Colorado · Camping · Saguache

Carnero Guard Station

1
sites: Jun
best months

Is Carnero Guard Station open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Rio Grande National Forest. It doesn't name Carnero Guard Station, so check the source for the area it covers.

Closures and dangerous conditions on roads, bridges, and trails from flooding
Agency closure covering Rio Grande National Forest · USFS · Rio Grande National Forest

As of Nov 12, 9:25 AM MST · Source: USFS · Rio Grande National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

1 site for cabin campingReservable on Recreation.gov
At 9,827 ftHigh camp: expect cold nights, even in summer
Near SaguacheSaguache Ranger District · Rio Grande National Forest

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.

Local outfitters

Blue Creek Lodge25 mi away
Joyful Journey Hot Springs30 mi away

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Also worth it near here
- Carnero CreekCanoeing · ~18 min drivePhoto: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Rock GardenRock climbing · ~20 min drivePhoto: Michael C. Rael, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Eagle MountainSummit · ~20 min drivePhoto: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Wild Horse LoopHiking · ~21 min drivePhoto: s_mestdagh, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
Best time to visit Carnero Guard Station
Best months: June. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
1. Jan
  37° / 6°
  5 wet
2. Feb
  42° / 9°
  6 wet
3. Mar
  50° / 16°
  7 wet
4. Apr
  56° / 24°
  7 wet
5. May
  65° / 30°
  6 wet
6. Jun
  75° / 36°
  8 wet
7. Jul
  78° / 43°
  15 wet
8. Aug
  76° / 42°
  18 wet
9. Sep
  70° / 34°
  13 wet
10. Oct
  61° / 26°
  9 wet
11. Nov
  49° / 14°
  6 wet
12. Dec
  38° / 5°
  5 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Creede, CO, 28.9 mi away at 8,852 ft. The station sits about 1,000 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.