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Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest › Cle Elum Ranger District › Washington
› Kittitas County
› Cle Elum
› Teanaway Guard Station
› Campsite #1
Campsite #1 at Teanaway Guard Station, WA
$40
Cabin Site #1
| 2 people | |
| 75 ft | Back-In |
| 2 | weak |
7/12
7/18
Campsite #1 Features: Back-In parking, Picnic Table, Cabin Site
Campsite Reviews (22)
5.0 out of 5
| 5 star | | 27% |
| 4 star | | 32% |
| 3 star | | 27% |
| 2 star | | 0% |
| 1 star | | 14% |
@AmeliaP6101468 · Camped on May 30, 2025 at Campsite #1
Very cute cabin! Dont forget to bring propane for the Coleman stove. If you do, theres a cute country store along Teanaway River Road. They were selling fresh scones the day we went! The private pit toilet is very clean (for a pit toilet). Dont forget to lock it up though; people will try to use it.
@JerisH38582111 · Camped on May 9, 2025 at Campsite #1
This is a beautiful site, the cabin is charming, and it is a stunning peaceful location; however our reservation was twice marred by other visitors wanting to use our bathroom (there are over a dozen portapoties down the road but this is an installed outhouse reserved for cabin renters). As this facility used to be a Ranger Station, ***there are no signs making it clear to the public that the locked facilities and key are reserved for the cabin renters only and there are other accommodations down the road***; what was supposed to be a peaceful getaway with a Bestie (without our beloved husbands) turned into a Standoff as two very aggressive (Russian?) travelers tried to push their way into our camp to use the locked facilities. As military wives we broke out the bear spray, secured our perimeter, and kindly pointed out there is a perfectly fine patch of woods directly across the street and they just passed a dozen portapoties to get to our present location and we refused to let them in camp. They screamed, we didnt lose our cool, nor did we budge.
@TammyM2556551 · Camped on Feb 28, 2025 at Campsite #1
We went in during the winter. It was so peaceful and quiet! Next time Ill carry in all of my water as it wasnt the easiest to get to in snowshoes.
@EverKD7996F615 · Camped on Aug 29, 2024 at Campsite #1
Cabin was so cute and nice. Unfortunately, there's dispersed camping right across the forest service road. At about 10pm a dozen cars pulled in and proceeded to throw a rave until 3am. The music was SO LOUD. I know there aren't quiet hours in national forest but come on.
@EmmaJAAFEB5881 · Camped on Mar 19, 2024 at Campsite #1
Great little cabin! It was set up with some cooking ware from past campers, and some games and puzzles are there. The main issue was that the code to access the cabin was never provided. Many emails referenced a code that should be be the confirmation email so I didnt think to worry about it. However we arrived after 4pm, at which point it was too late to call for the code, so we had to hike back to our car and stay in a hotel for one of our reserved nights.
@SamuelP3517582 · Camped on Jun 23, 2023 at Campsite #1
Incredible location and well kept cabin. Very cool piece of history and I’m glad the forest service decided to preserve and share it. There was a wee bit of mouse poop which we cleaned up easily as per instructions provided, with bleach and gloves that we brought. The only really problem was the bathroom: it is only for the guests but it looks identical to the public privies at trailheads and so we got some people asking to use it, which was a little awkward. I would recommend removing the signage or having an explanation that it is for guests only, otherwise it can lead to understandable confusion from other campers and passers by. Overall great stay and great basecamp for great hiking!
@PolinaUE48D95B · Camped on Jun 12, 2023 at Campsite #1
A nightmare. People before us were not checked out on time. They were smoking in the cabin and there was a disgusting smell inside! It was dirty! We couldn't stay there overnight and went home because the whole vabin stank of cigarettes and dirt.
@HeatherKA25C82 · Camped on Jun 4, 2023 at Campsite #1
The cabin was neat and clean. It has its own pit toilet which was also clean and well maintained. The cabin is set right on the forestry road and there is a campground a couple miles further up so expect lots of traffic and the dust that comes along with it.
@BreannaB332700 · Camped on Apr 29, 2023 at Campsite #1
there aren’t many backcountry cabins in the state so i was excited to check this one out with my daughter. my original plan was to go in the winter so we could snowshoe in but we had to reschedule for the end of april. i was hopeful there would still be some snow but there wasn’t so we drove right up to the cabin.
immediately after opening the door there was an overwhelming odor that came out of the cabin. i can’t really describe the smell…but it was disgusting, to say the least. i slowly walked in, opened the blinds so i could see a little better to find several mousetraps and a dead mouse on the ground. i noticed the binder on the table about hantavirus then i quickly grabbed the bathroom key and left. we didn’t go back into the cabin until our departure the following morning.
i had read the reviews before making the reservation and was aware of the risk of hanta however i was hopeful that because it was closed down for a while and they just re-opened it in 2022—they made some improvements. this is obviously not the case! it’s one thing to say there could have been a mouse from time to time vs there are mice living there and we have traps set up.
thankfully, i brought our tent and sleeping pads as back-up so we camped outside the cabin. i have no idea how or why they are renting this place out? who wants to pay to sleep in a dark shack with mice living in it?! well, i don’t want to stay in a place like that and there was no way i was going to have my daughter in there.
if you’ve made it this far and you’re still considering staying here—you should plan to bring your own water. the north fork of the teanaway river is very close by but it’s a high bank until almost a mile down stream where you can safely access the water to filter.
the pit toilet was fine and there was a stack of wood already chopped which we didn’t even use.
immediately after opening the door there was an overwhelming odor that came out of the cabin. i can’t really describe the smell…but it was disgusting, to say the least. i slowly walked in, opened the blinds so i could see a little better to find several mousetraps and a dead mouse on the ground. i noticed the binder on the table about hantavirus then i quickly grabbed the bathroom key and left. we didn’t go back into the cabin until our departure the following morning.
i had read the reviews before making the reservation and was aware of the risk of hanta however i was hopeful that because it was closed down for a while and they just re-opened it in 2022—they made some improvements. this is obviously not the case! it’s one thing to say there could have been a mouse from time to time vs there are mice living there and we have traps set up.
thankfully, i brought our tent and sleeping pads as back-up so we camped outside the cabin. i have no idea how or why they are renting this place out? who wants to pay to sleep in a dark shack with mice living in it?! well, i don’t want to stay in a place like that and there was no way i was going to have my daughter in there.
if you’ve made it this far and you’re still considering staying here—you should plan to bring your own water. the north fork of the teanaway river is very close by but it’s a high bank until almost a mile down stream where you can safely access the water to filter.
the pit toilet was fine and there was a stack of wood already chopped which we didn’t even use.
@JimO4036574 · Camped on Mar 27, 2023 at Campsite #1
Cabin was as cozy as ever. I did make the suggestion that cooking utensils are kept in big Tupperwares to avoid exposure to mice and hanta virus as cabin has no utensils as a precaution to Hana virus exposure.
@ChelseyM667248 · Camped on Jan 27, 2023 at Campsite #1
Great time in the winter! A more comfy version of backpacking. We cross county skied but it was pretty icy when we went. We both have xc skis with metal edges which we found very helpful. It seemed like the key for the wood shed might have been missing but luckily it was unlocked.
@ThomasP9156982 · Camped on Jun 17, 2022 at Campsite #1
3.5/5
Overall, I would say this cabin is good value. It is really well situated and was nice to have after hiking Lake Ingalls. The cabin itself is fine, it comes with a bunkbed that seems to be in good shape. There is a lantern that did have batteries in it, although that's probably not a guarantee. It is however pretty dark even with the lantern during the day. The cabin also gives you access to a private pit toilet that is amazingly well maintained and clean, as well as a shack full of firewood. I used the firewood both for a fire outside in the pit, and also for the wood stove inside the cabin to heat up the place. The woodstove is really effective and you really don't have to use much to warm up the cabin quickly.
Where I have to knock off some stars is for being awoken by the scurrying of a mouse. I get it, it's a cabin the woods but it's still a little hard to get over. I did manage to shine a light on it and get it to run out where it came from. There appears to be a small hole it is using as an entry way in the bottom corner where all the tools are lined up against, or immediately to the left when you enter the cabin. I ended up using the metal wedge and some other equipment to block it from coming back in which worked but definitely try to seal that up if you visit if you don't want any extra visitors.
Overall, I would say this cabin is good value. It is really well situated and was nice to have after hiking Lake Ingalls. The cabin itself is fine, it comes with a bunkbed that seems to be in good shape. There is a lantern that did have batteries in it, although that's probably not a guarantee. It is however pretty dark even with the lantern during the day. The cabin also gives you access to a private pit toilet that is amazingly well maintained and clean, as well as a shack full of firewood. I used the firewood both for a fire outside in the pit, and also for the wood stove inside the cabin to heat up the place. The woodstove is really effective and you really don't have to use much to warm up the cabin quickly.
Where I have to knock off some stars is for being awoken by the scurrying of a mouse. I get it, it's a cabin the woods but it's still a little hard to get over. I did manage to shine a light on it and get it to run out where it came from. There appears to be a small hole it is using as an entry way in the bottom corner where all the tools are lined up against, or immediately to the left when you enter the cabin. I ended up using the metal wedge and some other equipment to block it from coming back in which worked but definitely try to seal that up if you visit if you don't want any extra visitors.
@JosieA7756107 · Camped on Jun 15, 2022 at Campsite #1
Nice cabin with a fireplace inside, equipped with coleman propane stove, twin bunkbeds. It sits along a fairly busy, dusty road where people disperse camp directly across from the cabin with their RV's along the river - that is your water source if you did not bring water with you. It is NOT secluded, or quiet. You need to bring everything with you as if you are tent camping, except a tent/bedroll. Don't expect it to be quiet or without cars and trucks buzzing by every few minutes. It is an excellent place for staying to go *to* hiking trails, or fishing in the area. But do not expect to sit around the cabin area and just enjoy peace and quiet. Depending upon your utility this may or may not suit your needs.
The cabin itself is fantastic, the area immediately around it is very clean, has a pit toilet that is locked and dedicated to your use, and a woodshed. Along with the inside fireplace (which the cabin was very chilly until thoroughly heated) there is a campfire ring with grate and a picnic table. Due to proximity to the road, there was not a lot of wildlife viewing right at the cabin.
We met another camper further along the road who was dispersed/tent camping, he told us later in the summer it is non-stop traffic along the road. It was pretty busy (multiple cars every 5-10 minutes) when we were there Thursday - Friday - Saturday. Choose your days/seasons wisely.
The cabin itself is fantastic, the area immediately around it is very clean, has a pit toilet that is locked and dedicated to your use, and a woodshed. Along with the inside fireplace (which the cabin was very chilly until thoroughly heated) there is a campfire ring with grate and a picnic table. Due to proximity to the road, there was not a lot of wildlife viewing right at the cabin.
We met another camper further along the road who was dispersed/tent camping, he told us later in the summer it is non-stop traffic along the road. It was pretty busy (multiple cars every 5-10 minutes) when we were there Thursday - Friday - Saturday. Choose your days/seasons wisely.
@BruceS5371230 · Camped on May 5, 2022 at Campsite #1
Fantastic and obviously there a lot of users that care a lot about this place. It was clean and orderly, and had some tubs that had basically all you would need other than bedding and food. I wouldn't chance it though and bring TP, batteries as specified and propane for the stove. The woodstove provides plenty of heat, although the gasket needs to be replaced. It is a Lopi and would need apx. 6 feet of the thick rope to redo it. The outhouse is great and super clean and had at least 10 air fresheners and some fly catchers. It is locked and the key is in the cabin, so it really isn't to be used by any other campers, although it sure looks like it could so I wouldn't be surprised if someone tried. the firewood shack is behind the outhouse and was stocked very nicely, but looked like all pine so it burned very quickly, I recommend picking up some firewood on the way, I think i did see a roadside stand on the way. There is no real outside covered area for doing anything like cooking or just sitting around. We brought a tarp and solved that quite nicely. As you have to cook outdoors and it calls for rain a tarp is good, and for just being able to sit outside in the rain. The cabin has windows but is quite dark even with a light going. We also brought a blow up mattress and put it on the floor next to the bunk. I did go up in the upper bunk and it was very hot up there. The mattresses were pretty good for foam, and they did have the bed bug covers so I would say they are a pretty safe bet. Overall, we loved our time there.
@GlenM9786145 · Camped on Aug 15, 2021 at Campsite #1
The cabin itself was great. I like the redo, removing the cabinets. Cabin and outhouse were in great shape, very clean. We made sure to wipe everything down when we left too.
Unfortunately we never got the front door code. Thankfully they haven't changed the door code in two years, so we were still able to get in. I'd strongly suggest you call the ranger station at least a week before if they haven't given you the code.
Unfortunately we never got the front door code. Thankfully they haven't changed the door code in two years, so we were still able to get in. I'd strongly suggest you call the ranger station at least a week before if they haven't given you the code.
@LaurenC8727476 · Camped on Jul 4, 2021 at Campsite #1
Enjoyable stay at a very well taken care of cabin - so many accommodations (toilet, picnic table (which does need an update), mattresses, cooking stove). The cabin is across the road from some camping sites and a river, which I enjoyed taking a dip in (just be careful! the current was strong). The only thing to note is that the cabin is directly beside a road that has lots of camping and some hiking along it, so you will definitely have some folks driving by or possibly staying nearby. But overall a very quiet, peaceful spot.
@LaurenC165 · Camped on Jul 4, 2021 at Campsite #1
Enjoyable stay at a very well taken care of cabin - so many accommodations (toilet, picnic table (which does need an update), mattresses, cooking stove). The cabin is across the road from some camping sites and a river, which I enjoyed taking a dip in (just be careful! the current was strong). The only thing to note is that the cabin is directly beside a road that has lots of camping and some hiking along it, so you will definitely have some folks driving by or possibly staying nearby. But overall a very quiet, peaceful spot.
@JoyG6895446 · Camped on Jul 10, 2020 at Campsite #1
I want to preface this review by saying that we have stayed at the Teanaway cabin 4 times over the past 2 years; twice in summer, twice in winter. We have LOVED staying there, especially in winter. The solitude is amazing and no vehicle traffic. However, in summer at least 10 times a day, a car will pull up to the cabin and people walk through the site as we’re sitting outside and attempt to use the private restroom. There really needs to be a sign in the driveway letting people know the private restroom is for cabin renters only. Also, a mouse had made its home in the mattress on the lower bunk, and ran in and out of the mattress all night. No sleep at all, which was disappointing. That being said, we will be back but hope that these couple issues are taken care of so we have a better experience. The other three visits were great!
@JoyG978 · Camped on Jul 10, 2020 at Campsite #1
I want to preface this review by saying that we have stayed at the Teanaway cabin 4 times over the past 2 years; twice in summer, twice in winter. We have LOVED staying there, especially in winter. The solitude is amazing and no vehicle traffic. However, in summer at least 10 times a day, a car will pull up to the cabin and people walk through the site as we’re sitting outside and attempt to use the private restroom. There really needs to be a sign in the driveway letting people know the private restroom is for cabin renters only. Also, a mouse had made its home in the mattress on the lower bunk, and ran in and out of the mattress all night. No sleep at all, which was disappointing. That being said, we will be back but hope that these couple issues are taken care of so we have a better experience. The other three visits were great!
@GlenM193 · Camped on Jan 11, 2020 at Campsite #1
This was my second stay at Teanaway, first was during the summer and now during the winter. So I'll review both trips here.
Summer - Cabin was very clean when I arrived. Only thing missing was the lantern, which was damaged and inoperable. The stove was in good condition, and a previous guest had left an extra fuel bottle. I brought all my own water. The outhouse was clean and stocked with toilet paper, but I'd suggest bringing your own air fresheners - it gets pretty aromatic. Overall it was a great trip.
Winter - I picked the weekend of the first big winter storm. I'd say there was a good three feet of snow on the ground at the Sno-Park. The road had been barely traveled, with a day or two old snowmobile trail as the best track to snowshoe in. Took about 2.5 hours of snoeshowing to reach the cabin. Well-packed trails were already stomped out between the cabin door, the outhouse, and the woodshed - I only needed to rewalk them once upon arrival. The woodshed was well stocked, though both axes were fairly dull. This time there were three lanterns in the cabin, but only one worked. I brought my own lantern and used that instead. Two fuel bottles were left behind, but both were nearly empty - please pack your own trash out, folks. There was also a lot of kitchen stuff in the cupboards - dishes, paper plates, plastic cups, etc - but there was also rat poison and rat droppings so I didn't use any of those. I only saw three other people the whole time I was out - two snowmobilers who destroyed any resemblance of a track for the return trip and one cross-country skier. Got about two feet of powder while I was there, so the return trip was about three hours. I had to only partially dig my car out, but I did have to drive very carefully back to the highway as the road hadn't been plowed in three days.
All in all, very happy with both stays. Make sure to bring everything the description says you need plus a little extra. I'll definitely stay again!
Summer - Cabin was very clean when I arrived. Only thing missing was the lantern, which was damaged and inoperable. The stove was in good condition, and a previous guest had left an extra fuel bottle. I brought all my own water. The outhouse was clean and stocked with toilet paper, but I'd suggest bringing your own air fresheners - it gets pretty aromatic. Overall it was a great trip.
Winter - I picked the weekend of the first big winter storm. I'd say there was a good three feet of snow on the ground at the Sno-Park. The road had been barely traveled, with a day or two old snowmobile trail as the best track to snowshoe in. Took about 2.5 hours of snoeshowing to reach the cabin. Well-packed trails were already stomped out between the cabin door, the outhouse, and the woodshed - I only needed to rewalk them once upon arrival. The woodshed was well stocked, though both axes were fairly dull. This time there were three lanterns in the cabin, but only one worked. I brought my own lantern and used that instead. Two fuel bottles were left behind, but both were nearly empty - please pack your own trash out, folks. There was also a lot of kitchen stuff in the cupboards - dishes, paper plates, plastic cups, etc - but there was also rat poison and rat droppings so I didn't use any of those. I only saw three other people the whole time I was out - two snowmobilers who destroyed any resemblance of a track for the return trip and one cross-country skier. Got about two feet of powder while I was there, so the return trip was about three hours. I had to only partially dig my car out, but I did have to drive very carefully back to the highway as the road hadn't been plowed in three days.
All in all, very happy with both stays. Make sure to bring everything the description says you need plus a little extra. I'll definitely stay again!
@NateZ736 · Camped on Sep 27, 2019 at Campsite #1
There were mice.
@KimK976 · Camped on Jul 4, 2019 at Campsite #1
I've stayed in this cabin in both winter and summer. I highly recommend it for winter time. You'll have convenient access to skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and you can finish off each day of playing in snow by sitting next to a toasty woodstove. In the summer, the cabin's deficiencies are more glaring: it's tiny, dark, and mouse-y. I don't have much of a sense of smell, but even I'd get a whiff of mouse urine now & then.
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