Black Bear Cabin At Mesa Lakes
Black Bear Cabin at Mesa Lakes offers guests the opportunity to experience an overnight stay in a traditional Forest Service Ranger Station. The original Black Bear Cabin was constructed in the 1930s, where rangers worked for years overseeing the expansive forest. The cabin is about a 45-minute drive from Grand Junction area of western Colorado, and plenty of canoeing, mountain biking and fishing activities are within reach. From mid-August through October, guests can enjoy fall colors with extensive golden aspen stands surrounding the area. A large grass yard fronts the cabin, which can be used for family gatherings and weddings.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins with electric | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bear | Partial | 8 / 4 |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
The semi-rustic log cabin has a living area and bedroom on the main floor, and a bathroom with a flush toilet and shower is in the basement. The kitchen is equipped with a refrigerator and an electric stove. Electric lighting and heat are provided. Sleeping accommodations for five adults include queen size sofa sleeper and three twin size beds; air mattresses or cots can be brought in to accommodate three additional people for a total of eight guests. No RVs, campers, or tents allowed near facility to accommodate more people. Basic cooking and eating utensils, plates, knives, forks, spoons, cups, and basic pots and pans are furnished. Cleaning supplies are included as well. Guests should bring bedding, warm clothes, food, a first aid kit, towels, dish soap and typical camping gear.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Grand Junction, CO, take I-70 east for 13 miles. Take exit 49 to Highway 65 South toward Grand Mesa. Continue for 25 miles and turn right into Mesa Lakes Recreation Area. Take the second right and follow along Sunset Lake shore. On approach to the lake's spillway, you will come to a gate. The gate is opened by combination lock.
| Coordinates | 39.0522° N, 108.0811° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- This cabin is not ADA accessible.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedTransfer Rd Rx
40 mi from the campground · 139 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 14.3 mi |
| RV sales & service | Timberleaf Camping Trailers ↗ | 24.8 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Loki Outdoor Shop ↗ | 25.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
Grand Mesa Visitor Center is a short drive away at Island Lake. The center offers educational exhibits, a bookstore and a high-altitude wildflower garden containing over 50 native species. The town of Cedaredge, 26 miles from the campground, is home to Pioneer Town, a 19th-century village with frontier museums and over 20 structures housing a schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, saloon and jail. Cedaredge's Applefest is held annually in October.
- 5.1 miValley View Picnic Site ↗Day use
- 5.8 miWard Way Picnic Site ↗Day use
- 13.5 mi
Trails nearby
- 0.5 miAspen Cove Snowmobile2 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 0.6 miGriffith Ski Loop ↗6.8 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 0.6 miWest Bench ↗5.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.6 miWest Bench Ski ↗5.8 mi trail · motorcycle, ATV, 4WD, e-bike and 2 more
- 0.6 miMesa Lake Shore1.3 mi trail · hiking
- 0.7 miGlacier Springs Cutoff0.9 mi trail · hiking
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests begins about 8.2 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 8.2 miGrand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,153,199 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Land's End ObservatoryBuilding · Whitewater · 7.9 mi
- Convicts' Bread OvenObject · Molina · 11.8 mi
- Stolte HouseBuilding · Cedaredge · 12.6 mi
Natural features
Black Bear is perched on a grassy lawn, partially shaded by large pines. Spruce, fir and aspen are among the surrounding trees. At an elevation of 9,500, the cabin is in close proximity to several mountain lakes, including Waterdog Reservoir and Jumbo Reservoir. Mesa Creek flows nearby. A variety of wildlife, including deer, elk and moose, frequents the area.
Recreation
A popular mountain biking and horseback riding trail, West Bench Trail #501, connects the seven lakes of the Mesa Lakes Recreation Area. The cabin is also within walking distance to a carry-down boat ramp for canoeing and kayaking. The Grand Mesa Scenic Byway is well worth exploring. The byway passes near the cabin and offers 63 miles of scenery as it climbs from the rugged canyon floor up to the forested mesa tops at 11,000 feet. The road passes sparkling lakes and meadows bursting with wildflowers.
Guidebooks for Colorado
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Black Bear Cabin At Mesa Lakes?
Sites at Black Bear Cabin At Mesa Lakes are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Black Bear Cabin At Mesa Lakes?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Black Bear Cabin At Mesa Lakes have?
1 site, including 1 cabin with power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Black Bear Cabin At Mesa Lakes?
The semi-rustic log cabin has a living area and bedroom on the main floor, and a bathroom with a flush toilet and shower is in the basement.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Black Bear Cabin At Mesa Lakes?
A popular mountain biking and horseback riding trail, West Bench Trail #501, connects the seven lakes of the Mesa Lakes Recreation Area. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Black Bear Cabin At Mesa Lakes is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Spruce Grove (0.1 mi, first-come), Jumbo Campground (0.7 mi, partly first-come), and Island Lake Campground (4 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby