## Overview

Upper Crossing Guard Station is located at an elevation of 8,400 feet, along a scenic byway near the Continental Divide, offering visitors a comfortable lodging experience in a remote setting in Rio Grande National Forest.  
  
This guard station is the original headquarters of the old Cochetopa National Forest that existed for only a few years during the early part of the last century.  
  
Today, guests to the guard station will find plenty of opportunities for relaxation and recreation in south central Colorado.

## Recreation

The area offers many opportunities for hiking in summer, hunting in the fall and cross country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter.  
  
The cabin sits at the confluence of two creeks and offers visitors excellent fishing for rainbow, cutthroat, brown and brook trout right out the front door.  
  
Hiking opportunities are in close proximity to the cabin, extending out to nearby wilderness and other public lands.

## Facilities

Upper Crossing Guard Station has all the amenities of a standard home, including electricity, heat and inside running water. It is furnished with three bunk beds, with twin beds on the top and fold-out full beds on the bottom, accommodating up to nine people. The cabin has electric lights, propane heater and wood burning stove. The living area has a table and chairs, couch and other furniture. The kitchen is equipped with a refrigerator, stove, hot water, some cooking utensils and some pots and pans. A picnic table, campfire grill and horseshoe pit are also on-site.  
  
Although the cabin has most amenities, guests do need to provide their own food, sleeping bags, linens, towels, dish soap, matches, cooking gear, first aid kit, toilet paper and garbage bags. It is recommended that guests bring an additional light source in case of emergencies.

## Natural Features

Upper Crossing Guard Station provides a remote setting that is easily accessible year-round via CO Highway 114. The brief dirt road leading to the cabin is actually the old stagecoach route, complete with historic graffiti that served as billboards advertising goods and services at the stagecoach stops.  
  
Views from the cabin include portions of the Continental Divide and unspoiled surrounding countryside, showcasing high mountain peaks, diverse forests, streams and lakes in addition to some of Colorado's most scenic working ranches.  
  
Historically, Ute Indians traveled through this area and found it favorable for living in the San Luis Valley.

Upper Crossing Guard Station

The campground is pack it in, pack it out and comprised of a single large loop, surrounded by a grass meadow in a Ponderosa Pine grove. The sites are large and well spaced with sites #16, 17 and 18 on a dead-end spur with no turn around. The open areas are dotted with wildflowers. It is convenient to State Hwy 114 for an overnight stay.

Buffalo Pass Campground

Mount Princeton Campground is located in beautiful Chalk Creek Canyon in central Colorado. This popular facility is within 4 miles of a private hot springs resort, making it an ideal location for rest and relaxation. Recreation Stream fishing is best above Cascade Falls, about 2 miles west of the campground. Nearby Chalk Lake is heralded as a great family fishing lake with rainbow, brook and brown trout. Nearby ATV/UTV and 4X4 rides include Mount Antero, Baldwin Lake, Tincup Pass, Hancock Pass, Pomeroy Lakes, Hancock Lakes. Facilities The campground offers single-family sites, a few of which are wheelchair accessible. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring with grill. Wheelchair accessible vault toilets are provided. Firewood is sold on-site. Parking spurs are gravel. Sites #1, and 14-17 are "walk-up", first-come, first-served sites. All other sites are reservable. Site #2 is used by the host from mid-May to Labor Day weekend, after that it is available as a "walk-up", first-come, first-served site. Natural Features The campground is situated at an elevation of 8,600 feet in Chalk Creek Canyon, which gets its name from the soft, white, chalk-like kaolinite canyon walls. Kaolinite is a clay mineral that was deposited by percolating hot springs. A stand of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir offers partial shade in the campground. Chalk Creek can be accessed from the campground. It flows 27 miles eastward from the Collegiate Peaks before joining the Arkansas River. Chalk Lake is about a mile west of the campground. Nearby Attractions Take a day trip to the historic ghost town of St. Elmo, just 15 minutes from the campground. An old saloon, county courthouse and many other historic structures remain from the days of its mining glory. Rock hounds come to the area in search of quartz and aquamarine. The city of Salida and Town of Buena Vista are only a short drive away where visitors can enjoy unique restaurants, shops, and art galleries. The area boasts more than 100 miles of Arkansas River to raft, fish, float or kayak, as well as fifteen 14,000 ft. mountains. Visitors can choose from recreational activities like hiking, biking, ATV/UTV riding, kayaking, rafting, fishing, horseback riding, ziplining and swimming. ADA Access: N Note: campgrounds do not have phone service.

Mount Princeton

## Overview

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.

## 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.

## Facilities

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.

## 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. 

## Nearby Attractions

Guests at Carnero Guard Station are a short drive from Penitente Canyon, which has become a great draw for rock climbing.

Carnero Guard Station

## Overview

Stone Cellar Guard Station is a remote cabin located at an elevation of 9,500 feet, just outside the boundary of La Garita Wilderness in Saguache Park in the Rio Grande National Forest.  
  
The cabin is a secluded getaway for guests seeking relaxation and recreation in south-central Colorado.

## Recreation

The area offers many opportunities for hiking in summer, hunting in the fall and cross country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter.  
  
The cabin is located in a meadow with Saguache Creek flowing through it, affording visitors excellent fishing for rainbow, cutthroat, brown and brook trout right out the back door.  
  
The cabin is adjacent to a working cow camp, where guests can witness real cowboys at work during the summer months. In the fall, this cabin makes an excellent big game hunting camp.

## Facilities

Stone Cellar Guard Station is a log structure furnished with four bunk beds, with twin beds on the top and fold-out full beds on the bottom, accommodating up to 12 people. The cabin has stove, refrigerator and heater, all powered with propane. The living area has a table and chairs, couch and other furniture. The kitchen is equipped with some cooking utensils and some pots and pans. A picnic table, a fire pit and a outdoor vault toilet are also on-site.  
  
There is no electricity at the guard station, 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.  
  
Although the cabin has some amenities, guests do need to provide their own food, sleeping bags, linens, towels, dish soap, matches, cooking gear, first aid kit, toilet paper and garbage bags.It is recommended that guests bring an additional light source in case of emergencies.  
  
Stone Cellar Campground is located approximately about a half-mile from the guard station.

## Natural Features

Situated in an expansive inter-mountain grassland and located close to the Continental Divide, this cabin offers guests seeking solitude and seclusion an opportunity to experience wilderness at its best.  
  
About 35 miles of the Continental Divide lie well above timberline in the La Garita Wilderness, adjacent to the guard station. This area provides ideal habitats for large herds of elk and mule deer, and on the southern slopes lies 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 mountain beauty. 

## Nearby Attractions

Visitors may want to take a day to visit Bonanza, a historical silver mining town that was booming in the 1880s. Today visitors to Bonanza can see old mines, historical buildings and old time mining equipment as they follow the Bonanza Mines Off-Highway Vehicle Tour. Maps for the tour are available at the Saguache Ranger Station.

Stone Cellar Guard Station

Tomichi Creek Trading Post

## Overview

Brewery Creek Guard Station is situated at an elevation of 9,500 feet in a densely wooded aspen grove overlooking Brewery Creek. The cabin is a few miles south of the Continental Divide on the northern end of the San Luis Valley in the Rio Grande National Forest.   
  
Built in 1935, the two room cabin was originally used by a forest ranger who oversaw the Poncha and Bonanza Districts of what was then called the Cochetopa National Forest.   
  
Today the cabin is a comfortable getaway for guests seeking relaxation and recreation in south central Colorado.

## Recreation

The area offers many opportunities for hiking and off-road vehicle adventures in summer, hunting in the fall, and cross country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter.  
  
Several hiking trails are in close proximity to the cabin, including several leading up to Antora and Antora Meadows.

## Facilities

The cabin is furnished with three bunkbeds (the top is a single bed, the bottom is a fold-out futon couch that sleeps two) and can accommodate up to nine people.   
  
The cabin has stove, refrigerator and heater, all powered with propane. The kitchen is equipped with cooking utensils and some pots and pans. Picnic tables, a fire pit and a outdoor vault toilet are also on site.   
  
The guard station does not have electricity, though water is available from an outside hand pump. Water is also available at the Saguache Ranger District Office during business hours from May through November.  
  
Although the cabin has most amenities, guests do need to provide their own food, sleeping bags, linens, towels, dish soap, matches, cooking gear, first aid kit, toilet paper and garbage bags. It is recommended that guests bring an additional light source in case of emergencies.

## Natural Features

The cabin offers wonderful views of Antora Peak (13,266 feet) and Windy Point (12,129 feet) towering over the valley. Active beaver dams occupy the nearby creek just below the cabin, where anglers can cast a line into the frigid waters. Elk, deer, and other wildlife are often seen in meadows adjacent to the cabin. 

## Nearby Attractions

Brewery Creek Guard Station is located 2 miles from Bonanza, a historical silver mining town that was booming in the 1880's. Today visitors to Bonanza can see old mines, historical buildings, and old time mining equipment as they follow the Bonanza Mines Off-Highway Vehicle Tour. Maps for the Bonanza Off-Highway Vehicle Tour are available at the Saguache Ranger Station.

Brewery Creek Guard Station

This scenic recreation area is a destination perfect for a day of fishing. The dense vegetation and steep canyon walls that line Cochetopa Creek provide a calm and relaxing place to fish with developed campsites and picnic areas located along the creek. Beautiful rock formations line Highway 114 and lead down to this little oasis located between Saguache and Gunnison. For more information, please contact the Gunnison Field Office. ADA Access: Restrooms and Shelters are ADA accessible.

Cochetopa Canyon Recreation Area

.NO POTABLE WATER AVAILABLE Cathedral Campground is northwest of Del Norte and northeast of South Fork, on Embargo Creek. It was remodeled in 2010 and now has 22 sites. 17 are dead end spurs and 5 are pull throughs. Sites vary from 35 to 45 feet in length. This campground is located in a mature aspen and spruce grove with a beautiful view of Cathedral Rock to the north. Embargo Creek flows alongside the east side of the grounds. There is ample fishing in Embargo Creek and hiking/horseback riding/mountain biking on Cathedral Creek Trail #794, Embargo Trail # 792 and Fremont's Camp Trail #885. Motorcycles may use both Cathedral and Embargo Trails. ATV’s are not allowed on the trails.The campground is composed of two large loops along Cathedral Creek. The left hand loop features a large meadow and a few open sites. The right hand loop has a dense Aspen and spruce (including Blue) woods and a more rustic feel. Scroll down to Information Center for individual site details. John Charles Fremont's winter camp is nearby. He attempted an ill-fated expedition across the Rocky Mountains for a transcontinental railroad route in late 1848.

Cathedral Campground

## Overview

The canyonlands of Penitente Canyon offer a blend of peaceful surroundings and diverse recreation opportunities less than 10 miles from a major highway. Although the BLM manages the 4,552-acre Penitente Canyon primarily for rock climbers, the area also offers opportunities for heritage tourists, mountain bikers, hikers and equestrians.

## Recreation

Penitente Canyon Recreation Area is a destination known for its world-class sport rock-climbing routes and its extensive singletrack trail system, mainly used by mountain bikers and hikers. The area is rich in both natural and cultural history, making it ideal for heritage tourists interested in the Old Spanish Trail and early American frontiersmen, as well as wildlife watchers and photographers. 

• Standard Nonelectric

• Rv Nonelectric

• Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric

• Overnight

## Facilities

• Road signs from highway to Recreation Area.

• Improved gravel roads in Recreation Area (no pavement).

• Public drinking water system (available May-Oct).

• 5 vault (or pit-type) toilets.

• Trash bins throughout campground and day-use areas.

• 15 Individual sites (3 Tent Only and 12 RV/Tent), 2 Group Tent sites, 1 CG Host site, 1 Group Picnic Shelter site.

• Standard campground amenities-table, tent pads, fire ring, food storage locker, parking.

• Interpretive, informational, and directional signs.

• Trailhead and overflow parking areas.

• Foot, horse, and mountain bike trails.

• All facilities open year-round.

• Cell phone service is spotty in canyons.

## Natural Features

Geology

The rocks in Penitente Canyon are remnants of up to 18 volcanic eruptions that took place in the San Juan Volcanic Field between 20 and 30 million years ago. The largest of these eruptions spewed 1,000 cubic miles of ash 27.8 million years ago, creating a huge underground chamber. Rocks overlying the chamber collapsed to create the La Garita Caldera.

History

Ancestors of the Utes, Jicarilla Apaches and Puebloans have all left evidence of time spent hunting and camping here, along with explorers and trappers. The valley’s first settlers were Hispanic farmers and sheepherders who migrated from northern New Mexico. 

Native Americans left scattered pictographs (painted rock art) throughout these Canyonlands (the largest concentration in the San Luis Valley). Please leave all rock art as you find it. Do not touch, walk on, climb on, or disturb it in any way.

## Nearby Attractions

• USFS-Rio Grande National Forest and Natural Arch.

• BLM-Elephant Rocks Recreation Area.

• La Garita Trading Post-food, gas, and small store.

• Town of Del Norte

Campgrounds Nearby

• USFS-Rio Grande National Forest – Poso CG, Storm King CG

Upper Crossing Guard Station

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