Elwood Cabin
Rio Grande National Forest — riverside, fishing, hiking
Location: La Jara, CO, CO
Price: From $50 per night
Rating: 4.2 out of 5 (18 reviews)
Season: Year-round
Elwood Cabin sits in a saddle along the San Juan Mountains overlooking an open meadow, offering guests a unique lodging opportunity. The cabin was built in 1911 by the Mountain States Telephone Company as a "line shack" to support crews maintaining the transcontinental telephone line. Remnants of this old telephone line are still found along Iron Creek to the southeast.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Camp Host, Fishing, Firewood for Sale
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/elwood-cabin to be notified when sites open up.
Historic 1911 cabin in the San Juan Mountains offering solitude and panoramic meadow views. Campers praise its rustic charm and peaceful setting, with a 4.8/5 rating highlighting awesome solitude and great views.
Wildlife alert: Mountain lions present in area; also yellow-bellied marmots, wapiti, golden-mantled ground squirrels, muskrats, red-tailed hawks, and various warbler species.
Insider tips for Elwood Cabin: Book early—this is a federal campground with only 1 site and high demand. Firewood available for purchase on-site. Camp host present for assistance. Fishing and hiking accessible from the location.
Skip Elwood Cabin if: You need hookups—no electrical, water, or sewage connections available.. You want modern amenities—this is a rustic, primitive cabin.. You're unfamiliar with mountain weather and wildlife—elevation unknown but in San Juan Mountains..
Best time to visit Elwood Cabin: Year-round — Campground operates year-round with winter sports listed as available activity..
Nearby campgrounds: Platoro Cabin 1 (La Jara, CO), Off Cow Camp Cabin (Del Norte, CO), Lake Fork(Rio Grande Natl Fore (Antonito, CO), Big Meadows Reservoir Campground (South Central Co) (DEL NORTE, CO).
Cell Phone Coverage at Elwood Cabin
Cell signal at Elwood Cabin (La Jara, 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.
Elwood Cabin sits in a saddle along the San Juan Mountains overlooking an open meadow, offering guests a unique lodging opportunity. The cabin was built in 1911 by the Mountain States Telephone Company as a "line shack" to support crews maintaining the transcontinental telephone line. Remnants of this old telephone line are still found along Iron Creek to the southeast.
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
this is a federal campground with only 1 site and high demand.
Firewood available for purchase on-site.
Camp host present for assistance.
Fishing and hiking accessible from the location.
Campground operates year-round with winter sports listed as available activity.
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 Del Norte, take U.S. Highway 160 west to South Fork. Continue west on U.S. Highway 160 for 8 miles to Park Creek Road. Travel 15 miles on Park Creek Road to Summitville Road. Turn right on FSR 380, the cabin is about 2 miles on the left. From the junction of FSR 250 in the Alamosa Canyon and FSR 380, follow FSR 380 about 8 miles, the cabin is on the right. Access to the cabin in the summertime can be accomplished with just about any vehicle; however, when the dirt roads are wet they tend to
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 — Rio Grande National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Rio Grande National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
- Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Elwood Cabin cost per night?+
What season is Elwood Cabin open?+
Does Elwood Cabin have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Elwood Cabin?+
How do I make reservations at Elwood Cabin?+
What is the cell service like at Elwood Cabin?+
What season is Elwood Cabin open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
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