Podunk Guard Station
Campground · Utah · 1 bookable site ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
Dixie National Forest (NF) · Open Access
- 1
- Bookable site
- 30 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 6
- People per site
- 8,101 ft
- Elevation
Overview
Podunk Guard Station is located next to the East Fork Sevier River, in the Dixie National Forest in southern Utah. The cabin was constructed in 1928 and has been used by generations of Forest Service employees.Guests enjoy exploring local trails on foot, horseback, mountain bike and off-road vehicle. The river offers fishing and swimming opportunities.
Recreation
Recreational opportunities in the area include hiking, mountain biking, off-roading and fishing. The Paunsaugunt, Fremont and Great Western OHV Trail Systems can be accessed easily from the guard station.Facilities
The two-room cabin can sleep six people on two, twin-size bunk beds located in the bedroom, and a double-size futon in the living room. No linens or bedding are provided.
The kitchen is equipped with a propane cook top range and oven, a table and chairs. No pots, pans, dishes or utensils are available. Guests must bring their own cooking and eating euipment. A wood stove is provided for heat, firewood is not guaranteed. The cabin has seasonal water running water in the kitchen sink only (when temperatures are freezing the water will be turned off).
A vault toilet, picnic table and campfire ring are located outside.
Natural Features
The cabin sits in a narrow mountain valley just above the meandering East Fork Sevier River. The meadow is surrounded by mature spruce trees, and grasses and willow thickets line the riverbanks.Average summer temperatures range from 74 degrees during the day to 42 degrees at night. September temperatures range from 68 to 37 degrees; October temperatures range from 57 to 27 degrees.
Nearby Attractions
Tropic Reservoir is 8.5 miles north of the cabin. Boating, canoeing and fishing are popular activities. Anglers fish for brook, rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout. A boat ramp is located on the west side of the reservoir.The facts
- 1 bookable site
- Vehicles up to 30 ft
- Up to 6 people per site
- Loops: POGS
Site types
- 1 Cabin Nonelectric
Amenities
- Picnic tables
- Shade
- Water hookups — not available
- Campfires allowed — not available
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, sewer hookups, fire pits, grills, pets allowed.
1 campsite at Podunk Guard Station
Check-in 3:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Grade | Water | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | POGS | Cabin Nonelectric | — | Gravel | Moderate | Springs | 30 ft | 6 |
Getting there
From Bryce Canyon National Park, travel on Highway 12 for 5 miles to East Fork Road/Forest Road 30087. The sign at this junction will say, "Tropic Reservoir - 8 miles." Travel along this well-maintained, two-lane dirt road for 16 miles. Podunk Guard Station will be on the east side of the road.
37.48750, -112.29806 · 37°29'15.0"N 112°17'53.0"W
Typical weather
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Low °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Precip in | 2.4 | 2.7 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 2.1 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 2.7 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
Fees and stay limits
Reservation Cancellations & Changes (see website for more information) Cancelling a Reservation: Customers may cancel their reservation prior to arrival both on-line and through the call center. A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation. Depending on when you cancel in relation to your arrival day, it may be considered a late cancellation (see website). https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policieshttps://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies Cancellation Fee: A service fee will be withheld from any refunds for a cancelled reservation. Fees: Applicable fees, such as reservation fees, service/cancellation fees, lottery application fees, and change fees, are non-refundable. https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policieshttps://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies
From Recreation.gov, which is not always current. The operator's own page is the authority on what you will be charged.
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Podunk Guard Station
- Can you reserve a site at Podunk Guard Station?
- Yes, Podunk Guard Station is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Podunk Guard Station have?
- 1 site.
- What is the maximum RV length at Podunk Guard Station?
- 30 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
- Does Podunk Guard Station have hookups?
- No hookups are recorded here.
- Are campfires allowed at Podunk Guard Station?
- Campfires are not allowed at Podunk Guard Station.
Camping near Podunk Guard Station
- Kings Creek 8.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Bryce Canyon National Park Full Moon Hike Tours 12.1 mi · Tickets · we watch it
- North Campground (UT) 12.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Sunset Campground (UT) 12.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Bryce Canyon National Park Private Horse Reservations 12.7 mi · Tickets · we watch it
- North Campground 12.6 mi · Campground
- Bryce Canyon Visitor Center 12.7 mi · Facility
- Powell Ranger District 13.4 mi · Facility
- Cannonville Visitor Center 14.4 mi · Facility
- Red Canyon Campground 17 mi · Campground
- Uinta Flat Designated Dispersed Camping Area 17.6 mi · Campground
- Red Canyon Recreation Area 17.7 mi · Facility
Contact
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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