:30PM EXCEPT HOLIDAYS) FOR COMBINATIONS AND OTHER INQUIRIES AT 208-259-3361.

Recreation

Some hiking trails are nearby. One trail leads to Bonneville Hot Springs, which is accessible by snowshoes and skis in the winter. Visitors can soak in the waters while enjoying the beautiful surroundings. The South Fork Payette River offers opportunities for trout fishing and swimming. The area around the cabin is a cross-country skiing and snowshoeing playground in winter.

Facilities

The cabin sleeps six people and comes with one double bed and three single beds with mattresses. A small couch and a wood stove are located in the front room. Firewood is provided in the adjacent barn, but it may need to be split. The kitchen is equipped with a dry sink, a table with chairs, and a propane fridge and stove. Some pots and pans and a coffee pot are provided. A campfire ring and an outhouse with vault toilet are located outside the cabin. A hand pump for water is available for summer use. No water is available at the cabin in the winter, but snow can be melted. No electricity is provided. Guests must bring garbage bags to pack out trash. Items like bedding, lanterns or flashlights, matches, first aid supplies, extra toilet paper and an axe are not available.

Natural Features

Towering Ponderosa pines forest this pretty site located in a narrow mountain valley along the South Fork Payette River. The cabin sits at an elevation of 4,700 feet amid steep mountain peaks. This is a wintering area for deer and elk. Summer visitors to the area may see black bears. A variety of bird species make the forest their home year-round.

Nearby Attractions

Highway 21, just below the guard station, is known as the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway. This 131-mile route starts in Boise and meanders through Boise, Salmon-Challis and Sawtooth National Forests, with several points of interest along the way.

Camp site features

Across 2 camp sites:

Pets allowed: 1 of 2 sites
Largest party: 6 people

Directions

From Boise, Idaho, take State Highway 21 northeast 75 miles to Lowman, Idaho. Continue on Highway 21 another 18 miles to milepost 91.2. Turn left on Forest Road 025RC and continue 1.5 miles to cabin when road is open to motorized use. In the winter, park in the plowed parking lot on the left at milepost 91.2 and hike/snowshoe/ski the the remaining distance. From Banks, Idaho, turn right off Highway 55 onto Highway 17, drive 40 miles to Lowman. Turn left onto Highway 21 and go approximately 18 miles east to milepost 91.2. Turn left on Forest Road 025RC and continue 1.5 miles to cabin when road is open to motorized use. In the winter, park in the plowed parking lot on the left at milepost 91.2 and hike/snowshoe/ski the the remaining distance.

Stay Limit

Check in from 2 PM, check out by 1 PM.

Reviews

42 reviews

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 stars

Mark M

Loop:Warm

Site:

Reviewed 16 days ago

Beautiful area, but 3 different parties of hunters camping at the airstrip were firing guns, and several nearby down the road to the south were firing guns 7am and 10 pm. Nice cabin , but i could hear mice running around at night in the floor joist space between the 1st and 2nd floor. I set 2 traps but couldn’t catch them.

Eugene R

Loop:Warm

Site:

Reviewed 2 months ago

Recently updated beds in the cabin. Excellent location.

James A

Loop:Warm

Site:

Reviewed 3 months ago

Great cabin off by itself. 6 beds, wood stove, propane stove and fridge. We had a wonderful time. Only 1 car came by the 3 days we were there= !!!

John W

Loop:Warm

Site:

Reviewed 3 months ago

Hummingbirds were busy at the feeders by the back door.

James W

Loop:Warm

Site:

Reviewed 3 months ago

was told 5 days or so prior that cabin was closed due to flash flood. still waiting on refund, very difficult to speak to someone directly

Lee R

Loop:Warm

Site:

Reviewed 4 months ago

I love the location and the cabin is very comfortable. Unfortunately, the cabin is infested with mice so we had night visitors so we had to be very careful with dog food and anything else edible. I was also disappointed in the quality of wood in the garage. It was too green to split even with a good axe. It was crazy seeing axe marks in the firewood rounds from previous guests attempts to split them. I may have to rethink my Idaho plans in the future.

Availability

See the Camp Sites section below to find detailed booking availability.

Reserve

Popularity: Moderate

Busiest in November, when about 52% of guest capacity is reserved. Based on 5 years of reservations.