Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-234315
When Trout Creek Guard Station reopens
Trout Creek Guard Station's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
7
Openings · last 90 days
12
Only 12 openings in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · Dec 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2027 · of 1 monitored site
Of the 121 tracked site-nights (Dec 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2027): 121 open for online reservation.
Where the open windows are
0% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 121 of 121 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Dec 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2027Not open online0%
Open site-nights121 / 121
Reserved (of online inventory)0 / 121
Weekday openings70
Weekend openings51
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 70 fall on weekdays and 51 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Dec 2026 – Mar 2027December holds the most room. 31 of 31 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 1 site| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas | THU Dec 24 | 1 | Open |
| FRI Dec 25 | 1 | Open | |
| New Year | THU Dec 31 | 1 | Open |
| FRI Jan 1 | 1 | Open |
Christmas: 1 site is available for the complete two-night stay. New Year: 1 site is available for the complete two-night stay.
Availability
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| 001 | 121 |
This site currently has 121 site-nights available.
Tracked window
CoverageCampsite Sniper's data for this facility starts Dec 1. That is about 29 days after the current snapshot was taken, so dates before Dec 1 are not covered by what Campsite Sniper tracks here — they are not known to be unavailable. The site-nights shown on this page describe Dec 1 onwards only. Check Recreation.gov for earlier dates.
Stays and site detail
121 open site-nights across 1 site at Trout Creek Guard Station, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 1 2-night, 1 3-night, 1 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Dec 1 at site 001.
All 1 site with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Not recorded | None | 121 | 121 nights | Dec 1, Dec 2, Dec 3, Dec 4, Dec 5, Dec 6, Dec 7, Dec 8, Dec 9, Dec 10, Dec 11, Dec 12 +109 more |
About Trout Creek Guard Station
Overview
Trout Creek Guard Station is located in the Trout Creek area, approximately 21 miles west of U.S. Highway 191 near Vernal, in eastern Utah. It is part of the beautiful Ashley National Forest. The Civilian Conservation Corps built the complex in 1934 as part of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal instituted during the Great Depression. It was a residence for rangers who patrolled the forest on horseback prior to the age of modern vehicles.
The Ashley National Forest Vernal Ranger District has chosen to rent this guard station to the public so guests can enjoy a primitive experience similar to that of the first rangers. The cabin is open for reservations all months of the year except November, April and May.
Recreation
In summer months, numerous hiking, biking and off-road trails crisscross the area. In winter months, endless snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing opportunities are right out the door.
Facilities
The cabin can sleep two to four people on one twin-sized bunk bed. No linens, bedding or pillows are provided.
The kitchen contains basic amenities including a sink, propane stove, refrigerator, table and four chairs. Very limited cookware is provided. Guests are required to bring their own cooking supplies.
The cabin remains locked; call the Vernal Ranger District office, at (435) 789-1181, three business days prior to arrival, to confirm the combination lock code. COMBINATION CODE REQUIRED to enter cabin. (Some combination locks used have off-set entry lines. If code is not working, try off-setting entry line).
The cabin has a wood stove inside for heat, and a campfire ring with a grill outside. A vault toilet is provided outside the cabin. Solar lights are provided, however, due to varying weather conditions, they are not reliable. Please be prepared with battery powered lanterns or flashlights.
From approximately mid-September to mid-June (winter), most amenities are shut off, including the refrigerator. The operable amenities during this time are an outdoor vault toilet, propane stove for cooking and a wood-burning stove for heat. Click here to view a video of the details about Trout Creek Guard Station.
Natural Features
The charming red cabin sits at the edge of a meadow, just above Trout Creek. A scenic forest of pines and aspens surrounds the expansive meadow. Wildlife and summer wildflowers are abundant.
Nearby Attractions
Numerous scenic driving routes on maintained dirt roads crisscross the area, providing miles of trails for off-road enthusiasts, hikers and mountain bikers. Trails lead to Oaks Park, East Park and Long Park Reservoirs, as well as smaller lakes, overlooks, forests, meadows and historic sites.
The Ashley-Karst National Geologic Recreation Area offers dramatic canyons, densely forested backcountry areas, and vast networks of caves.
1 monitored siteNo hookups1 shadedPets OKFire pitsMax party 4
Getting there
Follow the mileage indications below and look for signs on the ground when traveling to Trout Creek Guard Station. Leave with plenty of time to arrive at the guard station before dark. From Vernal, travel north on U.S. Highway 191/Vernal Avenue for approximately 20 miles. Turn left (west) on Forest Road 020/018; a paved parking lot with a restroom is located at this intersection. Follow paved Forest Road 020 northwest approximately 9 miles. The pavement ends and the road turns to gravel after the East Park Campground junction. Continue on gravel Forest Road 020 (locally called White Cloud Loop after pavement ends) approximately 10 miles. Trout Creek Park will be in the foreground and Trout Creek Guard Station will be visible to the northwest. Turn right (north) to Trout Creek Guard Station (red building). If you reach the intersection with Forest Road 018 (Red Cloud Loop), you have gone too far.
355 N Vernal Ave, Vernal, UT 84078
BikingBirdingCampingFishingHikingHorseback RidingPhotographyPicnickingWildlife ViewingWinter Sports
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-234315 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-234315 · Trout Creek Guard Station · Vernal UT8 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Trout Creek Guard Station?
Reservations for Trout Creek Guard Station are made through Recreation.gov. The current snapshot shows substantial availability: 121 of 121 tracked site-nights are open (100%), though availability can change. Campsite Sniper has also detected 12 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Nov 2, 2026 20:17 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Trout Creek Guard Station?
Campsite Sniper detected 12 site-date openings here over the last 90 days, none in the last 7. A free alert watches around the clock and pings you the moment one appears.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Trout Creek Guard Station?
1 three-night opening is showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Dec 1 at site 001. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which month has the most availability at Trout Creek Guard Station?
December 2026, with 31 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 31.
When is the next open date at Trout Creek Guard Station?
Campsite Sniper cannot answer that from the current snapshot. The availability data held for Trout Creek Guard Station begins Dec 1 — about 29 days after this snapshot was taken, so any earlier dates are outside what Campsite Sniper is tracking here rather than known to be unavailable. Check Recreation.gov for dates before Dec 1.
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