Squirrel Meadows Guard Station

Squirrel Meadows Guard Station is located 24 miles east of Ashton, Idaho, within the Caribou-Targhee National Forest’s Ashton/Island Park Ranger District. Situated at an elevation of 6,500 feet on the Yellowstone Plateau in southwest Wyoming, it is accessible via the Ashton-Flagg Ranch Road (Forest Road 261), with the final 10 miles on gravel roads drivable by vehicle from mid-May to mid-November, or by snowmobile or cross-country skis over a 10-mile trek from the snowmobile trailhead from early December to mid-May. 

Natural Features:
The guard station sits in an open meadow surrounded by lodgepole pine trees, offering views of distant mountains across the volcanic Yellowstone Plateau. Wildlife in the area includes black bears, wolves, elk, moose, mule deer, bison, grizzly bears, mountain lions, and pronghorn, thriving in the forest’s diverse ecosystem. 

Recreation:
The station provides year-round recreational opportunities, including horseback riding, hiking, and mountain biking in warmer months, with berry picking available in late summer. Winter access supports snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing along ungroomed trails. Nearby attractions include the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway, 30 miles south, with Upper and Lower Mesa Falls, and Yellowstone National Park’s west entrance, 40 miles north. 

Facilities:
Built in 1934 using Forest Service Standard Plan R4-7 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this two-room log cabin features a kitchen and living area with a screened porch, accommodating up to six people. It includes bunkbeds with mattresses, a wood stove for cooking and heating, a table, chairs, and firewood, though guests must bring their own water, bedding, and additional supplies. A vault toilet is located outside, and the site is accessed via a combination lock gate (code provided upon reservation). 

Electricity is not provided. Guests may wish to bring battery or propane-powered lighting. Bedding, matches, and emergency items like a first aid kit are not provided. Trash bags are needed to pack out garbage.

Season: Open all year; Snowmobile or ski access only Dec. 1st to March 31st.