Grizzly Creek Guard Station
At an elevation of 8,500 feet, Grizzly Creek Guard Station is located between Walden and Steamboat Springs, Colorado, offering guests an unique lodging opportunity in the Routt National Forest. The area around the guard station offers a chance to view abundant wildlife and experience a variety of recreational opportunities year-round. The guard station is accessible by passenger vehicle when there is no snow; however, high clearance vehicles are recommended in the spring and fall. Access to the cabin in winter is only available by snowmobile, cross-country skis or snowshoes. The cabin offers some creature comforts, but guests should be prepared to bring some of their own supplies and gear.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Surface | People / vehicles | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Back-in | Gravel | 5 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Accessibility | Site 1 is listed accessible |
The historic two-room cabin sleeps five on bunkbeds with mattresses. The cabin has a heater and range powered by propane. The kitchen is equipped with a table and chairs, cooking utensils, pots and pans. An accessible outhouse with pit toilet is also on-site. Water, electricity, indoor plumbing and trash collection are not available. Water must be hauled from a campground approximately three miles away during the summer. In the winter, guests must provide their own supply of water for cooking, cleaning and washing. Guests must bring their own food, sleeping bags, lanterns or flashlights, pillows, towels, dish soap, matches, first aid kit, toilet paper and garbage bags. All trash and food should be packed out, and guests are expected to clean the cabin before leaving.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Walden, take Highway 14 west for approximately 11 miles to Hebron. Turn right on County Road 24, driving west. Follow County Road 24 as it forks left and then right at intersections with County Roads 1 and 5. After approximately 10 miles, the road becomes Forest Service Road 60 and you arrive at the Grizzly Creek Guard Station.
| Nearest town | Walden, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 40.5569° N, 106.5872° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 20.3 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Never Summer Mountain Products ↗ | 45.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 3.1 miNewcomb Creek ↗6.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.9 miGrizzley-Helena ↗30 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 4.6 miAqua Fria2.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
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
Mount Zirkel Wilderness begins about 6.9 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 6.9 miMount Zirkel Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 160,309 acres
- 13.3 miArapaho National Wildlife Refuge ↗National Wildlife Refuge · Fish and Wildlife Service · 25,563 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
- Christian Science Society BuildingBuilding · Steamboat Springs · 13.8 mi
- Steamboat ApartmentsBuilding · Steamboat Springs · 13.8 mi
- Crawford HouseBuilding · Steamboat Springs · 13.9 mi
Natural features
The cabin sits in an open area among grassland and sagebrush, with nearby aspen groves and lodgepole pine forests. The Mount Zirkel Wilderness lies east of the guard station. The wilderness was one of the original areas protected under the 1964 Wilderness Act and has since been expanded twice to its present size of 160,648 acres. The area boasts ecosystems ranging from sagebrush meadows in the lower areas, through pine and spruce/fir forests, to alpine tundra at high elevations. Elk, deer, moose and other wildlife are often seen in meadows adjacent to the cabin, and cattle frequently pass by the area as well.
Recreation
In summer, hiking and fishing can be found within the vicinity. Trailheads leading to hiking and horseback riding trails are an easy drive from the guard station. Designated areas for off-road vehicles are also near the cabin. In winter, the area is blanketed by snow for wintertime play. Cross-country skiers and snowmobile traffic often pass by the guard station during daylight hours.
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 Grizzly Creek Guard Station?
Sites at Grizzly Creek 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 Grizzly Creek Guard Station?
Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Grizzly Creek Guard Station have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Grizzly Creek Guard Station?
Site 1 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Grizzly Creek Guard Station?
In summer, hiking and fishing can be found within the vicinity. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Grizzly Creek Guard Station?
Walden, Colorado.
Source: Getting there
What if Grizzly Creek Guard Station is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Teal Lake Group Campsite (2.2 mi), Hidden Lakes Campground (3.6 mi, first-come), and Summit Lake Campground (5.1 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby