Cabin rental · U.S. Forest Service · Rio Grande National Forest · South Fork, CO

Alder Guard Station

Alder Guard Station is located 2 miles north of the town of South Fork along Alder Creek in the Rio Grande National Forest. The guard station was constructed in 1910 and was the residence and office for the local ranger district. Today the historic cabin is a comfortable getaway for guests seeking relaxation and recreation in south central Colorado. Visitors may reserve the cabin for a maximum of five nights to allow others the opportunity to rent the cabin.

Cabin rentalReservable · Recreation.gov1 site35 ft maxFires ok
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Alder Guard StationFrontBackShower
Photos courtesy of USDA Forest Service · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Cabins with electric1
This cabin is booked as a single unit on Recreation.gov. The booking page shows which dates are open and how far ahead they release. How the booking window works

Site guide

1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesFiresRating
Alder Guard StationPull-through250GravelPartial10 / 5YesPrime

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 length35 ft
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

The two story cabin is furnished with 2 beds in each bedroom (2 bedrooms), and a futon on the first floor. The kitchen is equipped with a table and chairs, electric stove, refrigerator, cooking utensils and some pots and pans. The bathroom has hot water and a flush toilet. A wood stove is the only source of heat for the guard station. Picnic tables are also on site. Although the cabin has several amenities, guests do need to provide their own sleeping bags, linens, towels, dish soap, matches, cooking gear, first aid kit, toilet paper and garbage bags. Lighting is available, however guests are advised to bring an additional light source in case of emergency. Occasionally the water well overflows due to ground water pressures. The water then may not test safely. To avoid this you are encouraged to bring spare drinking/cooking water.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Alder Guard Station10°20°30°40°50°60°January: 0.84 inches of precipitationFebruary: 0.76 inches of precipitationMarch: 0.97 inches of precipitationApril: 1.05 inches of precipitationMay: 1.02 inches of precipitationJune: 0.82 inches of precipitationJuly: 2.03 inches of precipitationAugust: 2.73 inches of precipitationSeptember: 1.74 inches of precipitationOctober: 1.29 inches of precipitationNovember: 1.22 inches of precipitationDecember: 0.66 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 11.6°F averageFebruary: 16.6°F averageMarch: 28.2°F averageApril: 37.3°F averageMay: 45.0°F averageJune: 53.6°F averageJuly: 59.7°F averageAugust: 57.5°F averageSeptember: 51.0°F averageOctober: 40.4°F averageNovember: 26.8°F averageDecember: 12.5°F average0 in1 in2 in3 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Creede Wtp, 18 miles from the campground at 8,624 feet, station USC00051948 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 15 inches a year.

Getting there

From South Fork, Colorado: Travel approximately.5 miles on Highway 149 towards Creede. After crossing the Rio Grande River bridge, turn east (right) on County Road 15 (North River Road) and go approximately 1 mile to Forest Road 610. Turn north (left) on Forest Road 610 and go 2 miles.

Nearest townSouth Fork, Colorado
Coordinates37.7044° N, 106.6467° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • Firewood is not provided; please bring all the firewood you will need for your stay.

Supplies & services

RV sales & serviceRV sales & service ↗4.9 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗37.5 mi
Outdoor gearKristi's Mountain Sports ↗43.7 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • under 0.1 mi
    Alder Bench ↗
    6.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
  • 1 mi
    Middle Alder ↗
    5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 1.4 mi
    Palisade
    2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
  • 1.9 mi
    West Bear
    4.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
  • 3.9 mi
    Raspberry ↗
    8.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 3.9 mi
    Church Creek
    2.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more

Trailheads within three miles

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

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Rio Grande National Forest.

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.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The Rio Grande National Forest encompasses of a myriad of ecosystems ranging from high elevation desert to the craggy peaks of the majestic Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The Alder Guard Station, located in the Divide Ranger District, is surrounded by mixed conifer forests, aspen groves, and wilderness areas, though its immediate vicinity is manicured, with a fenced lawn.

Recreation

The Alder Bench trailhead is located north of the guard station on Forest Road 610. In the past, this trail was used by stockmen taking livestock up to the high country towards Blue Park and Long Park. In the fall, visitors use this trail to hunt elk and deer as this area is considered winter range for both. The 6.5 mile trail is also open for off-road single track riding, horse and foot travel, and mountain biking, but can be very rocky and steep in places. Anglers will enjoy the scenic backdrop of Alder Creek when casting lines for a variety of trout.

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 Alder Guard Station?

Sites at Alder 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 Alder Guard Station?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Alder Guard Station have?

1 site, including 1 cabin with power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Alder Guard Station?

The longest site here provides 35 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 there showers or a dump station at Alder Guard Station?

The bathroom has hot water and a flush toilet.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Alder Guard Station?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Alder Guard Station?

The Alder Bench trailhead is located north of the guard station on Forest Road 610. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Alder Guard Station?

South Fork, Colorado.

Source: Getting there

What if Alder Guard Station is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Highway Springs Campground (6 mi, first-come), Lower Beaver Creek Campground (6.3 mi, first-come), and Upper Beaver Creek Campground (7 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby