Dawson Cabin
Dawson Cabin provides campers with a rustic, remote getaway in the beautiful Clear Creek Canyon. The Clear Creek Historical District offers visitors a taste of mining history from the mid-19th Century, when people came far and wide looking for gold, silver and other precious minerals. By the 1890s, about 50,000 residents lived in the valley, in search of great fortune.
The cabin comfortably fits up to four guests, but two additional guests may fit. Camping outside is permitted as well. Furnishings include a wood burning stove and an indoor picnic table. Guests should bring cots to sleep on, or at least bring a pad to sleep on the floor.
No water or electricity is available. Guests should bring plenty of water. Creek water may be boiled and treated for consumption. Other items to pack include bedding, food, lanterns, matches, cooking utensils, dish soap and a first aid kit. (Click here for more cabin details.)
Notifications and Alerts
Dawson cabin will be closed for the 2025 season due to reconstruction of the ceiling due to rodent activity.
Need to Know
- Advanced reservations are ALWAYS required. Walk-ups are not available.
- Please contact ranger district prior to arrival for updated restrictions and weather conditions
- No water available; bring enough for drinking, cooking and washing
- Please bring garbage bags; this is a 'pack in-pack out' facility
- Dogs allowed
- No cell phone coverage; nearest pay phone is 20 miles southeast in Buena Vista
- For more information on Pike and San Isabel National Forests, click here
- 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
Dawson Cabin is nestled at the base of Ervin Peak in Clear Creek Canyon, at an elevation of about 9,600 feet. It is on the outskirts of the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains. Clear Creek passes near the cabin.
The cabin is located in the Leadville Ranger District, which is home to the Sawatch Range, the highest mountain range in Colorado. These rugged, glaciated mountains form the crest of the Continental Divide. Mount Elbert, at 14,443 feet, is Colorado's highest peak and one of ten "fourteeners" located in the District.
Nearby Attractions
The historic town of Winfield is about 5 miles farther up the valley. The nearest place for pay phones and a grocery store is in Buena Vista, about a 45 minute drive.
Visitors can head to Clear Creek Reservoir, about 5 miles east, for fishing and boating. Fish species include brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, and tiger muskie. A few miles further is the Arkansas River, where whitewater rafting is a big hit.
Recreation
Off-road vehicle trails and hiking trails are nearby. Some hiking trails lead into the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness, which is named for the numerous 14,000 ft. peaks named after colleges, such as Yale, Harvard and Princeton.
Collegiate Peaks is the headwaters for the Arkansas, Gunnison, and Roaring Fork Rivers. The landscape is composed of alpine tundra, high lake basins and glacial river valleys.
Contact Information
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LEADVILLE RANGER DISTRICT 810 FRONT ST Leadville CO 80461
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 719-486-0749 (INFORMATION ONLY, NO RESERVATIONS)
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From Buena Vista, Colorado, go about 15 miles north on Highway 24 towards Leadville. Turn left on County Road 390 at Clear Creek Reservoir. Go about 6 miles west on County Road 390, then turn right (north) onto the cabin driveway. The cabin is about 100 yards from the County Road. From Leadville, Colorado, go about 18 miles south on Highway 24 towards Buena Vista. Turn right on County Road 390 toward Clear Creek Reservoir. Go about 6 miles west on County Rpad 390, then turn right (north) onto the cabin driveway. The cabin is about 100 yards from the road.
