Stone Cellar Guard Station
STONE CELLAR GUARD STATION
Part of Rio Grande National Forest
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.
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.
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.
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.Important Notices
- Please contact the Saguache Ranger District prior to arriving at the cabin to check on any restrictions or conditions, such as fire or road closures, weather or storms that may affect the quality of your visit.
There is a stream crossing before getting to the guard station; recommended vehicles with AWD/4x4 and medium clearance.
The maximum stay limit on the forest is 14 days. You may be visited by a Forest Employee during your stay, for routine cabin safety check and maintenance/cleaning. If you wish to not be disturbed, a door tab will be available to use.
All appliances run on propane. Please ensure that at least two windows are cracked open AT ALL TIMES during your stay and on departure, to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
For safety and resource protection, do not discharge firearms and skeet shooting is prohibited within 150 yards of the cabin area boundary. Please pick up any discarded shells, casings, and targets.
Entry to the cabin is by combination lock, which will be provided in the confirmation letter or email which is sent after a reservation is made. The keypad on the door may have multiple numbers per button. The button only needs to be pressed once regardless of the assigned number, before entering the next code number.
Water is available at the guard station by outside hand pump. Water is available at the Saguache Ranger District office during business hours from Memorial Day weekend to November.
There is no electricity at the Guard Station, and there is no cell phone service available at this facility.
The guard station is a non-smoking facility.
Pets are allowed at the facility, but must be under control at all times; they must not harass wildlife or livestock. Pets are not allowed to be on the furniture, including beds, couches, and chairs. Pet hair is difficult to remove and can cause allergic reactions. Be considerate of others.
Livestock are prohibited: including horses, mules, llamas, and alpacas.
All cabins are administratively used on occasion. You may encounter agency stock horses during your stay. Do not feed, pet, or try to ride the animals.
Do not leave food or trash outside the guard station; there is wildlife in the area.
Please clean the guard station before leaving and ensure the gate is locked upon departure.
All garbage and food must be packed out; do not burn garbage in the fire pit or wood stove.
- Drink plenty of water before arrival and during your stay to avoid altitude sickness.
During the late autumn months, you may need to snowmobile, snowshoe or ski to access the cabin.
Available Activities
- WILDLIFE VIEWING - Wildlife Viewing
- WINTER SPORTS - Cross Country Skiing
- HUNTING - Hunting
- HORSEBACK RIDING - Horseback Riding
- HIKING - Hiking
- FISHING - Fishing
- INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS - Stargazing
- CAMPING - Camping
Directions
<p>From Saguache, take Colorado Hwy 114, 34 miles northwest from Saguache, over North Pass. Take FR#804 south 4 miles to junction, east 1 mile to FR #787, then 21 miles south to the cabin, located past the Stone Cellar Campground. Note, there is a stream crossing before arriving to the cabin gate.</p>
Contact Information
Phone: 719-655-2547
46525 ST HWY 114Saguache, CO 81149
