Federal campground in Ashland, OR.
With a history that dates back to 1907, Big Elk Guard Station is the oldest continuously used administrative site within the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, and a delightful setting for guests seeking a unique getaway. For many decades the guard station served as summer headquarters for solitary forest "guards" who built trails, fought forest fires and patrolled the land on horseback. Most recently the site was used to house Forest Service seasonal fire crews. The cabin is one of the few remaining examples of Forest Service log construction in the Forest and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Big Elk Guard Station sits on the fringe of Big Elk Meadow, a grassy expanse that floods in spring and dries out in the summer. Just a short stroll across the meadow, guests are treated to views of Mt. McLoughlin and the edge of a 20,000 year old lava flow from Brown…