Piney Guard Station

4.65

30 reviews

EAGLE-HOLY CROSS RANGER DISTRICT PO BOX 190, MINTURN, CO 81645, USA

Peace & Quiet

Featured in:Hidden Gem Campgrounds Colorado

Quick Facts

9,100 ft

Price

$50/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

1 campsites

Season

Open May 21 to Novem...

Cell

No Service

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

Opens Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District site

Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

January 2026

Quick Facts

9,100 ft

Price

$50/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

1 campsites

Season

Open May 21 to Novem...

Cell

No Service

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

Opens Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District site

Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

January 2026

Piney Guard Station

$50.00 - $50.00 / night

Campsite Fees

Cabin rental costs $50 per night across all seasons (May 21 to November 23). Additional reservation fees vary depending on booking methods: $8...

Standard Site Fee$0.00

Hookup Site Fee$0.00

Premium Site Fee$0.00

Hike and Bike Site Fee$0.00

Group Site Fee$0.00

Food Storage Locker Fee$0.00

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Recreation Dot Gov

Provider

970-827-5715

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What Campers Say

4.65

Top-Rated

Based on 30 reviews

Most mentioned

viewsscenerylocation

"User reviews for Piney Guard Station highlight the remote, rustic experience and scenic beauty surrounding the cabin. Many reviewers appreciated the peacefulness and wildlife sightings, while some noted challenges with the access roads and insufficient firewood during wet weather."

Read all reviews

Campground Map

EAGLE-HOLY CROSS RANGER DISTRICT PO BOX 190, MINTURN, CO 81645, USA

Piney Guard Station

EAGLE-HOLY CROSS RANGER DISTRICT PO BOX 190, MINTURN, CO 81645, USA

Driving directionsTake 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). Seasonal access directions apply: during summer (May 21 - November 22), a high-clearance 4WD vehicle is mandatory due to rough, rutted, and muddy road conditions. For winter access (November 23 - May 20), snowpack dictates whether you can drive partially to the cabin or must park further away and snowmobile, ski, or snowshoe to reach your destination.

The road leading to the cabin is challenging and requires high-clearance 4WD vehicles due to severe ruts, mud, and rugged terrain during summer. In winter, snowpack conditions often necessitate parking several miles away and accessing the cabin via snowmobile, skis, or snowshoes. Visitors should call the ranger station to confirm current road and snow conditions.

Nearby places

Minturn (~15 miles, ~25 min drive), Vail (~25 miles, ~40 min drive), Wolcott (~5 miles, ~10 min drive)

Nearby supplies

The closest supplies for food, water, and camping gear are available in Minturn (~15 miles away) and Vail (~25 miles away).

Best Time to Camp at Piney Guard Station

Winter transforms Piney Guard Station into a snow-globe paradise where temperatures plunge and powder blankets the landscape. Reaching your mountain hideaway becomes part of the adventure, as snowmobiles and cross-country skis replace wheels on the access route. When summer arrives, the high-altitude climate delivers crisp mornings and sun-warmed afternoons, though afternoon thundershowers may roll through to water the wildflower meadows. Pack your rain gear and mud boots—mountain roads have a personality of their own during the warmer months, but the payoff is worth it when you're surrounded by blooming alpine gardens and wildlife emerging from their winter hideaways.

Best

Summer(Jun-Aug)

4.5 / 5

Peak season May–Sep: wildflowers, hiking, biking and wildlife sightings are highlights.

Fall(Sep-Nov)

4.0 / 5

Open through Nov 23; autumn colors and quieter trails make fall attractive.

Spring(Mar-May)

Not recommended

Property closed through spring transitions until May 21 per site info.

Winter(Dec-Feb)

Not recommended

Cabin officially closed Nov 24–May 20; winter stays are not part of standard availability.

Planning Tips

Peak Season: May 21, 2025 - September 20, 2025 (Peak Season).. Book 2-3 months ahead.
Operating Season: Open May 21 to November 23. Closed late fall through spring (November 24 to May 20).
Current Alerts: Call Eagle-Holy Cross District for updated road and snow conditions before travel.

About Piney Guard Station

Step back in time at Piney Guard Station, a charming 1930s log cabin that offers an authentic wilderness retreat in Colorado's high country. This rustic sanctuary welcomes adventurers year-round, though Mother Nature occasionally closes the door during late fall and spring transitions. Inside, you'll find the simple comforts that have sheltered forest workers for generations: sturdy bunk beds for restful mountain nights and a crackling wood stove that becomes your best friend after a day of alpine exploration. True to its backcountry roots, the cabin embraces off-grid living with no running water or electricity—just you, the wilderness, and the stars.

Piney Guard Station offers cabin lodging as the primary accommodation option. The rustic, single-room cabin is available year-round, with closures during spring and late fall.

Historical SignificanceThese weathered log walls have stories to tell. Built during the 1930s when the Forest Service was carving civilization from wilderness, Piney Guard Station stands as a testament to the hardy souls who managed America's forests. Originally serving as a remote work station where crews would bunk between days of trail building and fire watching, the cabin showcases the practical architecture and can-do spirit of early conservation efforts. Every hand-hewn beam and carefully fitted log speaks to an era when forest rangers were part lumberjack, part naturalist, and full-time mountain dwellers.

Weather and SeasonsWinter transforms Piney Guard Station into a snow-globe paradise where temperatures plunge and powder blankets the landscape. Reaching your mountain hideaway becomes part of the adventure, as snowmobiles and cross-country skis replace wheels on the access route. When summer arrives, the high-altitude climate delivers crisp mornings and sun-warmed afternoons, though afternoon thundershowers may roll through to water the wildflower meadows. Pack your rain gear and mud boots—mountain roads have a personality of their own during the warmer months, but the payoff is worth it when you're surrounded by blooming alpine gardens and wildlife emerging from their winter hideaways.

ElevationPerched at a breathtaking 9,100 feet, Piney Guard Station puts you literally on top of the world—or at least high enough to feel like it. At this elevation, the air is crisp and thin, the stars seem close enough to touch, and the panoramic mountain vistas stretch endlessly before you. The alpine environment creates its own weather patterns and moods, from morning mists that cling to the valleys below to afternoon sunshine that sets the peaks aglow. Here in the thin air, every breath reminds you that you've climbed far above the everyday world.

Natural Features and ScenerySurrounded by a living cathedral of towering spruce, fir, and quaking aspen, Piney Guard Station offers front-row seats to nature's grandest theater. The majestic Gore Mountain Range dominates the horizon, its peaks and ridges creating an ever-changing backdrop as light and weather paint new scenes throughout the day. This high-altitude ecosystem bustles with wildlife—you might spot a moose browsing in the willows, elk bugling across the meadows, or bighorn sheep navigating impossible cliffs. Lucky visitors might glimpse the elusive Canada lynx padding through the snow or catch sight of mountain goats balanced on distant ledges. Black bears roam these forests too, while mule deer graze in the twilight hours, completing a wilderness cast that makes every moment at the cabin feel like a National Geographic documentary.

Geological RegionPiney Guard Station claims its place in the heart of White River National Forest, where ancient geological forces have sculpted a masterpiece of peaks, valleys, and alpine ecosystems. At 9,100 feet, the cabin sits in the transition zone where dense forests of aspen, spruce, pine, and fir create a patchwork quilt across the mountainsides. The nearby Gore Mountain Range showcases Colorado's dramatic geological history, with exposed rock faces telling stories millions of years in the making. This is classic Rocky Mountain terrain—rugged, beautiful, and humbling in its scale, where every ridge and valley has been carved by ice, wind, and time into the spectacular landscape that surrounds your mountain retreat.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

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Reserving a campsite

Check-in

Unknown

Check-out

Unknown

Stay Limit

Maximum consecutive stay: 14 nights.

Guests Allowed Per Site

Sleeps up to 4 people.

Tents

Tents are not allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are not allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Site layoutSingle cabin with surrounding meadow and forest.

Reservation PlatformsReservations available via Recreation.gov online, contact center, or mobile app.

Walk-in AvailabilityOnly reservable in advance; walk-up availability is not indicated.

Cancellation PolicyReservations can be canceled anytime before arrival. A $10 cancellation fee applies. For late cancellations (less than 14 days before check-in), the first night's fee is forfeited. Changes to reservations incur a $10 fee if altering the reservation dates entirely. Same-day cancellations are not permitted.

AccessibilityAccessibility details are not explicitly mentioned in authoritative sources. Snowshoeing or backpacking access is required during certain seasons, which may limit accessibility for individuals with mobility challenges.

Site SizeThe cabin is approximately 14 x 22 feet in size, providing space for up to four occupants.

PrivacyThe cabin is secluded and surrounded by beautiful natural scenery, offering a high level of privacy.

Total Campsites1 campsites

Recommended SitesBring a high-clearance 4WD vehicle for summer access and snow gear for winter. Bring extra firewood, a shovel, and cable winch in case of vehicle difficulties.

Amenities available

Fire rings

Picnic tables

Lodging and accommodations

Vault toilets

Cabin Lodging

Activities you can enjoy

This year-round destination offers a variety of activities. Visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, hunting, and wildlife viewing during warmer months, and snowmobiling, skiing, and snowshoeing during winter.

HikingSeveral hiking trails are accessible from the cabin, offering opportunities to explore the nearby Gore Mountain Range and the forest dominated by spruce, pine, and fir trees.

BikingMountain biking is possible along the Forest Service road leading to the cabin during the summer months.

Wildlife viewingThe White River National Forest is home to diverse wildlife such as moose, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, mule deer, Canada lynx, and black bears. Birdwatching opportunities include species such as bald eagles and peregrine falcons.

Winter Activities

Water Sports

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsRoad access can be hazardous due to ruts and mud, especially after rain. Wildlife such as bears and moose may pose safety concerns. Mice activity within the cabin has been reported.

Active AlertsCall Eagle-Holy Cross District for updated road and snow conditions before travel.

No Potable WaterThis campground does not have potable water on-site. Bring all the water you need for drinking, cooking, and cleaning.

No Cell ServiceCell phone service is not available at this campground. Plan accordingly for emergencies and download offline maps before arriving.

Fire PolicyMetal fire ring provided. Use firewood gathered near cabin to prevent tree-killing pathogens.

Quiet HoursQuiet hours are Unknown

Emergency ServicesNearest emergency services are located in Minturn (~15 miles away), including a ranger station and medical facilities in Vail (~25 miles away).

Trash & RecyclingGuests must bring garbage bags and take their trash with them as no trash service is available.

Water FeaturesLake near the cabin attracts moose and birds.

Camp HostRangers occasionally check road and cabin conditions. Contact Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District at 970-827-5715 for assistance.

Weather at Piney Guard Station

Reviews

4.7

30 reviews

Top-Rated

Piney Guard Station is top-rated, placing it in the top 15% of campgrounds based on reviews

User reviews for Piney Guard Station highlight the remote, rustic experience and scenic beauty surrounding the cabin. Many reviewers appreciated the peacefulness and wildlife sightings, while some noted challenges with the access roads and insufficient firewood during wet weather.

Review Summaries

Based on 30 reviews

What Campers Love

Reviews praise the cabin's charm, remote location, and stunning scenery. Wildlife sightings such as moose and elk were frequently mentioned. Guests also appreciated the cozy atmosphere provided by...

Based on 30 reviews

Common Concerns

Negative feedback includes the difficulty of accessing the cabin due to poor road conditions, lack of firewood during rainy periods, and the presence of mice inside the cabin. Some reviewers also...

Based on 30 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Users recommend bringing high-clearance 4WD vehicles for access, as well as a shovel, cable winch, and bug spray. Guests suggest calling the ranger station to check road conditions and packing...

Based on 30 reviews

Seasonal Insights

Winter visitors described hiking or snowmobiling to the cabin in heavy snow as a rewarding adventure. Summer guests noted the beauty of wildflowers and wildlife but pointed out challenges with muddy...

Based on 30 reviews

Camper Quotes

1. 'This place is AMAZING. It felt like we found a gem of Colorado in this location.' - CHRISTY H 2. 'Awesome little cabin in a beautiful spot, we had a great time!' - MICHAL K 3. 'Lovely cabin, very...

Based on 30 reviews

Site-Specific Reviews

Most reviews reference campsite 01 in PINEY GUARD Loop. Specific feedback mentions the cabin's small size and the need for lifted or high-clearance vehicles for road access. Guests suggest early...

Based on 30 reviews

Accessibility Features

Accessibility challenges are noted due to the remote location and rugged access roads. Winter access often requires snowshoeing or snowmobiling, and some reviewers described hiking 10 miles in heavy...

Based on 30 reviews

Pet-Friendly Features

Pets are allowed, and some reviewers brought dogs along. One mentioned the importance of cleaning up after pets and not leaving them unattended around the cabin.

Based on 30 reviews

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