Bassam Guard Station
PSICC — riverside, fishing
Location: SALIDA, CO, CO
Price: From $75 per night
Rating: 4.7 out of 5 (25 reviews)
Season: May through October
Bassam Guard Station was built in 1911 as one of a network of remote stations to be used by the first forest rangers and guards to monitor grazing sheep and cattle, manage timber harvesting, apprehended poachers, and report fire, road and weather conditions on National Forest lands. This cabin provides visitors with access to many recreation opportunities in the remote back country. The cabin sits in a stand of Aspens at an approximate elevation of 9,700 feet, south of Bassam Ridge.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Drinking Water, Showers, Camp Host, Fishing, Firewood for Sale
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/bassam-guard-station to be notified when sites open up.
Historic 1911 guard station providing access to remote backcountry recreation with nearby Arkansas River opportunities for kayaking and whitewater rafting. Amenities include drinking water, showers, and a camp host on-site.
Wildlife alert: Plateau Fence Lizards present in the area; be aware when moving around camp and hiking.
Insider tips for Bassam Guard Station: Book early — federal campground with high demand and only 1 total site Bring your own RV hookups or plan for self-contained camping; no hookups available Day trip to Arkansas River is accessible from here for water sports (kayaking/whitewater rafting mentioned in official description) Firewood available for purchase on-site, so you can travel lighter
Skip Bassam Guard Station if: You need RV hookups — none are available at this site. You're visiting outside May-October — seasonal operations only. You want a developed multi-site campground — only 1 site total.
Best time to visit Bassam Guard Station: May-October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only per verified operational schedule.
Nearby campgrounds: Bootleg (Nathrop, CO), Turtle Rock Campground (Canon City, CO), Mount Princeton (SALIDA, CO), Chalk Lake (SALIDA, CO).
Cell Phone Coverage at Bassam Guard Station
Cell signal at Bassam Guard Station (SALIDA, CO): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Bassam Guard Station was built in 1911 as one of a network of remote stations to be used by the first forest rangers and guards to monitor grazing sheep and cattle, manage timber harvesting, apprehended poachers, and report fire, road and weather conditions on National Forest lands. This cabin provides visitors with access to many recreation opportunities in the remote back country. The cabin sits in a stand of Aspens at an approximate elevation of 9,700 feet, south of Bassam Ridge.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
federal campground with high demand and only 1 total site
Bring your own RV hookups or plan for self-contained camping; no hookups available
Day trip to Arkansas River is accessible from here for water sports (kayaking/whitewater rafting mentioned in official description)
Firewood available for purchase on-site, so you can travel lighter
Campground operates seasonally during these months only per verified operational schedule
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Salida travel north on Highway 285 to the junction with Highways 24/285 near Johnson's Village. Turn right onto Hwys 24/285, passing through Johnson's Village. Stay on this highway for 5 miles, then watch for a sign on the left for County Road 307 (next to private property with railroad items on display). Turn right onto CR 307 and travel for 1.5 miles to the junction with CR 187. Turn right onto CR 187 and travel south for 7 miles to the intersection with CR 186. Turn left on CR 186 and tr
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — PSICC fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at PSICC before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Bassam Guard Station cost per night?+
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Does Bassam Guard Station have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Bassam Guard Station?+
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●Data sources on this page
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