Elwood Cabin
Elwood Cabin sits in a saddle along the San Juan Mountains
overlooking an open meadow, offering guests a unique lodging
opportunity.
The cabin was built in 1911 by the Mountain States Telephone Company as a "line
shack" to support crews maintaining the transcontinental telephone line. Remnants of this
old telephone line are still found along Iron Creek to the southeast. The cabin was also used
as a Forest Service Station from 1950 until 1962, serving as living quarters for Forest Service
employees who worked on numerous projects in the area.
Although the phone line has been abandoned, today the cabin is a high-altitude getaway for
guests seeking relaxation and recreation in south-central Colorado.
During summer months the cabin can
be accessed by motorized travel. During winter months access to the cabin is by
snowmobiles, cross country skiing or snow shoeing.
The one room log cabin is furnished with two bunk beds with single beds on the top and on the bottom of each bunk, accommodating up to four individuals total for the cabin. The cabin has a wood stove for heat, propane lighting and a propane stove. The kitchen is equipped with a table and chairs, cooking utensils, pots and pans and a fire extinguisher. Firewood is available in the adjoining shed. An outdoor vault toilet is also on-site.
Guests must provide a sufficient supply of water for cooking, cleaning and washing. Guests are also encouraged to bring an additional light source in case of emergencies.
Although the cabin has some amenities, guests do need to provide their own food, sleeping bags, linens, towels, dish soap, matches, first aid kit, avalanche equipment, toilet paper and garbage bags.
Need to Know
- Water not available at this facility
- Guests should be aware of potential avalanche danger on the trip to
- Due to its remoteness and high elevation, Elwood Cabin is typically not accessible by automobile vehicles during the winter months. The only access is by a 22 mile snowmobile trip or by skiing or snowshoeing in that distance.
IMPORTANT!!! From late spring through possibly June each year, the road to Elwood Cabin may be plowed up to two miles away from the cabin. However, the last two miles might still require access by snowmobile, hiking, skiing, or snowshoes due to large snow berms blocking vehicle passage. Refunds will only be considered if the facility is inaccessible due to an administrative closure of the road or the facility.
IMPORTANT!!! Before booking your stay at Elwood Cabin, please contact the Conejos Peak Ranger District at 719-274-8971 for a conditions report estimate, including potential road conditions for your anticipated stay.
- Dress appropriately for winter conditions and pack enough food to last for at least 48 hours
Access to the cabin is by a combination lock; call the Conejos Peak Ranger District at (719) 274-8971 one week before your stay to get the access combination
- Please contact the Ranger District prior to arriving at the cabin to check on any restrictions or conditions, such as fire or road closures, weather or storms that may affect the quality of your visit
- Do not leave food or trash outside the cabin; there are bears in the area
- All garbage and food must be packed out
- The cabin is a no-smoking facility
Please clean cabin upon departure. Do not leave items you brought with you. Items not provided by the USFS will be disposed of.
Make sure cabin is locked upon departure
- Drink plenty of water before arrival and during your stay to avoid altitude sickness
- Expect afternoon thunderstorms in the summer and below freezing temperatures in the spring, winter and fall
- Learn more about the Rio Grande National Forest
- Don't Move Firewood: Prevent the spread of tree-killing organisms by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org.
Natural Features
High in the San Juan Mountains at an elevation of 11,000 feet, this cabin provides guests with views of nearby peaks,
meadows filled with wildflowers and alpine forests.
While staying at such a high elevation guests will notice how light plays differently on the
landscape and stars blanket the sky on clear cold evenings. Elk, deer, and other wildlife are
often seen in meadows adjacent to the cabin. Bear, marmot and chipmunks also call the
area home.
Nearby Attractions
Summitville is a nearby ghost town where gold was first discovered in 1870, then mined until the early 1990s. When contaminants leaked off-site and flowed into the local watershed the government forced it to shut down. Now a water treatment plant is on the site as part of a federal clean up program.
Recreation
The area around Elwood cabin offers a variety of recreational opportunities year-round.
Summertime brings excellent scenic tour opportunities in and around the Summitville area
as well as exploration of several historical mining sites.
Anglers have a spectacular backdrop to fishing streams such as Iron Creek or Treasure Creek.
Nearby Platoro Reservoir, which feeds the Conejos River, provides excellent fishing for trout
and salmon.
Great hiking can be found around the area, as it spans both the Rio Grande and San Juan
National Forests, as well as the South San Juan Wilderness.
In winter, the Elwood cabin area can be blanketed with as much as ten feet of snow, requiring
preparation and knowledge of winter travel. Snowmobiling, skiing and snowshoeing are
popular activities in the area.
Contact Information
Mailing
15571 County Road T.5 La Jara CO 81140
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 719-274-8971
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From Del Norte, take U.S. Highway 160 west to South Fork. Continue west on U.S. Highway
160 for 8 miles to Park Creek Road. Travel 15 miles on Park Creek Road to Summitville
Road. Turn right on FSR 380, the cabin is about 2 miles on the left.
From the junction of FSR 250 in the Alamosa Canyon and FSR 380, follow FSR 380 about 8 miles, the cabin is on the right.
Access to the cabin in the summertime can be accomplished with just about any vehicle;
however, when the dirt roads are wet they tend to get slick.
In winter, the trail access to the Elwood Cabin is on the unplowed portion of Forest Road 380,
which starts southeast from the junction, but makes a bend and continues south-southwest to the cabin. The 2 mile ski to the cabin is generally easy with a
400 foot elevation gain. The Elwood Cabin is visible below the road on a knoll projecting into a
large open park. Allow from 1.5 - 2 hours or longer, depending on snow conditions, for the trip.
