Carnero Guard Station
Carnero Guard Station is situated in a high open meadow surrounded by forest at an elevation of 9,840 feet. The high-elevation cabin is located in the north-central area of the San Luis Valley in the Rio Grande National Forest. The guard station was first proposed in 1907 by the Cochetopa National Forest, and was originally named the John Smith Ranger Station after a homesteader who built a cabin near the site, but never filed on the land. Construction on the cabin began in 1908 and the name was changed to the Carnero Guard Station in 1916.
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 | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Gravel | 12 / 6 | Yes | Preferred |
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 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Max vehicle length | 40 ft |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The two-room cabin is furnished with four bunk beds (the top bunk is a single bed, the bottom is a fold-out futon couch that sleeps two) and can accommodate up to 12 people. The cabin has a stove, refrigerator, heater and lighting, all powered with propane. The kitchen is equipped with a table and chairs, cooking utensils and some pots and pans. A picnic table, fire pit and an outdoor vault toilet are also on site. There is no electricity at the cabin, however water is available by an outside hand pump. Water is also available at the Saguache Ranger District Office during business hours from May through November.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Carnero Guard Station may be reached by traveling south on Highway 285 approximately 15 miles south of Saguache to the La Garita turnoff (Road G). In La Garita proceed west on County Road 41G for approximately 17 miles. Look for the cabin on the right.
| Nearest town | Saguache, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 37.9883° N, 106.4242° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 22.8 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 34.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Rocky Mountain Mercantile ↗ | 44.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
Guests at Carnero Guard Station are a short drive from Penitente Canyon, which has become a great draw for rock climbing.
- 2.1 miStorm King Picnic Site ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 3.4 miNorth Carnero ↗5.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
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 Rio Grande National Forest.
- inRio Grande National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,937,280 acres
- 11.7 miLa Garita Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 126,480 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
Natural features
Volcanic rock outcroppings dot the forested hillsides and wide pastures near the cabin. The La Garita Wilderness is located approximately 20 miles west of the guard station and features about 35 miles of the Continental Divide well above the timberline. This area also provides habitats for large herds of elk and mule deer, and on the southern slopes, there is an ancient forest of towering spruce and fir. It is a landscape of rushing streams, broad and gentle alpine meadows, beaver ponds, long talus slopes and tremendous mountain beauty.
Recreation
The cabin is a good base camp for hunting, and fishing, which is available at several creeks within a short drive. The area also offers many opportunities for hiking and off-road vehicle adventures in summer, and cross country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter. There is an off-road vehicle trail about 10 miles southwest of the cabin that travels to within 2 miles of the La Garita Wilderness. Elk, deer, and other wildlife are often seen in meadows adjacent to the cabin, and moose have been spotted in the Moon Pass area, about 5 miles west.
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 Carnero Guard Station?
Sites at Carnero 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 Carnero Guard Station?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Carnero Guard Station have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Carnero Guard Station?
The longest site here provides 40 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
Are pets allowed at Carnero Guard Station?
Yes, pets are allowed at Carnero Guard Station. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Carnero Guard Station?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Carnero Guard Station?
The cabin is a good base camp for hunting, and fishing, which is available at several creeks within a short drive. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Carnero Guard Station?
Saguache, Colorado. Guests at Carnero Guard Station are a short drive from Penitente Canyon, which has become a great draw for rock climbing.
Source: Getting there
What if Carnero Guard Station is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Storm King Campground (2.1 mi, first-come), Poso Campground (5.6 mi, first-come), and Penitente Canyon Campground (12.8 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby