Carnero Guard Station Cabin
The numbers that decide it
Recreation.gov publishes no site-level detail for this campground, so we cannot say what length of rig it takes. Call the managing office before committing to it in a large vehicle.
Site-level detail from Recreation.gov, checked 2026-08-05. Where a field says “not published”, the agency has not published it — it does not mean zero.
Carnero Guard Station Cabin
The Carnero Guard Station, first proposed in 1907, by the Cochetopa National Forest, was originally named the John Smith Ranger Station after a homesteader who built a cabin near the site, but never filed on the land. The name was changed to the Carnero Guard Station by 1916. Construction began on April 16, 1908 by W.L. Ward, the contractor. At that time Tebo Gallegos was the Carnero District Ranger. The cabin is a good base camp for hunting. Fishing is available in several creeks within an easy drive (please check Colorado Division of Wildlife for fishing seasons and rules). The trailhead for the La Garita Wilderness (20 + miles west) can be reached via 4 x 4 and Forest Service roads. There is an ATV trail about 10 miles southwest of the cabin that travels to within 2 miles of the La Garita Wilderness. Reminder, no motorized vehicles allowed in any wilderness area. Wildlife in the area includes moose, deer, elk and coyote. The cabin is surrounded by a buck & pole fence. Visitors to the National Forest are responsible for knowing the rules and regulations of the forest. Travel maps for the Rio Grande National Forest can be obtained at any Rio Grande National Forest offices.
Before you go
Season
Late May – Late November
Reservations
Reservations accepted
Fees
$50 per night. Recreation.gov charges a reservation fee.
Hours
Cabin opening date: 5/22/2025. Cabin closing date: 11/18/2025.
Restrictions
Access via combo locks. Details will be sent by Recreation.gov once reservation is completed. Call the Saguache Ranger District, 719-655-2547, with questions. Hours M-F 8:00 - 4:30, closed weekends & holidays. Renters are required to pack out all garbage. Make sure the fire in the outside fire ring is completely out. No hot coals above or below the surface of the soil. Clean the cabin, leaving it in the condition it was found or better. Please lock the door when leaving. Be sure to close and lock the entry gate when you leave.
Scenic drives that pass close
Make it a night on a better road
Byway plans the drive in — real stops, real weather, nothing invented.