USDA Forest Service · Colorado
Piney Guard Station
USDA Forest Service · Colorado, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 no hookups
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 9,039 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
- PINEY (NFSR 744.1) · native material · high clearance vehicles
- Lake
- White River National Forest
- Nearest town
- MINTURN
- Address
- EAGLE-HOLY CROSS RANGER DISTRICT PO BOX 190, MINTURN, CO, 81645
- Phone
- 970-827-5715
- Activities
- Biking, Camping, Hiking, Hunting, Snowmobiling, Wildlife Viewing
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Piney Guard Station is a rustic cabin that was constructed in the 1930s as a work station for Forest Service crews. This 14 by 22-ft. structure has a single room and is built from logs. It is open both summer and winter with spring and late fall closures.
Recreation
The cabin is conveniently located in an area offering a variety of year-round recreational activities. The Forest Service road leading to the cabin is used by mountain bikers, hikers, snowshoers, cross-country skiers and snowmobilers. This area is popular for hunting big and small game, game birds and waterfowl.
Facilities
Piney Guard Station can sleep up to four people. It contains a bunk bed, two cots, storage cabinets, a table and benches, and a woodstove. Skillet, dishware and utensils are provided. A two burner stove and lantern are provided. These require 16.4-oz. propane cylinder bottles, which are not provided and are your responsibility. A picnic table and metal fire ring are just outside the cabin’s door. A vault toilet is located approximately 50 feet from the cabin. Guests can easily gather firewood around the cabin.
No drinking water, electricity or trash service is available; guests must bring their own water and garbage bags to pack out trash. Guests should consider packing most items they would bring on a regular camping trip. Dogs are allowed, please pick up after them and do not leave them unattended in or around the cabin.
Natural Features
Piney Guard Station is located at 9,100 feet in the White River National Forest, Eagle/Holy Cross Ranger District, which is near Vail. The cabin is nestled in a forest dominated by aspen, spruce, pine and fir trees. Guests can enjoy views of the Gore Mountain Range from a meadow to the cabin’s north side.
Local wildlife, including moose, may be spotted near the lake, which sits across the road from the cabin. The White River National Forest is also home to elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, mule deer, Canada lynx and black bear. Birders may see bald eagles, peregrine falcons, Barrow's golden-eye and black swifts.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26° | 5° | -20° | 37° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 27° | 7° | -10° | 41° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 35° | 15° | -1° | 49° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 43° | 21° | 3° | 55° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 53° | 28° | 14° | 67° | 11 of 11 |
| June | 70° | 38° | 28° | 81° | 3 of 11 |
| July | 76° | 45° | 38° | 85° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 74° | 45° | 38° | 81° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 67° | 38° | 26° | 77° | 4 of 11 |
| October | 54° | 27° | -4° | 64° | 10 of 10 |
| November | 39° | 12° | -17° | 53° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 28° | 0° | -16° | 41° | 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
- Wolcott Campground · Bureau of Land Management · 8 mi
- Radium Recreation Area · Bureau of Land Management · 13 mi · 21 sites
- Cataract Creek Campground · USDA Forest Service · 15 mi
- Elliott Creek Campground (CO) · USDA Forest Service · 15 mi · 20 sites
- Pumphouse Recreation Area · Bureau of Land Management · 16 mi · 21 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.