Openings · last 7 days
1
Availability is not tracked here yet
Campsite Sniper does not currently hold availability data for Big Elk Guard Station. That is a gap in what Campsite Sniper tracks — it does not mean the facility is full, closed, or unavailable. Recreation.gov may well be showing open dates right now.
The site details and map below come from the public Recreation.gov record and are accurate. For current dates and to book, go to Recreation.gov.
Booking reality
Campsite Sniper detected 1 site opening here in the last 7 days
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-234630
When Big Elk Guard Station reopens
Big Elk Guard Station's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
4
Openings · last 90 days
6
Only 6 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.
About Big Elk Guard Station
Overview
With a history that dates back to 1907, Big Elk Guard Station is the oldest continuously used administrative site within the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, and a delightful setting for guests seeking a unique getaway.
For many decades the guard station served as summer headquarters for solitary forest "guards" who built trails, fought forest fires and patrolled the land on horseback. Most recently the site was used to house Forest Service seasonal fire crews.
The cabin is one of the few remaining examples of Forest Service log construction in the Forest and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Recreation
Nearby Fish Lake offers biking, fishing, swimming, paddle / motor boating and hiking opportunities.
Fish Lake Trail, High Lakes Trail, Brown Mountain Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, Sky Lakes Wilderness and Mount McLoughlin Trail system are all less than an hour drive away.
Facilities
Big Elk Guard Station is a rustic log cabin with a main room and a kitchen on the ground floor and two upper-story bunkrooms with one king bed and two twin beds, reached by a double landing stairway. The first floor rooms include a large, comfortable living room with a mortared-rock fireplace and a loveseat sofa. The kitchen has a table and chairs, a dry sink, an electric range and refrigerator. The original fir flooring remains intact. There are electric lights throughout the cabin. The cabin is heated with a wood stove and there are no guarantees of firewood . The supply may run low and what is there may have to be split by the visitor with the tools provided. No water is available at the facility. Visitors must bring plenty of their own water for drinking, cooking and washing. A picnic table and fire ring are available for outdoor dining, and an outbuilding, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, acts as a storage shed for firewood. A vault toilet is located near the cabin, as well as additional space for tent camping.
Natural Features
Big Elk Guard Station sits on the fringe of Big Elk Meadow, a grassy expanse that floods in spring and dries out in the summer.
Just a short stroll across the meadow, guests are treated to views of Mt. McLoughlin and the edge of a 20,000 year old lava flow from Brown Mountain. The surrounding forest includes lodgepole pine, quaking aspen, Shasta red fir and Douglas fir.
A variety of wildlife ranging from blacktail deer, elk, mountain lion, black bear, bald eagle and other bird species can be found in the area.
Nearby Attractions
Campgrounds nearby includes Fish Lake Campground, Doe Point Campground and North Fork Campground.
Fish lake Resort is 5 miles from the cabin and provides dining, boat rentals, firewood sales, small store and boat launch.
the south entrance to Crater Lake National Park is 57 miles north of Big Elk Cabin.
1 monitored siteRVs up to 40 ftNo hookups1 shadedFire pitsMax party 10
Getting there
Drive east from Butte Falls on the Butte Falls-Fish Lake Highway (County Road #821) for approximately 19 miles to the junction with State Highway #140. Turn right, go .08 miles on Highway #140 to the junction with Forest Service Road #37. Turn left, and travel approximately 4 miles to the junction with the guard station driveway. The station is visible on the left from this location. Turn left, travel through the gate to the guard station. From White City, OR, for an alternative route to Big Elk Guard Station that bypasses the town of Butte Falls, take State Highway 140 traveling east to the Junction with Forest Road 37, or take State Highway 140 traveling west from Klamath Falls, OR to the Junction with Forest Road 37. Turning onto Forest Road 37 traveling south, follow directions as above to the guard station.
Po Box 227, Butte Falls, OR 97522541-865-2700
CampingHiking
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
02 · Field Photos · roll CS-234630 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-234630 · Big Elk Guard Station · Butte Falls OR8 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Big Elk Guard Station?
Online reservations for this facility, where offered, are made through Recreation.gov. Campsite Sniper has also detected 6 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 does not currently hold availability data for Big Elk Guard Station, so there is nothing to date here. That is a gap in coverage — it does not mean the facility is full or closed. Check Recreation.gov for current dates.
How often do new openings appear at Big Elk Guard Station?
Campsite Sniper detected 1 site-date opening at Big Elk Guard Station in the last 7 days, 4 over 30 days and 6 over the last 90.
Which sites at Big Elk Guard Station fit a 35-foot RV?
1 of the 1 site that support RV analysis has a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 40 ft.
Stop refreshing. Let the app watch it.
Filter
Lakefront, hookups, your RV length, weekends only - set it as picky as you want.
Watch
We run paced availability checks for Big Elk Guard Station. One watch covers every matching site.
Get the ping
When a match opens, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.