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Recreation.govUT

Payson Lakes Guard Station

Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest

Upcoming Availability

5 of 14 days currently show available sites.

View releasing sites

Sun, Jul 26

None

available

Mon, Jul 27

None

available

Tue, Jul 28

None

available

Wed, Jul 29

None

available

Thu, Jul 30

1

site

Fri, Jul 31

None

available

Sat, Aug 1

None

available

Sun, Aug 2

None

available

Mon, Aug 3

None

available

Tue, Aug 4

None

available

Wed, Aug 5

1

site

Thu, Aug 6

1

site

Fri, Aug 7

1

site

Sat, Aug 8

1

site

Campground guide

What to know before booking

Payson Lakes Guard Station is located in the Uinta National Forest, approximately 13 miles south of Payson, Utah, along the Mount Nebo Scenic Byway. Payson Lakes Guard Station can accommodate up to 8 overnight guests: 4 in the main cabin and 4 in the bunk house. The Guard Station is nestled in a forest of aspen and Douglas fir trees at an elevation of 8,000 feet.

reservation Window

12 Months

Official campground details, summarized

Concise planning notes based on the public Recreation.gov campground information.

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.

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.

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.

Campsite map

Site markers come from Recreation.gov campsite coordinates.

1 mapped sites

Campsites

A sample of official campsite metadata for scanning equipment fit before booking.

Site Guard Station

PAYSON LAKES GUARD STATION

CABIN ELECTRIC

25 ft

vehicle

8

people

Yes

shade

Important notices

This Campground is in Bear Country Always store food and trash securely to avoid attracting wildlife. Store all food items inside the cabin or bunkhouse. -Failure to comply may result in fines up to $5,000, removal from your campsite and/or imprisonment Remember, a fed bear is a dead bear; your actions can save lives
There is no water available on site. Please bring all of the water you will need for your stay. Please bring your own drinking water This is a 'pack it in, pack it out' facility; please bring garbage bags
The Guard Station is a historic structure. As such, the maximum person and vehicle limits are strictly enforced No pets or animals allowed at or in the cabin to help ensure this historic structure is preserved Dogs are not allowed in Day Use areas, beaches, or in/on the water The guard station cannot be reserved for large groups The Guard Station complex can sleep a maximum 8 people in bunk beds; four people inside the cabin and four people in the bunkhouse. Up to 7 additional guests may visit for day use only There is not room for RVs or trailers Tents will not be allowed on the grounds Parking space is limited to 5 family vehicles and no vehicles are permitted off the pavement
Guests are to check in and out with the Camp Host at the nearby Payson Lakes Campground for access to the site. Rules of use will be reviewed and the lock combination will be provided during check in

More at Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest

Other tracked campgrounds from the same park or area.

Surrounding campgrounds

Other tracked campgrounds within driving distance, nearest first.

Common questions

Is Payson Lakes Guard Station available right now?

Kestrel's most recent scan found openings on 5 of the next 14 days, starting Thu, Jul 30. Availability changes constantly — check the calendar above, then confirm on Recreation.gov.

How do I book Payson Lakes Guard Station?

Reservations are handled by Recreation.gov, not by Kestrel. Use the official reservation link on this page to book. Kestrel only watches availability and tells you when a site frees up.

How far in advance can I book?

Recreation.gov lists a booking window of 12 Months for this campground.

How quickly will I hear about a cancellation?

Kestrel rescans every two minutes, and every 30 seconds during the provider's daily release window. Alerts go out by email as soon as a matching site appears.