SAVE AMERICA’s TREASURES:
An opportunity on the Pike and San Isabel National Forests in Coloroado
PUEBLO, CO…The Pike/San Isabel National Forests, southwest
of Denver, Colorado Springs and Pueblo in Colorado have offered
recreational camping, picnicking and trail opportunities for nearly
a century. Now some “old” treasures are available in
a whole new way. Several historic cabins have been renovated and
are available to adventure seekers as overnight rentals. Nightly
rates range from $50 to $75. There are accommodations for 2 to 8
people, depending on the location. Each cabin is different, but
they all offer solitude and a taste of the past. Many locations
are even decorated with period furniture, have interpretive exhibits
or are near other historic and educational places.
Don’t want to pitch a tent? Try a historic cabin renovated
by the USDA-Forest Service. Travel back in time to the days of the
mining boom at Crescent City Mining Camp on the outskirts of the
Collegiate Peaks Wilderness in Colorado. If the history and lifestyle
of a 1908 homestead interest you, stay at the Mingus Ranch in the
shadow of the Greenhorn Mountains. Maybe the lure of an old Forest
Ranger station overlooking a mountain lake piques your interest.
The Lake Isabel Cabin sits along the Frontier Pathways Scenic Byway
about 2 hours from Denver. For solitude it’s the Bassam Guard
Station complete with corral, trough and pasture that might persuade
you to spend a night around the campfire. Railroad enthusiasts will
surely enjoy Roberts Cabin, the nearby round house and the Section
House on the summit of Boreas Pass in Park County.
The Crescent Mining Camp, Dawson Cabin, Mingus Ranch, Bassam Guard
Station, Roberts Cabin and Lake Isabel Cabin are all being restored
and made available as overnight rentals through the Recreation Fee
Demonstration Project of the USDA-Forest Service. Check these websites
for availability.
www.fs.fed.us/r2/psicc/
or www.recreation.gov/
Bring your bedroll, lantern, long johns and coffee. Amenities are
few, but the experience will be rewarding and the stories will be
endless.
 
Bassam Cabin, inside and out
|
Roberts Cabin |
Mingus Ranch |
GENERAL INFORMATION:
- Reservations are required.
- Each cabin has a combination lock.
- Currently only San Carlos and South Park Districts have cabins.
- Availability of cabins varies, refer to the cabin specific descriptions.
- Generally check-in is 2:00pm, while check-out is 12:00pm.
- There is no trash service at any of the sites; renters are responsible
for disposing of their own trash.
- Lake Isabel has indoor plumbing; all other sites have vault
toilets.
- RENTERS NEED TO TAKE DRINKING WATER TO ALL CABINS.
- Each of the cabins will have a combination lock. Renters
will receive the combination in a confirmation letter mailed
to them prior to their arrival.
- On weekends each cabin has a 2-night minimum stay requirement.
- Tents are permitted, but site occupancy is still limited to
that listed for each cabin.
- Maps are attached.
Reservations will only
be handled by the
National Reservation System
@ 1-877-444-6777
or
http://www.recreation.gov/
AVAILABLE AFTER APRIL 1
BASSAM GUARD STATION:
http://www.recreation.gov/nrrs/co/bsmc/
Salida Ranger District
| Location: |
T15s, R10e, Sec 18
on San Isabel NF map
Cameron Mountain USGS Quad
|
| Access: |
From Salida, travel north on Highway
285 to Buena Vista, turn east on Highway 24. Turn right
on County Road 307, Turn right on County Road 187. Stay
to right. Turn left on FS Road 186. Turn left into cabin
site. From the Highway the site is approximately 11
miles. Roads, 307, 186, 187 are gravel roads.
|
| Phone:
|
719-539-3593, Salida Ranger District
Office
|
| Accommodates:
|
8, 2indoors, and up to 6 in tents
|
| Facilities:
|
small one room cabin, 1 dbl bed,
1 set bunk beds, propane stove, wood stove, vault toilet,
well w/handpump, parking for 4 vehicles, group firering, picnic
tables, horse corral
|
| Setting: |
Originally built in the 1920’s,
this cabin served as a back country guard station until the
1970’s. Cabin is in a small aspen stand adjacent
to a large meadow. A small stream flows past the
site. Mountain roads are suitable for mountain biking.
There is fishing available nearby. During the winter
skiing and snowmobiling are available.
|
| Availability: |
April 1 through December
31 |
| Lodging: |
$50 per night
http://www.recreation.gov/nrrs/co/bsmc/ |
AVAILABLE YEAR ROUND
LAKE
ISABEL CABIN:
http://www.recreation.gov/nrrs/co/lisa/
San Carlos Ranger District
| Location: |
Adjacent to Highway 165 at Lake
Isabel, T24s, R69w, Sec 1 on San Isabel
NF map,
San Isabel USGS Quad
|
| Access: |
From I-25 Exit no. 74,
go west on Highway 165 approximately 20 miles to Lake Isabel.
165 is a two lane paved highway.
|
| Phone: |
719-269-8500, San Carlos Ranger
District Office
|
| Accommodates: |
6 people
|
| Facilities: |
One bedroom cabin, 3 sets of
bunk beds, Electric stove and lights, Refrigerator, washer
& Dryer, Fireplace, Indoor plumbing, NON-potable water,
Parking for 4 vehicles, group firering, picnic tables, horseshoe
pits.
**** Water is available for washing
dishes, toilet etc., but is not recommended for drinking
NO PETS ALLOWED! NO TENT
OR RV CAMPING AT CABIN SITE!
|
| Setting: |
This cabin is adjacent to the
Lake Isabel Recreation area which provides a stocked fishing
lake and hiking trails, picnic area and camping. Boats
without motors (including electric) are ,permitted on the
lake. Skiing and tubing are popular activities in
the winter.
A restaurant and private cabins are nearby
|
| Availability: |
Year round
|
| Lodging: |
$75 per night
http://www.recreation.gov/nrrs/co/lisa/ |
MINGUS CABIN:
http://www.recreation.gov/nrrs/co/minr/
San Carlos Ranger District
| Location: |
Located in the Wet Mountains,
approximately 1 ½ hours from Colorado Springs and 45 minutes
from Pueblo.
|
| Access: |
Southwest of Pueblo, Colorado.
Take HWY. 96, approximately 30 miles through Wetmore to
McKenzie Junction. Go south on HWY. 165, 9 miles. Turn east
on Forest Service Road 383 for 1.5 miles. Cabin and corral
are on the south side of the road.
|
| Phone: |
719-269-8500, San Carlos Ranger
District Office
|
| Accommodates: |
6 People, Horses
|
| Facilities: |
The Cabin fully equipped with
pots, pans, and dishes.
|
| Setting: |
The Mingus cabin is an early
20th Century ranch that has been renovated by the Forest
Service, the Frontier Pathways Scenic and Historic Byway
and the Colorado State Historical Society. The barn and
cabin have been renovated to their original appearance
and the cabin is decorated with period furniture and antiques.
NO PETS ALLOWED! NO TENT
OR RV CAMPING AT CABIN SITE!
|
| Availability: |
May 1st thru November 30th each
year.
|
| Lodging: |
$50.00 a night
http://www.recreation.gov/nrrs/co/minr/ |
ROBERTS CABIN:
http://www.recreation.gov/nrrs/co/rots/
South Park Ranger District
| Location: |
T8s, R76w, Sec 19 on Pike
NF map
Como USGS Quad
|
| Access: |
From Highway 285 between Kenosha
Pass and Fairplay, take the Como exit. Go through Como to
CR33 and travel approximately 4 miles to the cabin. County
Road 33 is a dirt road but is passable with passenger vehicles.
|
| Phone: |
For general information, call
South Park Ranger District Office (719) 836-2031. For reservations:
www.recreation.gov or 1-877-444-6777. 24-hour advance notice
required. Open from May1 through November 30.
|
| Accommodates: |
Sleeps 8
|
| Facilities: |
Small, two story cabin, one room
each floor. Two double beds, two single beds and one
sleeper sofa. Wood stove with cook range. Vault toilet and
campfire ring. Parking for four vehicles. NO PETS
ALLOWED. No drinking water. No linens or blankets.
|
| Setting: |
This cabin dates to the 1880’s
and is associated with the development of the Denver, South
Park and Pacific Railroad. This site is eligible for
the National Register of Historic Places. The cabin is
convenient to Breckenridge, Fairplay and Como. There is a
railroad roundhouse being restored in Como. Winter recreation
opportunities are plentiful as are summer hiking trails.
The Gold Dust Trail passes nearby.
|
| Availability: |
April 1 through November
31
|
| Lodging: |
$50 per night
http://www.recreation.gov/nrrs/co/rots/ |
|
|
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