A gray 4x4 Sprinter with a roof rack on a two-track through a wildflower meadow, cloud sitting on the mountains behind.

Forest Service cabin or lookout

Forest Glen Guard Station

Forest Service cabin or lookout in Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Trinity County, California. 2,518 feet.

Managed by
Forest Service Shasta-Trinity National Forest
Elevation
2,518 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
1 1 cabin electric
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov

Overview

This historic guard station offers a unique stay in the oldest Forest Service building on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. This charming two-story structure was built in 1916 under the direction of John T. Grey, District Ranger of the Mad River Ranger District on the old Trinity National Forest.

Visitors can relax on the front porch and enjoy the tranquil surroundings from mid-April to the beginning of December.

Recreation

The South Fork National Recreational Trail can be accessed one and a half miles up the road from the cabin, or from the Scott Flat Campground when conditions permit crossing the swinging footbridge. The trail is 21 miles long, but the first 7.2-miles that parallel the South Fork Trinity River are the most traversed. The trail offers numerous scenic views. Visitors may also want to drive to Ruth Lake for a picnic and additional hiking, which is about a 45 minute drive west of the cabin. Visitors can find a few excellent swimming holes on the South Fork Trinity River.

Facilities

The cabin has electricity. The lower level has a living area with two barrel chairs and a double futon, along with a large kitchen area equipped with a cook stove and refrigerator, dining table, and chairs. The kitchen is fully stocked with dishes, pots, pans, and utensils.

There is an indoor bathroom with flush toilet. There are 4 twin beds, and a double futon, and sleeping bags can be placed on the floor to accommodate a total of eight people in the cabin. Visitors should bring all bed linens (e.g., sheets, blankets, sleeping bags and/or blankets, pillows), kitchen linens, and bath towels.

A fire pit, Adirondak chairs, and picnic table are provided outside.

Space heaters are in the cabin.

Natural Features

Forest Glen Guard Station is located in the Hayfork Area, an area rich in natural beauty. One of its three major watersheds is the South Fork Trinity River, which is adjacent to the guard station and considered to be one of wildest and most scenic waterways in northern California. Glen Creek flows year round right next to the cabin. The surrounding area is forested with ponderosa pine, Douglas Fir, and oak. There are many numerous open meadows in the area.

Nearby Attractions

South Fork National Recreation Trail, South Fork Trinity River, South Fork Mountain Ridge, Ruth Lake.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • backpacking
  • biking
  • camping
  • fire lookouts/cabins overnight
  • hiking
  • historic & cultural site
  • hunting
  • photography
  • swimming site
  • tubing
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Forest Glen Guard Station

The ringed pin is this cabin or lookout; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated May 8, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.