Carnero Guard Station

Rio Grande National Forest — fishing, hiking

Location: SAGUACHE, CO, CO

Price: From $50 per night

Rating: 4.7 out of 5 (19 reviews)

Season: May through October

Carnero Guard Station is situated in a high open meadow surrounded by forest at an elevation of 9,840 feet. The high-elevation cabin is located in the north-central area of the San Luis Valley in the Rio Grande National Forest. The guard station was first proposed in 1907 by the Cochetopa National Forest, and was originally named the John Smith Ranger Station after a homesteader who built a cabin near the site, but never filed on the land.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Electric Hookups, Fishing

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/carnero-guard-station to be notified when sites open up.

Carnero Guard Station offers a remote high-elevation camping experience at 9,840 feet in a scenic open meadow surrounded by forest within Rio Grande National Forest. The location provides access to diverse outdoor activities including fishing, hiking, biking, and wildlife viewing.

Wildlife alert: Moose, American Beaver, Yellow-bellied Marmot, and Prairie Falcon present in the area; exercise caution during wildlife interactions.

Insider tips for Carnero Guard Station: Book early as this is a federal campground with only 1 site High elevation (9,840 feet) means cold nights even in summer—bring warm bedding Fishing available on-site; bring gear for high-alpine trout waters

Skip Carnero Guard Station if: You need hookups—no hookups available at this site. You're visiting November through April—campground closes seasonally. You prefer developed campgrounds—this is a remote guard station with vault toilets only.

Best time to visit Carnero Guard Station: May-October — Official operating season per verified campground data.

Nearby campgrounds: Upper Crossing Guard Station (Saguache, CO), Penitente Canyon Campground (Monte Vista, CO), Stone Cellar Guard Station (Saguache, CO), Alder Guard Station (Del Norte, CO).

Cell Phone Coverage at Carnero Guard Station

Cell signal at Carnero Guard Station (SAGUACHE, 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.

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Rio Grande National Forest — fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Carnero Guard Station

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SAGUACHE, CO, CO★ 4.7 (19 reviews)From $50/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Carnero Guard Station is situated in a high open meadow surrounded by forest at an elevation of 9,840 feet. The high-elevation cabin is located in the north-central area of the San Luis Valley in the Rio Grande National Forest. The guard station was first proposed in 1907 by the Cochetopa National Forest, and was originally named the John Smith Ranger Station after a homesteader who built a cabin near the site, but never filed on the land.

Best for:AnglersHikersWildlife watchersFamiliesSites:Tent
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
Max RV40 ft
HookupsNo hookups.
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsElectric Hookups
Recreation
Picnic TablesFishing
Family & Pets
Vault Toilets

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need hookups—no hookups available at this site✕ You're visiting November through April—campground closes seasonally✕ You prefer developed campgrounds—this is a remote guard station with vault toilets only

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early as this is a federal campground with only 1 site

High elevation (9,840 feet) means cold nights even in summer

bring warm bedding

Fishing available on-site; bring gear for high-alpine trout waters

Best: May-October

Official operating season per verified campground data

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Moose, American Beaver, Yellow-bellied Marmot, and Prairie Falcon present in the area; exercise caution during wildlife interactions.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
719-655-2547· Rio Grande National Forest
Getting there →

Carnero Guard Station may be reached by traveling south on Highway 285 approximately 15 miles south of Saguache to the La Garita turnoff (Road G). In La Garita proceed west on County Road 41G for approximately 17 miles. Look for the cabin on the right. NOTE: Forest Road 41G leading to the cabin is unimproved but may be traveled by passenger car, weather permitting. The cabin may also be accessed from Highway 114 west of Saguache, also on Forest Road 41G. During winter months, the cabin may be ac

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Rio Grande National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Rio Grande National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Carnero Guard Station cost per night?+
Carnero Guard Station costs $50 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Carnero Guard Station open?+
Carnero Guard Station is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Carnero Guard Station have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Carnero Guard Station?+
Carnero Guard Station can accommodate RVs up to 40 feet.
How do I make reservations at Carnero Guard Station?+
Carnero Guard Station is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Carnero Guard Station?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Carnero Guard Station is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Carnero Guard Station open, and what are check-in times?+
Carnero Guard Station is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
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●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$50 /night★ 4.7 (19)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Carnero Guard Station cost per night?+
What season is Carnero Guard Station open?+
Does Carnero Guard Station have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Upper Crossing Guard Station

Saguache, CO

From $75/night

Penitente Canyon Campground

Monte Vista, CO

From $11/night

Stone Cellar Guard Station

Saguache, CO

From $50/night

Alder Guard Station

Del Norte, CO

From $50/night

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