USDA Forest Service · Colorado
Aspen Guard Station
USDA Forest Service · Colorado, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 with water, 1 no hookups
- Season
- June 15 to October 31
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Elevation
- 9,275 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · Verizon weak · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- WEST MANCOS (NFSR 561) · crushed aggregate or gravel · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- San Juan National Forest
- Nearest town
- Mancos
- Address
- P.O. Box 1032, Mancos, CO, 81328
- Phone
- 970 882-7296
About
Overview
You’re in for a treat when you rent Aspen Guard Station’s beautiful cabin. Built between 1938-1940, this cabin offers a visit to the past while being near enough to civilization to have a foot in both worlds. This old cabin housed the Forest Service Rangers who patrolled the forests, often on horseback, checking timber and livestock permits, helping neighboring cabin dwellers and the public, much like today.
Recreation
Hiking, wildlife sightings. Mountain bike riding, ATV/UTV access.
Facilities
Full Kitchen stocked with pots, pans, baking dishes, plates, glasses, cups, silverware, etc.
Two bedrooms - two full beds.
Flushing toilet.
Working shower.
Furnace and Heater.
Outdoor fire pit with cooking grill and log bench.
Picnic Table.
Natural Features
Located directly on Forest Service Road 561 in a grove of aspen trees with enclosing fence.
Nearby Attractions
Mesa Verde National Park
Durango to Silverton Train
Anazasi Visitors Center
Four Corners National Monument
Fees
$100/night (not including the fee charged per reservation by Recreation.gov)
Two (2) night minimum stay, four (4) night maximum stay.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31° | 11° | -11° | 41° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 32° | 12° | -4° | 45° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 35° | 17° | 5° | 63° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 44° | 23° | 6° | 60° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 55° | 30° | 17° | 65° | 11 of 11 |
| June | 70° | 43° | 30° | 83° | 3 of 11 |
| July | 76° | 51° | 39° | 84° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 72° | 48° | 40° | 81° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 65° | 43° | 26° | 75° | 1 of 11 |
| October | 54° | 30° | 9° | 67° | 9 of 10 |
| November | 45° | 24° | -5° | 57° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 33° | 9° | -10° | 50° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Transfer Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 17 sites
- Jersey Jim Fire Tower · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 1 sites
- Mancos State Park · Colorado State Parks · 7 mi · 34 sites
- Target Tree Campground · USDA Forest Service · 10 mi · 20 sites
- Kroeger · USDA Forest Service · 10 mi · 4 sites
All public campgrounds in Colorado · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-08-01. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.