La Prele Guard Station
- 1
- sites
- $100/night
- fee
- May–Sep
- best months
Is La Prele Guard Station open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest.
Access Impact: Big Creek Lakes Dam Project
Agency alert covering Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest · USFS · Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest
Trail & Access Impact: Stillwater Reservoir Project
Agency alert covering Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest · USFS · Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest
Snowy Range - 2026 Active Vegetation Operations
Agency alert covering Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest · USFS · Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
- 1 site for cabin campingReservable on Recreation.gov
- At 8,002 ftHigh camp: expect cold nights, even in summer
- Near DouglasDouglas Ranger District/Thunder Basin National Grassland · Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest
La Prele Guard Station is located south of Douglas, Wyoming in Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. It was originally built as a remote ranger station in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps and was converted into a work center when the La Prele Ranger District was discontinued in 1956. The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. Today, it provides a unique lodging experience and delightful spot for guests seeking recreation and relaxation in south central Wyoming. The guard station is open from late May or early June through late October each year and is accessible by car except after snow events at the beginning and end of the season. Weather and road closures may impact opening and closure dates. Many modern conveniences are provided, but guests will need to bring a few of their own supplies to make their stay comfortable. We try to keep a supply of firewood available to guests but there is no guarantee. The site now has limited propane lighting. Please note that due to the historic nature of the facility, pets, candles or other flame producing items are not permitted in the cabin.
Local outfitters
- Casper East RV Park36 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- Campbell Creek CampgroundCamping0.2 mi
- Twin Peaks TrailHiking2.6 mi
- Baby TurtleRock climbing4.5 mi
- Elkhorn Creek TrailHiking5.7 mi
- Deer Creek TrailHiking9.7 mi
- Laramie RangeRock climbing9.8 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Curtis Gulch CampgroundCamping · ~19 min drivePhoto: Erik Källman, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Laprele Guard StationHut camping · Next door
- Pete's Draw CampgroundCamping · ~1h 16m drive
Friend Park CampgroundCamping · ~38 min drivePhoto: wusel007, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Esterbrook CampgroundCamping · ~45 min drivePhoto: wusel007, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Campbell Creek CampgroundCamping · Next door
- La Bonte 1Camping · ~15 min drive
- LaBonte Camp 2Camping · ~15 min drive
- LaBonte Camp 3Camping · ~16 min drive
- LaBonte Camp 5Camping · ~17 min drive
Best time to visit La Prele Guard Station
Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
28° / 1°
8 wet
Feb
31° / 4°
8 wet
Mar
41° / 15°
8 wet
Apr
50° / 24°
10 wet
May
60° / 32°
11 wet
Jun
73° / 39°
8 wet
Jul
81° / 46°
8 wet
Aug
80° / 43°
7 wet
Sep
69° / 34°
6 wet
Oct
54° / 23°
6 wet
Nov
40° / 14°
6 wet
Dec
29° / 3°
7 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Shirley Basin, WY, 15 mi away at 7,057 ft. The station sits about 900 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
La Prele Guard Station
1 site for cabin camping