Today, the historic guard station serves as a Forest Service visitor information center along the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway.

Elk Lake Guard Station is located in the eastern foothills of the Cascade Range in central Oregon.

The guard station is just off Forest Road 46, also known as the Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway.

The road helped make Elk Lake a popular recreation site where summer visitors enjoyed boating, fishing, and swimming.

[1][2][6][7] Since the land around Elk Lake was administered by the Forest Service, the growing number of visitors required the rangers in Bend to spend more time in the area.

Initially, the guard station was staffed on a transient basis whenever a ranger from the Bend District office was in the area.

In 1935, the Forest Service moved the ranger cabin approximately 300 feet (91 m) from the edge of the lake to a sheltered area close to the road.

The guard protected forest resources, maintained local facilities, and assisted summer visitors.

At the same time, the Forest Service began a series of renovation projects to restore the historic character of the guard station.

The repair and rehabilitation work was accomplished by Forest Service employees and volunteers over a period of five summers.

The restoration included foundation work, resealing of walls, and repairs to the porch, doors, windows, and chimney.

Today, the historic guard station is open during the summer months, serving as a Forest Service visitor information center.

It is staffed by volunteer history interpretation/information specialists who serve as uniformed Forest Service representatives at the site.

[1][2][3] The historic Elk Lake Guard Station site covers approximately 2 acres (0.81 ha).

The structures include a combined ranger residence and office, a utility shed, a pump house, and an outhouse with a vault toilet.

A steel cable connects the two long walls to keep the winter snow load from forcing the sides of the cabin apart.