U.S. Forest Service · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest · Gunnison, CO

Alpine Ranger Station

The Alpine Ranger Station is situated on the Alpine Plateau at 9,600 feet, in a beautiful alpine valley surrounded by aspen, spruce and fir forest. With inspiring views and multiple nearby recreation opportunities, the Ranger Station is just the place for a quiet and historic retreat, with a few modern amenities.

Reservable · Recreation.gov1 siteFires ok

More like this: reservable in Colorado

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Alpine Ranger CabinALPINE RANGER STATION Living roomALPINE RANGER STATION Small Cabin BedroomALPINE RANGER STATION Kitchen
Photos courtesy of National Forest Photo · Recreation.gov
3fires
active
High Mesa Piles Rx (prescribed burn) · 6 mi away · 324 acres
2 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Amenities & rules

CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

Visitors can expect to experience two semi-rustic cabins with some modern amenities. The main cabin has a semi-modernized kitchen with a propane cooking stove, refrigerator, and sink. There is a separate bathhouse located a few feet away from the main cabin with a vault toilet. Other amenities include: solar electric lighting and a pot belly wood stove. The main cabin can accommodate up to four people, featuring two bunk beds with four twin-size mattresses. The other cabin has a queen bed on the ground level and a loft. Basic kitchen supplies - pots/pans/silverware - are provided. Cleaning supplies are provided, and guests are required to clean before they leave. Guests should bring their own bedding and towels. Plan to pack it in, pack it out. Please take your trash with you when you leave.

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Alpine Ranger Station10°20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 1.22 inches of precipitationFebruary: 1.05 inches of precipitationMarch: 1.00 inches of precipitationApril: 1.60 inches of precipitationMay: 1.26 inches of precipitationJune: 0.85 inches of precipitationJuly: 2.03 inches of precipitationAugust: 2.55 inches of precipitationSeptember: 1.61 inches of precipitationOctober: 1.83 inches of precipitationNovember: 1.06 inches of precipitationDecember: 1.06 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 15.2°F averageFebruary: 19.7°F averageMarch: 29.2°F averageApril: 37.2°F averageMay: 46.0°F averageJune: 55.8°F averageJuly: 60.8°F averageAugust: 58.9°F averageSeptember: 52.3°F averageOctober: 41.2°F averageNovember: 27.7°F averageDecember: 16.0°F average0 in1 in2 in3 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Lake City 1Nne, 13 miles from the campground at 8,714 feet, station USC00054736 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 17 inches a year.

Getting there

From Gunnison: Take US-50 west for approximately 35 miles. Turn left on Co. Rd 66 to FSR 867. Follow FSR 867 for approximately 20 miles to its junction with FSR 868. Turn right - Alpine Ranger Station will be 5 miles ahead on the right-hand side, a locked gate is at the entrance.

Nearest townGunnison, Colorado
Coordinates38.2261° N, 107.3851° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    High Mesa Piles Rx

    6 mi from the campground · 324 acres

  • Wildfire
    Gold Mountain

    20 mi from the campground · 39,747 acres · 92% contained

  • Prescribed
    Transfer Rd Rx

    45 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 stationDump station ↗13.8 mi
Outdoor gearOuray Mountain Sports ↗20.9 mi
RV sales & serviceRV sales & service ↗58.7 mi

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

Explore

Video

Dawnski High Flexibility Waterproof Alpine Ranger Winter Snow Suits Try On Haul & Revi

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.1 mi
    Failes Creek ↗
    5.5 mi trail · hiking, horse
  • 0.1 mi
    Alpine ↗
    15 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
  • 0.2 mi
    Alpine Guard Station
    0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse
  • 0.6 mi
    Alpine Snowmobile ↗
    9.4 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
  • 1.2 mi
    Ridge Stock Driveway Spur
    0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 1.3 mi
    Ridge Stock Driveway ↗
    25.1 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

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests.

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 Ranger Station is located near the end of Forest Service Road 868, adjacent to Blue Creek and Soldier Creek. This beautiful area offers many scenic viewing opportunities, including the Cannibal Plateau and the Uncompahgre Wilderness, and is close to many hiking and fishing opportunities.

Recreation

Surrounded by miles of National Forest, visitors to the Alpine Ranger Station can enjoy a multitude of outdoor activities. There are several hiking and mountain biking trails nearby, as well as opportunities for OHV use, including ATV and motorcycle routes. Also, the ranger station has a horse barn and small corral, offering the opportunity for horseback riding. The Uncompahgre Wilderness is adjacent to the Ranger Station and a trailhead to Uncompahgre Peak (a popular 14'er) is only a mile away.

Nearby

The small town of Lake City is located about an hour drive from the cabins, it has two small grocery stores, a gas station, and a few restaurants.

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 Alpine Ranger Station?

Sites at Alpine Ranger 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 Alpine Ranger Station?

Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Alpine Ranger Station have?

1 site.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Alpine Ranger 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 Alpine Ranger Station?

Surrounded by miles of National Forest, visitors to the Alpine Ranger Station can enjoy a multitude of outdoor activities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Alpine Ranger Station?

Gunnison, Colorado. The small town of Lake City is located about an hour drive from the cabins, it has two small grocery stores, a gas station, and a few restaurants.

Source: Getting there

What if Alpine Ranger Station is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Big Blue Campground (0.6 mi, first-come), The Gate Campground (6.9 mi), and Silver Jack Campground (8.3 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby