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Payson Lakes Guard Station is located in the Uinta National Forest, approximately 13 miles south of Payson, Utah, along the Mount Nebo Scenic Byway. The Guard Station was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935 as part of the New Deal Program. The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest offers the cabin for advance reservation so visitors can enjoy an experience similar to that of early Forest Rangers and their families.
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.
The Guard Station complex can sleep a maximum of 8 people in bunk beds; four people inside the cabin and four people in the bunkhouse. Up to 7 additional day use only guests may visit. Parking space is limited to 5 family vehicles. No vehicles are permitted off the pavement. An adjacent pasture is included which can accommodate 8 horses. There is a 2-night minimum stay and a maximum 7-day stay limit. Pets are not allowed. Guests should bring their own bedding, plates and utensils. Guests will check in with the Payson Lakes Campground Host who will escort them to the cabin. Guests may bring their own firewood or purchase at the campground; firewood collecting at the Guard Station complex is not allowed.
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.
For facility specific information, please call (385) 273-1100.
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.
**Change and Cancellation Policies and Fees**
* Overnight and Day Use Facilities: To ensure fairness, reservation arrival or departure dates may not be changed beyond the booking window until 18 days after booking the reservation.
* Camping / Day Use: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation (including campsites, cabins, lookouts, group facilities, etc.). The $10.00 service fee will be deducted from the refund amount.
* You can cancel or change reservations through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
**Late Cancellations**
* Overnight and Day Use Facilities: Late cancellations are those cancelled between 12:01 a.m. (Eastern) on the day before arrival and check out time on the day after arrival.
* Individual Campsites: If a customer cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival they will be charged a $10.00 service fee and will also forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a single night's reservation will forfeit the entire use fee but no cancellation fee will apply.
* Cabins / Lookouts: Customers will be charged a $10.00 cancellation fee and forfeit the first night's use fee if a cabin or lookout reservation is cancelled within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee.
* Group Facility: If a customer cancels a group overnight facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date they will be charged the $10.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's use fee. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee.
* Group Day Use Area: If a customer cancels a group day use facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date, they will forfeit the total day use fee with no service fee charge.
**No-Shows**
* Camping / Day Use: A camping no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Reserved campsites and group overnight facilities will be held until check-out time on the day following your scheduled arrival. Group day-use facilities will be held until check-in time on your scheduled arrival date.
* If a customer does not arrive at the campground or group facility by check-out time the day after arrival or does not cancel the reservation by the times listed under "Late Cancellations" above, the customer may be assessed a $20.00 service fee and forfeit use fees.
**Refunds**
* Customers must request refunds no later than 14 days after the scheduled departure date. Recreation.gov will not grant refund requests after 14 days of departure.
* Reservation Fee: For some facilities, tours or permits an additional reservation fee is charged. For some overnight and day-use facilities, an additional non-refundable reservation fee may apply. The non-refundable reservation fee for tours and tickets is $1.00. The non-refundable reservation fee for permits varies by location.
* Refunds for Bankcard Purchases: Refunds for bank card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank card.
* Refunds for Check or Cash Purchases: Refunds for Recreation.gov payments made by check or money order, and cash payments at selected campgrounds will be issued a check refund. A refund will be processed within 30 days of receipt and approval. Please Note: Refund requests made during or after departure can only be processed when approved by the facility management staff based upon local policy.
* Refunds for Emergency Closures: In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team will attempt to notify users and offer alternate dates (as appropriate). If this is not possible, reservations will be cancelled and all fees paid will be refunded. Reservation fees for free tickets are non-refundable in the event of an emergency closure.
**Recreation.gov Billing Information**
* Reservation transaction will appear on customer's credit card statements as "Recreation.gov 877-444-6777."
**Changes to Policies and Procedures**
* Recreation.gov reserves the right, when necessary, to modify reservation policies. These policies were last updated July 2018.
From I-15, take exit 250 toward north Payson/Salem and proceed south on Main Street to 100 North/Highway 198. Travel east to 600 East. Turn south onto 600 East, which becomes the Nebo Loop Scenic Byway/Payson Canyon Road. Travel south along the Nebo Loop Road 015 until you see the Payson Lakes Guard Station sign on the right. Proceed up the driveway and through the gate.
$133.00 - 8 people, 5 vehicles maximum
It was wonderful, relaxing and nature was beautiful, fresh air, and stars, lots of stars and great friends
The stay was great and a good getaway in a rustic cabin with campfires at night. Very enjoyable.
Such a beautiful place for a picnic, and the staff that we ran into were wonderful, happy, and helpful! We have gone here twice this year, and plan to come again in the future! :)
This place is beautiful...on the outside. It is an idyllic rustic cabin situation with beautiful, quiet, peaceful views. But once you get inside things change a bit. The grungy handprints on the doors, bunk bed frames, light switches and counter tops are a big turn off. But even moreso are the bathrooms that at best have been swept out but clearly have not been actually cleaned in a very long time. While I'm fine with a "rustic" experience I'm not fine with an unsanitary experience. Additionally we had a few bags of chips that were on the counter inside a picnic basket that got chewed open by mice. So they are definitely running around on all the surfaces. If you are going bring Clorox wipes to do your own cleaning and mouse traps to keep them out of your food.
The cabins were a little worse this year than last year. in 2021 the lawn was mowed and we were given the codes to the cabins and had enough passes for all out cars. This year we were not given codes and were only given one pass to visit the lakes. One of the doors had a lot of trouble opening and the person that opened the cabin had to unlock it multiple times before it stayed unlocked. we also tried to use one of the ovens and it smoked so bad it forced us to leave until the smoke cleared. Over all it was okay, but not really that bad but not that good either.
