This isn't your standard campground — it's a 1916 Forest Service guard station you can rent for the night, complete with indoor plumbing and a kitchen stocked with dishes. The two-story building sits next to Glen Creek in the Hayfork Area, where the South Fork Trinity River cuts through some of northern California's wildest country. Best for groups up to eight who want a roof overhead and a trailhead nearby.
Campground Details
- ⛺Type
- Developed
- 💵Fee per Night
- Free
- 📍GPS
- 40.36694, -123.31694
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- No
- 📞Phone
- (530) 623-2121
- 🗺️Address
- CA
The Station
Forest Glen Guard Station holds the distinction of being the oldest Forest Service building on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, built under District Ranger John T. Grey when this was still the Trinity National Forest. The two-story structure feels more like a rustic cabin than institutional housing — barrel chairs and a double futon downstairs, four twin beds upstairs, space heaters throughout. Glen Creek runs year-round right beside the building, and you'll have a front porch for watching the ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, and oak that blanket the surrounding hills.
The kitchen comes fully equipped with cookstove, refrigerator, and all the pots and utensils you'll need, though you're on your own for linens, towels, and bedding. An indoor bathroom with flush toilet beats the vault toilet lottery at most Forest Service sites. Outside, you get the standard fire pit, picnic table, and Adirondack chairs setup.
The Country
The Hayfork Area delivers on natural beauty through three major watersheds, with the South Fork Trinity River being the main draw. Swimming holes dot this waterway, considered among northern California's wildest and most scenic rivers. Open meadows break up the forested landscape, and you're positioned between creek-level camping and the broader South Fork Mountain Ridge country.
Nearby
The South Fork National Recreational Trail starts 1.5 miles up the road — or from Scott Flat Campground if you can cross their swinging footbridge. The full trail runs 21 miles, but most people stick to the first 7.2 miles paralleling the South Fork Trinity River for the scenic payoff. Ruth Lake sits about 45 minutes west by car for additional hiking and picnic options.
The station operates mid-April through early December, giving you most of the snow-free season to explore this corner of the forest.