USDA Forest Service · Colorado
Jackson Guard Station
USDA Forest Service · Colorado, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 9,065 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- OWL CREEK-CIMARRON (NFSR 858) · crushed aggregate or gravel · moderate degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest
- Nearest town
- Montrose
- Address
- 2505 South Townsend Avenue, Montrose, CO, 81401
- Phone
- (970) 240-5300
- Activities
- Canoeing, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Kayaking, Non-Motorized Boating, Off Road Vehicle Trails, Paddle Boating, Photography, Snowshoeing, Star Gazing, Wildlife Viewing
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Jackson Guard Station is a great destination for anything from a weekend getaway to a week-long hunting trip. The cabin was originally used as a guard station that housed Forest Service work crews. The cabin's access road is remarkably scenic, making for an impressive arrival.
In summer months, the cabin sets the stage for a wide array of activities. Recreation ranges from thrilling off-road vehicle riding to amazing scenery viewsing,hiking,and rewarding fishing.
Winter access is by snowmobile, cross country skiing or snowshoes,and fat bikes only along a 3.5-mile trail.
Recreation
Activities abound, with hiking, technical single track dirtbiking, ATV/OTV riding, snowshoing, cross country skiing. Hunting and fishing are popular in the area
Facilities
Visitors can expect a rustic cabin set back roughly 100 feet from the road, providing privacy and solitude. Amenities include wood stove. The kitchen includes cabinet space and some dishes are provided. The cabin has two bedrooms and four twin-size beds. A picnic table, campfire ring and vault toilet are located just outside the cabin.
No electricity or running water is available. Guests should bring drinking water, flashlights or lanterns, bedding, food, towels and toiletries.
In winter, kettles are provided to melt snow for water. A snow shovel and firewood is provided.
Natural Features
Situated near the southeast shores of Silver Jack Reservoir, Jackson Guard Station sits in a small aspen grove at 9,000 feet elevation. The cabin is at the base of High Mesa, near where the Cimarron River flows into the reservoir.
Nearby Attractions
Nearby attractions include the San Juan Mountains, Alpine Plateau, Uncompahgre Wilderness, Silver Jack Reservoir and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
The cabin is about an hour's drive from Montrose or Ridgway, and an hour and a half from Gunnison.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31° | 8° | -15° | 45° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 33° | 11° | -9° | 47° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 39° | 16° | 1° | 55° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 47° | 23° | 4° | 57° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 54° | 30° | 12° | 64° | 11 of 11 |
| June | 71° | 40° | 30° | 81° | 4 of 11 |
| July | 76° | 49° | 39° | 84° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 73° | 47° | 40° | 79° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 67° | 41° | 27° | 77° | 1 of 11 |
| October | 56° | 32° | 7° | 66° | 9 of 10 |
| November | 46° | 25° | -14° | 58° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 35° | 5° | -15° | 49° | 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
- Silver Jack Campground (CO) · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi · 45 sites
- Beaver Lake (CO) · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 4 sites
- Big Cimarron · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 4 sites
- Big Blue Campground · USDA Forest Service · 7 mi
- Alpine Ranger Station · USDA Forest Service · 8 mi · 1 sites
All public campgrounds in Colorado · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.