Blacksmith Fork Guard Station now for rent

A celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act this year will include an open house at the Blacksmith Fork Guard Station from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday.

The Forest Service wants you to see some of its “new” accommodations.

“We are getting some of our guard stations available for public use and the Blacksmith Fork Guard Station is the first to come online,” said Rachelle Handley, Heritage Program Archeologist with the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest.

Decades ago guard stations were built for use by Forest Service Rangers and their families. The forest service wants to maintain these historic structures so it is rehabilitating several of them to be available to the public through the National Recreation Reservation Service (recreation.gov).

“Anyone interested can make a reservation at recreation.gov and that will allow them to check prices, see what is available and eventually gain access to the guard station and adjacent campgrounds.”

The rehabilitation work has been done by Forest volunteers through the Passport in Time program.

“We started work in 2012 so it’s taken about three years,” said Handley. “We have really tried to restore this place to its original ‘feel’. It was built in the 1930s. We feel by about mid-June it will be available for folks to reserve.”

There are few of what might be called modern conveniences: there is no running water in the cabin and no toilet facilities. There is propane lighting in the facility.

As more guard stations are rehabilitated and made available, rental costs will vary. The Blacksmith Fork facility will rent for $75 a night and can accommodate 5-6 people. There is room for tents adjacent to the building.

It is about 12 miles east of Hyrum within the Left Hand Fork of Blacksmith Fork Canyon. It was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1934. There are several other guard stations on the Logan Ranger District, including Card and Tony Grove, which are being rehabilitated for public use.

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