Brewery Creek Guard Station
Brewery Creek Guard Station is situated at an elevation of 9,500 feet in a densely wooded aspen grove overlooking Brewery Creek. The cabin is a few miles south of the Continental Divide on the northern end of the San Luis Valley in the Rio Grande National Forest.
Built in 1935, the two room cabin was originally used by a forest ranger who oversaw the Poncha and Bonanza Districts of what was then called the Cochetopa National Forest.
Today the cabin is a comfortable getaway for guests seeking relaxation and recreation in south central Colorado.
The cabin is furnished with three bunkbeds (the top is a single bed, the bottom is a fold-out futon couch that sleeps two) and can accommodate up to nine people.
The cabin has stove, refrigerator and heater, all powered with propane. The kitchen is equipped with cooking utensils and some pots and pans. Picnic tables, a fire pit and a outdoor vault toilet are also on site.
The guard station does not have electricity, though water is available from an outside hand pump. Water is also available at the Saguache Ranger District Office during business hours from May through November.
Although the cabin has most amenities, guests do need to provide their own food, sleeping bags, linens, towels, dish soap, matches, cooking gear, first aid kit, toilet paper and garbage bags. It is recommended that guests bring an additional light source in case of emergencies.
Need to Know
- Please contact the Saguache 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.
- Entry to the cabin is by combination lock, which will be provided in the confirmation letter or email which is sent after a reservation is made.
The maximum stay limit on the forest is 14 days. You may be visited by a Forest Employee during your stay, for routine cabin safety check and maintenance/cleaning. If you wish to not be disturbed, a door tab will be available to use.
All cabins are administratively used on occasion.
For safety and resource protection, do not discharge firearms and skeet shooting is prohibited within 150 yards of the cabin area boundary.
- Livestock are prohibited: including horses, mules, llamas, and alpacas.
Pets are allowed at the facility, but must be under control at all times; they must not harass wildlife or livestock. Do not allow your pets on the furniture, pet hair is difficult to remove and can cause allergic reactions to others. Be considerate.
- Water is available at the guard station by outside hand pump. Water is available at the Saguache Ranger District office during business hours from Memorial Day weekend to November.
There is no electricity at the Guard Station. No cell phone service is available at this facility.
- The guard station is a non-smoking facility.
- Do not leave food or trash outside the guard station; there are bears in the area.
All garbage and food must be packed out; do not burn garbage in the fire pit.
Please clean the guard station before leaving and ensure the gate 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.
- During the winter you may need to snowmobile, snowshoe or ski to access the cabin.
Natural Features
The cabin offers wonderful views of Antora Peak (13,266 feet) and Windy Point (12,129 feet) towering over the valley. Active beaver dams occupy the nearby creek just below the cabin, where anglers can cast a line into the frigid waters. Elk, deer, and other wildlife are often seen in meadows adjacent to the cabin.
Nearby Attractions
Brewery Creek Guard Station is located 2 miles from Bonanza, a historical silver mining town that was booming in the 1880's. Today visitors to Bonanza can see old mines, historical buildings, and old time mining equipment as they follow the Bonanza Mines Off-Highway Vehicle Tour. Maps for the Bonanza Off-Highway Vehicle Tour are available at the Saguache Ranger Station.
Recreation
The area offers many opportunities for hiking and off-road vehicle adventures in summer, hunting in the fall, and cross country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter.
Several hiking trails are in close proximity to the cabin, including several leading up to Antora and Antora Meadows.
Contact Information
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46525 ST HWY 114 SAGUACHE CO 81149
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 719-655-2547
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From Saguache, go north on Hwy 285 for 15 miles to Villa Grove. Take the Bonanza turnoff, County Rd LL56, on the left 0.1 mile north of Villa Grove. Stay on LL56 about 13 miles west to the "Brewery Creek " sign and make a left turn, crossing a bridge. Travel on Forest Road #880 for 1.5 miles. There are 2 boundary gates before the cabin gate, one is for private property next to the Bonanza Ranch, and the second gate is the Bureau of Land Management / Forest boundary. The cabin gate is to the right of the road beyond the second gate.
Winter access may be limited to showshoes, skis or snowmobile. During the spring snow melt, March through mid May, hiking 1.5 miles may be the only option for accessing the cabin. Seasonal road closures may also be in effect, check conditions prior to your arrival.
