Medicine Bow-Routt Nfs & Thunder Basin Ng
The Jack Creek Crew Quarters is a large modern facility available for $225 per night from mid-June through late October. This two-story log facility has a fully equipped double kitchen with propane ranges, refrigerators, and sinks. There are bathrooms with showers on both levels. Solar panels provide limited electricity. Plan for limited use of both electricity and water. The five-bedroom facility sleeps up to 15 people in single and bunk beds (bedding not provided) and can be rented for up to 14 consecutive nights. Heat is propane. Picnic tables and a large charcoal grill are on site. Basic cooking and eating utensils are furnished. Trash service is NOT provided. This beautiful area is a mixture of lodge pole pine, aspen and mixed conifer forest with fishing, hiking, mountain biking, picnicking, horseback riding and hunting available in the general area. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail is west of the cabin. Wildlife in the area include elk, deer, bear and moose. Jack Creek Campground is one mile away. Saddle/ pack animals may not be be kept within the Jack Creek Crew Quarters area. Campers, tents or trailers may not be set up at this facility. Please Clean up after your pets.
The Jack Creek Crew Quarters has five bedrooms and sleeps up to fifteen people in single and bunk beds with mattresses. The fully equipped double kitchen offers propane ranges, refrigerators and double sinks. Basic cooking and eating utensils, dishes and cookware are furnished. Bathrooms on both floors offer showers and flush toilets.
Lights and the well pump are powered by a solar power system, so please don't bring addtional appliances, i.e., microwave. Heat is provided by propane. Picnic tables and a large charcoal grill make a wonderful setting for outdoor activities. Trash collection is provided. Guests are asked to conserve electricity and water usage.
Saddle or pack animals may not be kept within the administrative area of Jack Creek Crew Quarters or Jack Creek Guard Station. Additional campers, tents or trailers cannot be set up at this facility.
Guests must bring food, sleeping bags, pillows, towels, dish soap, matches, toilet paper and garbage bags.
It is recommended that guests bring an additional light source in case of emergencies. Guests are expected to clean the facility before leaving. Please do not drive behind the locked gate at the trash cans.
Check-in time is after 2:00 p.m. on the first day of the reservation.
Check-out time is 12:00 p.m. on the last day of the reservation.
Please call the Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger District office at (307) 326-5258 prior to your stay to confirm combination and key access for the house. Office hours are M-F 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed evenings, weekends and holidays.
Please contact the Ranger District prior to arriving at the cabin to check on any restrictions or conditions in the area, such as fire, road closures, or storms that may affect your visit.
This house is a no-smoking facility.
Please clean house upon departure.
Make sure house is locked upon departure.
Check the elements
-What is in the skies? Check the weather report before you leave home. When you arrive at the site, keep on eye on the skies for changes and, if possible, carry a compact weather radio. In inclement weather, take shelter until the bad weather passes. Stay dry - wet clothes contribute to heat loss. Also, keep sleeping bags and important gear dry at all times.
-Are there forest or grassland alerts? Forest and grassland home pages post alerts you should know before you go. Many of our forests and grasslands also post alerts on Twitter. The latest fire information may be found on InciWeb.
Survey your surroundings
-Arrive early. Plan your trip so that you arrive at your actual campsite with enough daylight to check over the entire site and safely set up camp.
-Check for potential hazards. Be sure to check the site thoroughly for glass, sharp objects, branches, large ant beds, poison ivy, bees, and hazardous terrain.
-Avoid areas of natural hazards. Check the contour of the land and look for potential trouble spots due to rain or snow. Areas that could flood or become extremely muddy can pose a problem.
-Inspect the site. Look for a level site with enough room to spread out all your gear. A site that has trees or shrubs on the side of prevailing winds will help block strong, unexpected gusts.
-Pitch your tent in a safe spot. Make sure your tent is made of flame-retardant fabric, and keep it a safe distance away from campfires. Keep insects out of your tent by closing the entrance quickly when entering or leaving.
-Build fires in a safe area. Your open fires and fuel-burning appliances must be far enough away from the tent to prevent ignition from sparks, flames, and heat. Never use a flame or any other heating device inside a tent. Check to know whether there are fire restrictions in place before starting a campfire. You could be fined if you start a fire in a restricted area.
Be fire safe
-Keep fires small and bring firewood purchased in the local area. Firewood brought from another area could also bring invasive pests.
-If you have to collect firewood at your campsite, collect dead and down wood only.
-Check at the local ranger station for current fire restrictions, which can change on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis.
-Use existing fire rings. Scrape away litter and any other burnable material within a 10-foot-diameter surrounding the ring.
-Make sure all wood fits inside the fire ring. Do not feed a large log into the fire ring.
-Have a shovel, axe, and bucket of water available before lighting your campfire.
-Never leave a campfire unattended, even for a few minutes or even if there are no flames present. Many wildfires start because of abandoned fires or because someone thought a fire was out.
-Put out a campfire by slowly pouring water onto the fire and stirring with a shovel. Continue adding and stirring until all material is cool to touch.
-Do not bury your fire. The coals can smolder and re-ignite.
Be bear aware
Being outdoors means being with wildlife. Many people never encounter a bear. But if you do, here's some simple advice:
DO NOT RUN.
*Remain calm.
*Group together and pick up small children.
*Continue to face the bear and back away slowly, talking calmly to identify yourself as a human.
*If the bear continues to approach, try to scare it away by making yourself as large and imposing as possible by stretching your arms overhead and making loud noises.
*Carry and know how to use bear spray, which is available at many outdoor retailers and can be used to deter a charging bear.
Food Storage
Bears are always searching for food. Bears are curious, intelligent animals that have great memories. Their eyesight is similar to humans and their sense of smell is seven times more powerful than a blood hound’s, enabling them to smell food from miles away. Those are the very traits that can sometimes get them – and us – into trouble. Most bears are wary of humans and try to avoid them. However, bears can learn to associate people with food and be tenacious in their pursuit of something to eat. Even if humans are around.
Everyone in bear country must do our part to store food and other attractants in bear-resistant containers at all times, and dispose of trash in bear-resistant dumpsters.
From open, high expanses to valleys and canyons that rise steeply to snowy ranges, the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests encompass mountain ranges, tributaries to the North Platte River and the Colorado River, and a mix of forested ecology with spruce, lodgepole pine, subalpine fir, aspen and shrub lands.
The Jack Creek Crew Quarters sits in a clearing surrounded by a mixture of lodgepole pine, aspen and mixed conifer forest at an elevation of 8,500 feet. Wildlife viewing is abundant in the area, including elk, deer, bear and moose.
Southwest of Saratoga, Wyo. on the Medicine Bow National Forest lies the Sierra Madre Range, which is a part of the main range of the Rocky Mountains. There are two wilderness areas in the Sierra Madre Range: Huston Park Wilderness and Encampment River Wilderness. Named for the famous battle between Indians and Fur Trappers in 1841, the 57-mile Battle Pass Scenic Byway runs through this area. This byway is known for its scenic views, especially during fall when the colors are changing.
This area has many activities such as hiking, fishing, mountain biking, camping, snowmobiling, and cross country skiing.
Lake and Pond Fishing
Areas for Lake and Pond Fishing at Sierra Madre Area
River and Stream Fishing
Areas for River and Stream Fishing at Sierra Madre Area
Day Hiking
Areas for Day Hiking at Sierra Madre Area
Backpacking
Areas for Backpacking at Sierra Madre Area
Viewing Wildlife
Areas for Viewing Wildlife at Sierra Madre Area
Viewing Plants
Areas for Viewing Plants at Sierra Madre Area
Viewing Scenery
Areas for Viewing Scenery at Sierra Madre Area
2171 South Highway 130 - P.O. BOX 249 SARATOGA WY 82331
For campground inquiries, please call: 307-326-5258
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
From Saratoga, travel west on County Road 500 approximately 16 miles to junction with County Road 405. Stay left and travel 3 miles to the forest boundary. The road changes to Forest Service Road 452. Travel on Forest Service Road 452 for 6.5 miles to Jack Creek Campground and the facility, go approximately 1.5 miles past the campground and the entrance to the crew quarters will be on your left.
From Encampment take State Highway 70 west approximately 23 miles to Forest Road 801. Take Forest Road 801 northward for approximately 9 miles to Forest Road 830. Take Forest Road 830 approximately 15 miles to Forest Road 452. Turn left onto Forest Road 452 for one mile. The driveway for the facility is on the right.