Piney Guard Station
Piney Guard Station is a rustic cabin that was constructed in the 1930s as a work station for Forest Service crews. This 14 by 22-ft. structure has a single room and is built from logs. It is open both summer and winter with spring and late fall closures.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Gravel | Full | 4 / 3 |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Max vehicle length | 10 ft |
Piney Guard Station can sleep up to four people. It contains a bunk bed, two cots, storage cabinets, a table and benches, and a woodstove. Skillet, dishware and utensils are provided. A two burner stove and lantern are provided. These require 16.4-oz. propane cylinder bottles, which are not provided and are your responsibility. A picnic table and metal fire ring are just outside the cabin’s door. A vault toilet is located approximately 50 feet from the cabin. Guests can easily gather firewood around the cabin. No drinking water, electricity or trash service is available; guests must bring their own water and garbage bags to pack out trash. Guests should consider packing most items they would bring on a regular camping trip. Dogs are allowed, please pick up after them and do not leave them unattended in or around the cabin.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Take I-70 east from Grand Junction, CO, about 126 miles or heading west from Denver about 119 miles to exit 157. Take Highway 131 north through the town of Wolcott about 5 miles. Turn right onto Forest Road #700 (Muddy Pass Road). From this location, you must follow seasonal access directions to the cabin, as detailed below.
| Nearest town | Minturn, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 39.7575° N, 106.5606° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireWillow
37 mi from the campground · 7,359 acres · 92% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 7.9 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Marmot ↗ | 12.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 7.7 miBocco Mountain Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miRock Creek Park3.5 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.4 miSouth Fork Piney3.6 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 1.9 miLower Piney Trail ↗9.5 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 3 miRed Canyon Stock Driveway ↗6.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.1 miMoniger Trail3.4 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 White River National Forest.
- inWhite River National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,482,711 acres
- 7.7 miEagles Nest Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 135,104 acres
- 14.1 miHoly Cross Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 122,453 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
On the National Register nearby
- State BridgeStructure · State Bridge · 8.4 mi
- WaterwheelSite · McCoy · 13 mi
Natural features
Piney Guard Station is located at 9,100 feet in the White River National Forest, Eagle/Holy Cross Ranger District, which is near Vail. The cabin is nestled in a forest dominated by aspen, spruce, pine and fir trees. Guests can enjoy views of the Gore Mountain Range from a meadow to the cabin’s north side. Local wildlife, including moose, may be spotted near the lake, which sits across the road from the cabin. The White River National Forest is also home to elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, mule deer, Canada lynx and black bear. Birders may see bald eagles, peregrine falcons, Barrow's golden-eye and black swifts.
Recreation
The cabin is conveniently located in an area offering a variety of year-round recreational activities. The Forest Service road leading to the cabin is used by mountain bikers, hikers, snowshoers, cross-country skiers and snowmobilers. This area is popular for hunting big and small game, game birds and waterfowl.
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 Piney Guard Station?
Sites at Piney 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 Piney Guard Station?
Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Piney Guard Station have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Piney Guard Station?
The longest site here provides 10 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
What is there to do at Piney Guard Station?
The cabin is conveniently located in an area offering a variety of year-round recreational activities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Piney Guard Station?
Minturn, Colorado.
Source: Getting there
What if Piney Guard Station is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Wolcott Campground (7.8 mi, first-come), Radium Recreation Area (13.4 mi), and Cataract Creek Campground (14.6 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby