USDA Forest Service · Colorado
Piney Guard Station
USDA Forest Service · Colorado, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 no hookups
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 9,039 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- PINEY (NFSR 744.1) · native material · high clearance vehicles
- Lake
- White River National Forest
- Nearest town
- MINTURN
- Address
- EAGLE-HOLY CROSS RANGER DISTRICT PO BOX 190, MINTURN, CO, 81645
- Phone
- 970-827-5715
- Activities
- Biking, Camping, Hiking, Hunting, Snowmobiling, Wildlife Viewing
Season dates aren't confirmed for this campground yet - opening and closing dates haven't been verified. Check the operator's page or call ahead before you plan a trip.
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - the site map below shows each with its facts and pictures.
Site map
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one on the imagery, with the operator's own facts and pictures for each site where it publishes them. Tap a site to rate it, keep a note and add your own photos; press and hold the map for a pin of your own. Your ratings, notes, pins and photos are kept with the campground on your Saved list, the same list the camping map and the drive page keep.
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About
Overview
Piney Guard Station is a rustic cabin that was constructed in the 1930s as a work station for Forest Service crews. This 14 by 22-ft. structure has a single room and is built from logs. It is open both summer and winter with spring and late fall closures.
Recreation
The cabin is conveniently located in an area offering a variety of year-round recreational activities. The Forest Service road leading to the cabin is used by mountain bikers, hikers, snowshoers, cross-country skiers and snowmobilers. This area is popular for hunting big and small game, game birds and waterfowl.
Facilities
Piney Guard Station can sleep up to four people. It contains a bunk bed, two cots, storage cabinets, a table and benches, and a woodstove. Skillet, dishware and utensils are provided. A two burner stove and lantern are provided. These require 16.4-oz. propane cylinder bottles, which are not provided and are your responsibility. A picnic table and metal fire ring are just outside the cabin’s door. A vault toilet is located approximately 50 feet from the cabin. Guests can easily gather firewood around the cabin.
No drinking water, electricity or trash service is available; guests must bring their own water and garbage bags to pack out trash. Guests should consider packing most items they would bring on a regular camping trip. Dogs are allowed, please pick up after them and do not leave them unattended in or around the cabin.
Natural Features
Piney Guard Station is located at 9,100 feet in the White River National Forest, Eagle/Holy Cross Ranger District, which is near Vail. The cabin is nestled in a forest dominated by aspen, spruce, pine and fir trees. Guests can enjoy views of the Gore Mountain Range from a meadow to the cabin’s north side.
Local wildlife, including moose, may be spotted near the lake, which sits across the road from the cabin. The White River National Forest is also home to elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, mule deer, Canada lynx and black bear. Birders may see bald eagles, peregrine falcons, Barrow's golden-eye and black swifts.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26° | 5° | -20° | 37° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 27° | 7° | -10° | 41° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 35° | 15° | -1° | 49° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 43° | 21° | 3° | 55° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 53° | 28° | 14° | 67° | 11 of 11 |
| June | 70° | 38° | 28° | 81° | 3 of 11 |
| July | 76° | 45° | 38° | 85° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 74° | 45° | 38° | 81° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 67° | 38° | 26° | 77° | 4 of 11 |
| October | 54° | 27° | -4° | 64° | 10 of 10 |
| November | 39° | 12° | -17° | 53° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 28° | 0° | -16° | 41° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Trails nearby
- Windy Point Access · 6.6 mi as the crow flies · Drive there
- Bocco Mountain Trailhead · 7.7 mi as the crow flies · Drive there
- Elliot's Ridge TH #1889 · 9.3 mi as the crow flies · Drive there
- Yarmony Fishing Access Trail · 9.7 mi as the crow flies · Drive there
- Trough Jeep Trail · 9.7 mi as the crow flies · Drive there
All 729 trails in White River National Forest · All 2,359 trails in BLM lands in Colorado
Trailheads the Park Service and the Forest Service map, within 10 miles as the crow flies; each trail's page has its length, climbing and the Service's description.
Nearby campgrounds
- Wolcott Campground · Bureau of Land Management · 8 mi
- Radium Recreation Area · Bureau of Land Management · 13 mi · 21 sites
- Cataract Creek Campground · USDA Forest Service · 15 mi
- Elliott Creek Campground (CO) · USDA Forest Service · 15 mi · 20 sites
- Pumphouse Recreation Area · Bureau of Land Management · 16 mi · 21 sites
All public campgrounds in Colorado · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.