Warm River Cabin
Ashton, Fremont County, Idaho. Cabin; May 15 - March 31.
Details
- Where
- ASHTON/ISLAND PARK RANGER DISTRICT, Ashton, ID. Directions
- Getting there
- From Ashton ID, travel east-northeast on Highway 47 (Mesa Fall Scenic Byway) for approximately 15 miles to the intersection of Highway 47 and Forest Road 150. Turn right onto Forest Road 150 and travel approximately 2.5 miles to the intersection of Forest Road 150 and Forest Road 154.
- Access
- No water at the cabin; spring water must be treated if used. Pick up the key at the Ashton Ranger Station Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; call (208) 652-7442 for after hours or weekend pickup. Pack-it-in/pack-it-out facility. Grizzly/black bear country; all food and coolers must be stored per Food Storage Order.
- Walk-in or reserve
- Key pickup at Ashton Ranger Station Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; call (208) 652-7442 for after hours or weekend pickup.
- Phone
- 208-652-7442
- Managed by
- USDA Forest Service, Caribou-Targhee National Forest.
- Established
- 1938.
- Coordinates
- 44.2058333, -111.2513889.
Warm River Cabin is located less than 20 miles from Ashton, Idaho, at Warm River Springs. An Idaho fish and game hatchery operated here from the 1930s to the 1950s. The cabin was formerly the hatchery manager's house. It was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1938. The cabin is open year-round; car access in warmer months, snowmobiles and cross-country skis required from early December through mid-May.
Notable Events
- 1908The Idaho Department of Fish and Game operated a fish hatchery at this location from 1908-1923; the original hatchery building was a 40 by 80 foot log structure. fs.usda.gov
- 1935A verbal agreement between the Bureau of Fisheries and the Targhee National Forest began the Warm River Fish Hatchery. fs.usda.gov
- 1938CCC crews from the Porcupine CCC Camp began building the dwelling, garage, and hatchery building in the summer of 1938 and completed them by 1940. fs.usda.gov
- 1940Operation of the hatchery began in the summer of 1940 and continued into the early years of World War II. fs.usda.gov
- 1943The USFWS said it would not operate the hatchery, citing wartime shortages; at Supervisor Benedict's suggestion the Idaho Department of Fish and Game assumed operations through the War. fs.usda.gov
- 1946Operations of the hatchery varied between the US Fish and Wildlife Service (1946-1952) and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (1952-1973). fremontcountyhistoricalsociety.org
- 1957The footprint of the garage was doubled with a storage addition on the north end and an apartment on the south end. fs.usda.gov
- 1964The hatchery site was withdrawn from public entry as a USFS administrative site. fs.usda.gov
- 1973The Idaho Department of Fish and Game terminated hatchery operations at Warm River. fs.usda.gov
- 1990The Warm River Apartment and Garage building was first determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, with Idaho SHPO concurrence. fs.usda.gov
People
- Fred Foster, US Fish and Wildlife Service; wrote the letter setting out that the Bureau would operate the hatchery (April 8, 1938).
- M.S. Benedict, Targhee National Forest Supervisor; suggested the State operate the hatchery during the War (1943).
- William Eichner, Former CCC enrollee at the Porcupine Camp; recalled that the CCC also built the bridge over Warm River.