Platoro Cabin 1
Platoro Cabin 1 is located downtown in the small mining town of Platoro, Colorado, at an
elevation of 10,000 feet in the Rio Grande National Forest.
The cabin was built in 1963 by the Rio Grande National Forest as base quarters for various
Forest Service Crews working in the surrounding areas until the early 1990s.
Today the cabin is a getaway for guests seeking relaxation and recreation in south central
Colorado.
Visitors to the area should be aware that Platoro is only occupied when snow levels allow
driving access, which is usually less than six months of the year.
The cabin has a combination kitchen/living room, a bedroom and a bathroom. It is furnished
with two bunkbeds, with single beds on the top and foldout double beds on the bottom, accommodating up to six people. It has a heater, stove, refrigerator and lighting, all powered by
propane. The kitchen is equipped with a table and chairs and cooking gear. In the bathroom
there is a flush toilet and showers.
Although the cabin has most amenities, guests do need to provide their own food, sleeping
bags, linens, towels, dish soap, matches, first aid kit, toilet paper and garbage bags. Guests
are also encouraged to bring an additional light source in case of emergencies.
Nearby Platoro Cabin #2 is similar to Platoro Cabin #1, with the addition entry ramps and
wheelchair accessible facilities in the bathroom and the kitchen.
The town of Platoro has access to rental cabins, a small lodge, outfitter-guide services and
horseback rides.
Need to Know
- Cabin only open until end of September so systems can be winterized
- Platoro Cabin #2 is an accessible site with entry ramps, and wheelchair accessible facilities in the bathroom and the kitchen
- Access to the cabin is by a combination lock; call the Forest Service office 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
- Pets are not allowed at this facility
- No livestock facilities are provided, livestock prohibited
- No parking beyond 'No Motor' vehicle signs, as there is a leach field in this area
- 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. Additionally, outdoor campfires are not allowed at this 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
- Please check Colorado Division of Wildlife for hunting and fishing seasons and rules
- 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
Platoro is a natural and unspoiled destination nestled in the San Juan Mountains of southern
Colorado. Platoro started out as a boomtown in the late 1800s following the discovery of
large deposits of gold and silver in the area.
The nearby San Juan Wilderness is an area defined by peaks and cliffs as well as pinnacles
and ridges. The headwaters for the Conejos, San Juan and Blanco Rivers are located here
as well. The erosion of rich volcanic rock in combination with heavy snowfall has produced
forest ecosystems in the area that transition from lodgepole pine to aspen, then through
Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir to alpine tundra.
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 the cabin offers a variety of recreational opportunities year-round.
Summertime brings great scenic driving tour opportunities in and around Platoro and
Summitville.
Anglers have a spectacular backdrop while fishing Iron Creek or Treasure Creek. Nearby Platoro
Reservoir, which feeds the Conejos River, provides excellent fishing for kokanee salmon,
rainbow and brown trout.
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.
Big game hunting is popular in fall, while snowmobiling, skiing and snowshoeing are popular
winter activities.
Contact Information
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Conejos Peak Ranger District, 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 Antonito, CO, follow Highway 17 west to its junction with FSR 250. Follow FSR 250 northwest up the Conejos Canyon about 22 miles to Platoro. Turn left on FSR 250.6A and follow it 0.2 mile to the cabin.
From the town of South Fork, follow Highway 160 to the southwest for about 7.5 miles.
Turn left onto Park Creek Road, which is also Forest Service Road 380. Continue for approximately 27 miles, paralleling Park Creek for much of the way.
Turn right (south), crossing the Alamosa River, and follow National Forest Road 250 over
Stunner pass and into the town of Platoro. This stretch of the trip is about 6 miles long. The
cabins are located on the southeast part of town. It is best to cross the Conejos River using
the lower bridge; this is National Forest Road 250.6A. Continue on this road for about .2
miles to the cabins. The cabins are easily identified by their yellow and brown siding and
trim, as well as by the Forest Service signs.
Note: Be careful not to leave Forest Service Road 380 and continue towards Summitville.
Forest Service Road 380 makes a bit of a hairpin turn near the old mining settlement of
Summitville. This occurs about 19 miles from the US Highway 160 and Park Creek Road
intersection.
