Crocker Guard Station

About this campsite

Overview

Crocker Guard Station was built in 1912 as a home for Forest Service personnel, and was later staffed as a fire station until the 1980s. The historic Crocker Guard Station is located ten miles northeast of Portola, California, at an elevation of 5,700 feet. Visitors will experience the beautiful solitude of the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains. Nearby recreational opportunities include fishing, boating, swimming and hiking.

Recreation

Crocker Campground is located adjacent to the Crocker Guard Station. The campground has vault toilets. Campsites have tables, fire rings and food lockers for $15.00 fee.. The campground is the perfect place to expand your guest list or have a campfire. At this campground, hunting is a popular fall activity.

Lake Davis Recreation Area is within four miles, offering a variety of recreational opportunities. Visitors can fish, boat, swim, bike and hike.

Facilities

The house has four bedrooms with ten twin beds and mattresses including two sets of bunk beds, a kitchen, dining room, living room and an outside vault toilet building. Children will enjoy the large fenced in front yard. The rental has propane operated lights, cook stove and heater. There is no refrigerator. Cooking and eating utensils are provided. The house is equipped with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers. Visitors must bring drinking water. There is an outside hand pump with water for fire protection. Guests should bring bedding, towels, flashlights, trash bags and first aid kits. Visitors are responsible for cleaning the house, packing out trash and locking up before departure.

Natural Features

The Guard Station is situated in a small meadow near an aspen grove surrounded by a forest of pine trees.

Nearby Attractions

Stores, services and restaurants are available just ten miles away, in Portola, CA.

The largest railroad museum in the west is located in Portola. It has a gift shop, train rides and plenty of railroading information

Water activities like boating and fishing are as close as Lake Davis just five miles away on a dirt road.

The night time sky offers star gazing, golden moon rises and meteor showers away from bright lights. There is some light pollution from Reno.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (530) 836-2575.

Location

CROCKER GUARD STATION•CA

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Common questions about CROCKER GUARD STATION

Can you book CROCKER GUARD STATION online?

We hold no online booking link for CROCKER GUARD STATION, so it is not bookable through this page. For sites like this, turning up early in the day is the surest way to get a spot, particularly in peak season.

Where is CROCKER GUARD STATION?

CROCKER GUARD STATION sits in CA. The map on this page shows the exact spot, and the coordinates travel straight into your navigation app. Check road conditions before you set out if you are towing, since access tracks can change with the weather.

Nearby Campsites

within 50km

300m away

Crocker Campground

Overview This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.

4.2 km away

GRIZZLY

Overview Grizzly Campground (5,777 feet) is one of three family-friendly campgrounds located in the Lake Davis Recreation Area. The recreation area and its namesake lake, Lake Davis provides the classic lake fishing experience. For example, there are four boat launching facilities and many fishing access points around the lake. Water skiing and jet skiing are not allowed on this lake. That makes it a quieter location for that peaceful leisurely camping experience you're looking for. Recreation In addition to camping, the area offers a wide variety of popular water-related activities, including fishing, boating and swimming. Numerous fishing access points are located around the perimeter of the lake and anglers will find rainbow and brown trout, bass and catfish. A boat ramp is available a half-mile north of the campground. Mountain biking, hiking, hunting and wildlife viewing are also available in the area. Facilities The campground offers dozens of single-family sites, two of which are accessible, for tent and RV camping. A large portion of the campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Utility hookups are not provided. Each site is equipped with picnic table, campfire ring with grill, and can accommodate up to two vehicles. Campground host, accessible flush toilets, and drinking water are provided. Campers are welcome to take advantage of the coin-operated showers half a mile away at Grasshopper Flat Campground. Natural Features Lake Davis covers 4,000 acres and was created in 1967 for recreational opportunities, as well as to rejuvenate fish populations in nearby rivers and supply water to the town of Portola. The lake offers 32 miles of shoreline and is surrounded by tall pine trees. The campground is on the eastern shore and just a few campsites have lake views. The trees provide ample shade for the campground, however privacy is limited by a lack of understory. Smith Peak State Game Refuge borders the lake to the east and south, creating prime habitat for a variety of wildlife and birds. Rich meadow rangeland combines with pine forest in every direction around the lake. Many lovely stands of aspen show, adding their richness to area fall color. Nearby Attractions The closest town is Portola, California, which is about 9 miles from the campground. Portola is home to one of the largest railroad museums in the western United States. Visit Smith Peak Fire Lookout when lightning is not expected. Explore the many forest roads in this area. Take along a map, full tank and a dependable vehicle. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (530) 836-2575.

4.6 km away

GRASSHOPPER FLAT

Overview Grasshopper Flat Campground (5,886 feet) is one of three family campgrounds located in the Lake Davis Recreation Area. Campground loops around in the hills overlooking the lake providing most campsites with sweeping views of the lake's crystal blue water. Pine forest gives most campsites plenty of afternoon shade. A boat ramp and RV dump station are nearby. A trailhead for 7 mile long Lake Davis Trail is less than half a mile away. Recreation In addition to camping, the area offers a wide variety of popular water-related activities, including fishing, boating and swimming. Numerous fishing access points are located around the perimeter of the lake. Free trout fishing days are hosted by state agencies in June and September. Mountain biking, hunting and wildlife viewing are also available in the area. During winter months visitors enjoy ice fishing, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. Facilities There are multiple single-family tent and RV campsites, as well as one large group site. All campsites are equipped with picnic table, campfire rings and grill. Each site can accommodate up to two vehicles on a paved pad. The campground has paved roads. In peak season there is a campground host, drinking water, coin operated showers, flush toilets and trash service. Natural Features The 4,000-acre Lake Davis was created in 1967 for recreational opportunities, as well as to rejuvenate fish populations in nearby rivers and supply water to the town of Portola. The lake offers 32 miles of shoreline and is surrounded by tall pine trees. A variety of wildlife make its home near the campground. Tall mountain peaks offer backdrop to lake views. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (530) 836-2575. Nearby Attractions The closest town is Portola, California, which is home to one of the largest railroad museums in the western United States. A state game refuge borders the lake to the east and the south.

8.2 km away

LIGHTNING TREE

Overview Lightning Tree Campground (5,800 feet) is one of three family-friendly campgrounds located in the Lake Davis Recreation Area. The lake was formed by damming Grizzly Creek in 1967. The purpose of the lake was to provide water for the town of Portola, improve area fishing and provide recreation opportunities. The 32 miles of shoreline has several boat launch facilities and fishing access points. Lightning Tree Campground is a great place to serve as hub for family fun and recreation. At the end of the day return to this home away from home to relax around the campfire. Recreation In addition to camping, the area offers a wide variety of popular water-related activities, including fishing, boating and swimming. Numerous fishing access points are located around the perimeter of the lake and anglers will find rainbow and brown trout, bass and catfish. A boat ramp is located nearby. Mountain biking, hiking, hunting and wildlife viewing are also available in the area. During winter months, visitors enjoy ice fishing, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. Facilities The campground offers more than three dozen single and double capacity campsites, available for tent and RV camping. Some accessible campsites are available. Most sites are available on a first come basis and the rest are open for reservation up to six months in advance. Coin-operated showers are available 4 miles away at Grasshopper Flat Campground. Natural Features Lake Davis is situated in the hills north of the town of Portola in the Plumas National Forest. Smith Peak State Game Refuge to the south and west of the lake is a great place for bird watching, nature viewing, photography and exploring. Large sheep herding ranches used this area before the dam was build. Today, cattle trek across the rangeland meadows. Get a panoramic view of Lake Davis, Sierra Valley and peaks of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Ranges from Smith Peak Fire Lookout. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (530) 836-2575. Nearby Attractions Restaraunts, stores and services are available in Portola, CA Visit the largest railroad museum in the Western United States located in Portola. The old Basque style sheepherder bread oven at Jenkins Point has been restored Visit Smith Peak Fire Lookout

16.0 km away

COTTONWOOD (CA)

Overview Cottonwood Springs Campground (5,700) is located on the southwest side of Frenchman Lake. The surrounding pine forest provides ample shade during summers' hot afternoons. The lake, recreation area and surrounding forest and rangeland offer a wide variety of recreational opportunities and adventures. Two group sites provide families and other groups the location to get together for you special outdoor experience. Hunting, fishing, boating, water sports and nature viewing are just some of the possibilities. Recreation The nearby 1,580-acre Frenchman Lake provides ample opportunities for swimming, boating, water skiing, jet skiing and fishing. California sponsors two free fishing days every year, in April and September. There is also an accessible fishing trail within the campground. Public forest and range lands are open for you to visit. Plumas national Forest has an extensive road system for you to explore. Make sure you take a map, extra provisions dependable vehicle and plenty of fuel. Facilities Cottonwood Springs Campground has 20 single-family campsites available for both tent and RV camping. Need a location for your family or group get together? There are two reservation group sites here. Group site B can accommodate up to 25 guests and six vehicles and Group site D up to 50 guests and 12 vehicles. Lunker Point Boat Launch Facility is about two miles away. An RV dump station is just outside the campground. All sites are equipped with paved parking, tables, campfire rings and grills. The campground has paved roads, hosts, accessible flush toilets and drinking water are also provided. Natural Features Frenchman Lake Recreation Area is located in the northeast corner of the Sierra Nevada. The area is characterized by a blending of desert and mountain ecosystems. For example, draught tolerant plants co-mingle with pine forest. There is less precipitation here than what areas to the west receive, more than areas to the east. Erosion and lava flows in the area tell the story of recent geologic activity. Nearby Attractions Little Last Chance Canyon Scenic Area Sierra Valley - Largest valley in the Sierra Nevada Stores and services in the towns of Chilcoot and Loyalton Many forest roads to explore - take along a extra water, food, map, full tank and dependable vehicle. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (530) 836-2575.