Jackson Guard Station
Jackson Guard Station is a great destination for anything from a weekend getaway to a week-long hunting trip. The cabin was originally used as a guard station that housed Forest Service work crews. The cabin's access road is remarkably scenic, making for an impressive arrival. In summer months, the cabin sets the stage for a wide array of activities. Recreation ranges from thrilling off-road vehicle riding to amazing scenery viewsing,hiking,and rewarding fishing. Winter access is by snowmobile, cross country skiing or snowshoes,and fat bikes only along a 3.5-mile trail.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | 100 | Gravel | Partial | 4 / 2 | Yes | Basic |
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 10:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
Visitors can expect a rustic cabin set back roughly 100 feet from the road, providing privacy and solitude. Amenities include wood stove. The kitchen includes cabinet space and some dishes are provided. The cabin has two bedrooms and four twin-size beds. A picnic table, campfire ring and vault toilet are located just outside the cabin. No electricity or running water is available. Guests should bring drinking water, flashlights or lanterns, bedding, food, towels and toiletries. In winter, kettles are provided to melt snow for water. A snow shovel and firewood is provided.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Montrose, take Highway 50 east for about 20 miles. Turn right (south) onto County Road 858, which leads up the Big Cimarron Drainage for about 20 miles. Shortly after passing Silver Jack Reservoir on the right, Jackson Guard Station will be on the left. From Gunnison, take Highway 50 west for roughly 43 miles.
| Nearest town | Montrose, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 38.2133° N, 107.5232° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedHigh Mesa Piles Rx
2 mi from the campground · 324 acres
- WildfireGold Mountain
14 mi from the campground · 39,747 acres · 92% contained
- PrescribedTransfer Rd Rx
39 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 ↗ | 13.6 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Ouray Mountain Sports ↗ | 15.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 0.3 miJackson0.7 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.4 miSilver Jack Shoreline0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.5 miWest Fork3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 0.8 miCowboy Lake2.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 1 miAlpine ↗15 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 1.2 miSalt House1.7 mi trail · hiking, horse
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
This campground sits inside Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests.
- inGrand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,153,199 acres
- 0.9 miUncompahgre Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 102,209 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
Historic landmarks nearby
Natural features
Situated near the southeast shores of Silver Jack Reservoir, Jackson Guard Station sits in a small aspen grove at 9,000 feet elevation. The cabin is at the base of High Mesa, near where the Cimarron River flows into the reservoir.
Recreation
Activities abound, with hiking, technical single track dirtbiking, ATV/OTV riding, snowshoing, cross country skiing. Hunting and fishing are popular in the area
Nearby
Nearby attractions include the San Juan Mountains, Alpine Plateau, Uncompahgre Wilderness, Silver Jack Reservoir and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. The cabin is about an hour's drive from Montrose or Ridgway, and an hour and a half from Gunnison.
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 Jackson Guard Station?
Sites at Jackson Guard Station are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Jackson Guard Station?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 10:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Jackson Guard Station have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Jackson Guard Station?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 3 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Jackson Guard Station?
Activities abound, with hiking, technical single track dirtbiking, ATV/OTV riding, snowshoing, cross country skiing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Jackson Guard Station?
Montrose, Colorado. Nearby attractions include the San Juan Mountains, Alpine Plateau, Uncompahgre Wilderness, Silver Jack Reservoir and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
Source: Getting there
What if Jackson Guard Station is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Silver Jack Campground (1.8 mi), Beaver Lake (2.8 mi, first-come), and Big Cimarron (3.4 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby