Mountain Home Guard Station Cabin
Giant Sequoia National Monument, CA

Mountain Home Guard Station Cabin
54343 Balch Park Road
Springville, CA 93265

Mountain Home Guard Station offers a unique ‘cabin camping’ experience right in the heart of towering Giant Sequoias. The Cabin is located in the Giant Sequoia National Monument at the 6,000 foot elevation. The Guard Station was built in the early 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCCs) to provide a residence for Forest Service fire patrolmen stationed in the area. The cabin is available from mid-May to mid-November, depending on the weather.

There are wonderful opportunities for solitude, as well as numerous activities nearby such as horseback riding (day rides from the Balch Park Pack Station), hunting, mountain biking, hiking, and more. For fishing enthusiasts, there are several nearby ponds; the Golden Trout Wilderness; and the Tule River to test their skills!

The cabin does not have electricity. The stove, refrigerator, heater and water heater operate on propane. The cabin has one bedroom with a queen bed, twin bed and a rollaway bed; and the living room has two twin beds that serve as couches. The cabin sleeps 6, but there is room outside the cabin for tents. The total occupancy limit is 10. It has a fully equipped kitchen complete with a propane stove and refrigerator; pots and pans; dishes and utensils; and a small table. The living room has a picnic style table and benches for dining. The bathroom includes a flush toilet, sink and a tub-shower. Outside the cabin are a picnic table and a campfire ring.

For stock users, there are two corrals that may be used to keep horses and mules overnight. These are for guests who bring their own stock for riding on nearby roads and trails.

Cabin guests should plan to bring flashlights and/or lanterns for lighting; sleeping bags or bedding and pillows, bath towels and personal items. There are no condiments or food items provided, so guests should plan to bring all their supplies. The nearest store is 1 hour back down the road in Springville. Suggested additional items include toilet paper, paper towels, camp chairs, insect repellent, dish towels, and a camera.

Because the cabin is located at the 6,000 foot elevation, visitors need to be prepared for a wide variety of weather. Warm afternoons, chilly nights, and afternoon thunderstorms can all happen on the same visit. It is also not unusual to have an early fall dusting of snow before the cabin closes for the season. Remember to a bring a jacket!

Sleeping in a cabin deep in the forest makes Mountain Home a wonderful place to stay! The cabin’s proximity to other campgrounds is a bonus for additional friends and family members who want to camp nearby. For information on nearby campgrounds contact Mountain Home State Forest at (559) 539-2855; or Tulare County Balch Park Campground (559) 733-6291.

Directions:
To reach the cabin from Porterville, take Highway 190 East to Springville. Turn left onto the Balch Park Road at the east end of Springville. You can either stay on this road all the way to the Cabin, or you can also take the Bear Creek Road (approximately 4 miles from the Hwy 190 turn off). When the Bear Creek Road intersects with the Balch Park Road, turn left. Driving time from Springville on either route will take approximately 1 hour.

Services & Amenities

Within 1 Hour:
 Fishing Supplies
 Gasoline
 Motel
 Restaurant/Bar
 Store
 Telephone

Other (at the Cabin):
 Beds
 Fire Ring and Grill
 Flush Toilet
 Kitchen
 Picnic Table
 Shower
 Stove
 Water (hot and cold)

Nearby:
 Biking
 Fishing
 Giant Sequoia Groves
 Hiking
 Horseback Riding
 Hunting
 Museum
 Ponds and Lakes
 Photography
 Rivers
 Sightseeing
 Streams
 Wildlife Viewing