Openings · last 7 days
2
Booking reality
Campsite Sniper detected 2 site openings here in the last 7 days
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-251711
When Payson Lakes Guard Station reopens
Payson Lakes Guard Station's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
2
Openings · last 90 days
2
Only 2 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 · Sep 18 – Oct 10, 2026 · of 1 monitored site
Of the 23 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Oct 10, 2026): 5 open for online reservation · 16 reserved · 2 unavailable (cause unspecified).
Where the open windows are
78.3% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 5 of 23 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18 – Oct 10, 2026Not open online78.3%
Open site-nights5 / 23
Reserved (of online inventory)16 / 21
Weekday openings5
Weekend openings0
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 5 fall on weekdays and 0 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Oct 2026September holds the most room. 4 of 13 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 1 site| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night.
Availability
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| Guard Station | 5 |
This site currently has 5 site-nights available.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateTue · Sep 22
The next bookable night is Sep 22. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
5 open site-nights across 1 site at Payson Lakes Guard Station, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 1 2-night, 1 3-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 22 at site Guard Station.
RV length. Longest recorded site here is 25 ft. 1 site takes 25 ft.
All 1 site with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guard Station | 25 ft | None | 5 | 3 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 29, Oct 8 |
About Payson Lakes Guard Station
Overview
Payson Lakes Guard Station is located in the Uinta National Forest, approximately 13 miles south of Payson, Utah, along the Mount Nebo Scenic Byway. The Guard Station was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935 as part of the New Deal Program. The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest offers the cabin for advance reservation so visitors can enjoy an experience similar to that of early Forest Rangers and their families.
Recreation
The nearby Payson Lakes Recreation Area offers great canoeing and kayaking. Anglers enjoy fishing for rainbow and brown trout. There are many nearby trails for hiking, mountain biking and equestrian use.
Facilities
Payson Lakes Guard Station can accommodate up to 8 overnight guests : 4 in the main cabin and 4 in the bunk house . Up to 7 additional visitors may join during the day.
Parking : Space for up to 5 family vehicles. Vehicles must stay on pavement
Horses : The adjacent pasture can hold up to 8 horses.
Stay Limits : Minimum stay is 2 nights, 3 nights on holidays, maximum is 7 nights.
What to bring : Guests need to bring their own bedding, plates, and utensils, pots, pans, etc.
Pets : Not allowed.
Firewood : Bring your own or purchase at the campground. Collecting firewood is not allowed.
Check-in : Guests must check in with the Payson Lakes Campground Host, who will escort them to the cabin
Natural Features
The Guard Station is nestled in a forest of aspen and Douglas fir trees at an elevation of 8,000 feet. The Payson Lakes area includes McClelland, Box and Big East Lakes. Summer wildflowers are abundant. A variety of wildlife makes its home around the lakes.
Nearby Attractions
A popular day-use area is located on the shore of Big East Lake, with a small swim beach, picnic tables and flush toilets. A paved nature path begins at the parking area and circles the lake. The Mount Nebo Wilderness Area is adjacent, brimming with beautiful mountain scenery, pristine waters, abundant wildlife, vibrant summer wildflowers and numerous trail opportunities.
The Nebo Loop Scenic Byway stretches 37 miles through high alpine terrain, dense forests and colorful meadows. Devil's Kitchen Geological Area can be found along the loop. It offers a 1/2-mile round-trip trail to interesting red rock hoodoos.
1 monitored siteRVs up to 25 ftNo hookups1 shadedFire pitsMax party 8
Getting there
From I-15, take exit 250 toward north Payson/Salem and proceed south on Main Street to 100 North/Highway 198. Travel east to 600 East. Turn south onto 600 East, which becomes the Nebo Loop Scenic Byway/Payson Canyon Road. Travel south along the Nebo Loop Road 015 until you see the Payson Lakes Guard Station sign on the right. Proceed up the driveway and through the gate.
564 W 700 S, Pleasant Grove, UT 84062SPANISH FORK RANGER DISTRICT 801-798-3571 OR UTAH RECREATION COMPANY 385-273-1100
BikingCampingFishingHikingHistoric & Cultural SiteHorseback RidingHuntingScenic DriveWildlife Viewing
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-251711 · facility
Photo gallery
Roll CS-251711 · Payson Lakes Guard Station · Pleasant Grove UT12 frames · facility
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Payson Lakes Guard Station?
Reservations for Payson Lakes Guard Station are made through Recreation.gov. 78.3% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation; 5 of 23 remain open. Campsite Sniper has also detected 2 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 Sep 18, 2026 16:19 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 Payson Lakes Guard Station?
Campsite Sniper detected 2 site-date openings at Payson Lakes Guard Station in the last 7 days, 2 over 30 days and 2 over the last 90.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Payson Lakes Guard Station?
1 three-night opening is showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Sep 22 at site Guard Station. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which sites at Payson Lakes Guard Station fit a 35-foot RV?
No RV-analyzable site here has a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 25 ft.
Which month has the most availability at Payson Lakes Guard Station?
September 2026, with 4 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 13.
When is the next open date at Payson Lakes Guard Station?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Tue, Sep 22. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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