44 – Pole Creek Ranger Station
The Pole Creek Ranger Station, located in Idaho’s Sawtooth National Forest, is the oldest remaining building in the forest. Constructed in 1909 by Ranger William H. “Bill” Horton at a cost of $458, this two-room log cabin served as the headquarters for the Sawtooth Valley Ranger District and later as a guard station until the 1950s.
Today, the station is managed as a historic site by the U.S. Forest Service, with support from the Sawtooth Interpretive and Historical Association. Accessible via Pole Creek Road near Smiley Creek, the site features a short interpretive walking trail that offers visitors insights into early 20th-century forest management and firefighting practices.
More Information
Coordinates: 43.909543, -114.743275
Elevation: 7336 ft
Difficulty: 2
What to Expect: No info
Check In
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If you’re on Pole Creek Rd and you cross a bridge and see two steel paddle-wheels in the creek, you’ve gone too far….turn around and go back to the first left you come to. Same road from the highway is the one past the bear aware sign….it would be a right if you come off the highway. Road surfaces were really nice. The ranger station was at the end of a hike….I did not hike it, but my photo is “on the pin” so to speak.
Easy access. Road in good shape.
Went for a 370 mile loop today on the FJR. This site was first up. Thanks to @Brandon for the road info. It was all hard pack with little to no washboard, making it easy to get to with a heavy street bike. I was tempted to ride it down the walking path directly up to the cabin, but it would have been a tight squeeze getting the saddle bags not to rub on the hand rails going across the walking bridge over the creek. It was a stunningly beautiful day with surprisingly little traffic for Memorial Day weekend.
I tried this one three weeks ago, too much snow. Going back, I left my gps at home. Heck, this thing is only 3 miles off the highway. 2.8 miles in, roads started going everywhere! It took me about 15 minutes trying the various roads, and I found it! The ranger that built this was lucky to call it “home” for 22 years after he built it. Roads are all in great condition. Take your gps!