Storm King Campground

Colorado Rockies

Storm King Campground

Colorado Rockies

About this campsite

Campground: Storm King Campground. Operated by USFS.

Location

Storm King Campground•CO

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Weather Forecast

via Open-Meteo

WED🌦️

9° / 5°

💧 85%

THU☁️

10° / 4°

💧 5%

FRI☀️

19° / 3°

💧 1%

SAT☁️

20° / 7°

—

SUN🌦️

18° / 5°

💧 6%

Nearby Campsites

within 50km

3.2 km away

CARNERO GUARD STATION

Overview 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. Construction on the cabin began in 1908 and the name was changed to the Carnero Guard Station in 1916. Recreation The cabin is a good base camp for hunting, and fishing, which is available at several creeks within a short drive. The area also offers many opportunities for hiking and off-road vehicle adventures in summer, and cross country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter. There is an off-road vehicle trail about 10 miles southwest of the cabin that travels to within 2 miles of the La Garita Wilderness. Elk, deer, and other wildlife are often seen in meadows adjacent to the cabin, and moose have been spotted in the Moon Pass area, about 5 miles west. Facilities The two-room cabin is furnished with four bunk beds (the top bunk is a single bed, the bottom is a fold-out futon couch that sleeps two) and can accommodate up to 12 people. The cabin has a stove, refrigerator, heater and lighting, all powered with propane. The kitchen is equipped with a table and chairs, cooking utensils and some pots and pans. A picnic table, fire pit and an outdoor vault toilet are also on site. There is no electricity at the cabin, however water is available by an outside hand pump. Water is also available at the Saguache Ranger District Office during business hours from May through November. Natural Features Volcanic rock outcroppings dot the forested hillsides and wide pastures near the cabin. The La Garita Wilderness is located approximately 20 miles west of the guard station and features about 35 miles of the Continental Divide well above the timberline. This area also provides habitats for large herds of elk and mule deer, and on the southern slopes, there is an ancient forest of towering spruce and fir. It is a landscape of rushing streams, broad and gentle alpine meadows, beaver ponds, long talus slopes and tremendous mountain beauty. Nearby Attractions Guests at Carnero Guard Station are a short drive from Penitente Canyon, which has become a great draw for rock climbing.

5.7 km away

Poso Campground

Campground: Poso Campground. Operated by United States Forest Service.

5.8 km away

Poso Campground

Campground: Poso Campground. Operated by United States Forest Service.

18.6 km away

Penitente Canyon Campground

Overview The canyonlands of Penitente Canyon offer a blend of peaceful surroundings and diverse recreation opportunities less than 10 miles from a major highway. Although the BLM manages the 4,552-acre Penitente Canyon primarily for rock climbers, the area also offers opportunities for heritage tourists, mountain bikers, hikers and equestrians. Recreation Penitente Canyon Recreation Area is a destination known for its world-class sport rock-climbing routes and its extensive singletrack trail system, mainly used by mountain bikers and hikers. The area is rich in both natural and cultural history, making it ideal for heritage tourists interested in the Old Spanish Trail and early American frontiersmen, as well as wildlife watchers and photographers. • Standard Nonelectric • Rv Nonelectric • Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric • Overnight Facilities • Road signs from highway to Recreation Area. • Improved gravel roads in Recreation Area (no pavement). • Public drinking water system (available May-Oct). • 5 vault (or pit-type) toilets. • Trash bins throughout campground and day-use areas. • 15 Individual sites (3 Tent Only and 12 RV/Tent), 2 Group Tent sites, 1 CG Host site, 1 Group Picnic Shelter site. • Standard campground amenities-table, tent pads, fire ring, food storage locker, parking. • Interpretive, informational, and directional signs. • Trailhead and overflow parking areas. • Foot, horse, and mountain bike trails. • All facilities open year-round. • Cell phone service is spotty in canyons. Natural Features Geology The rocks in Penitente Canyon are remnants of up to 18 volcanic eruptions that took place in the San Juan Volcanic Field between 20 and 30 million years ago. The largest of these eruptions spewed 1,000 cubic miles of ash 27.8 million years ago, creating a huge underground chamber. Rocks overlying the chamber collapsed to create the La Garita Caldera. History Ancestors of the Utes, Jicarilla Apaches and Puebloans have all left evidence of time spent hunting and camping here, along with explorers and trappers. The valley’s first settlers were Hispanic farmers and sheepherders who migrated from northern New Mexico. Native Americans left scattered pictographs (painted rock art) throughout these Canyonlands (the largest concentration in the San Luis Valley). Please leave all rock art as you find it. Do not touch, walk on, climb on, or disturb it in any way. Nearby Attractions • USFS-Rio Grande National Forest and Natural Arch. • BLM-Elephant Rocks Recreation Area. • La Garita Trading Post-food, gas, and small store. • Town of Del Norte Campgrounds Nearby • USFS-Rio Grande National Forest – Poso CG, Storm King CG Contact Info For local information, please call (719) 852-7074 or call (877) 444-6777 for general information.

20.1 km away

UPPER CROSSING GUARD STATION

Overview Upper Crossing Guard Station is located at an elevation of 8,400 feet, along a scenic byway near the Continental Divide, offering visitors a comfortable lodging experience in a remote setting in Rio Grande National Forest. This guard station is the original headquarters of the old Cochetopa National Forest that existed for only a few years during the early part of the last century. Today, guests to the guard station will find plenty of opportunities for relaxation and recreation in south central Colorado. Recreation The area offers many opportunities for hiking in summer, hunting in the fall and cross country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter. The cabin sits at the confluence of two creeks and offers visitors excellent fishing for rainbow, cutthroat, brown and brook trout right out the front door. Hiking opportunities are in close proximity to the cabin, extending out to nearby wilderness and other public lands. Facilities Upper Crossing Guard Station has all the amenities of a standard home, including electricity, heat and inside running water. It is furnished with three bunk beds, with twin beds on the top and fold-out full beds on the bottom, accommodating up to nine people. The cabin has electric lights, propane heater and wood burning stove. The living area has a table and chairs, couch and other furniture. The kitchen is equipped with a refrigerator, stove, hot water, some cooking utensils and some pots and pans. A picnic table, campfire grill and horseshoe pit are also on-site. Although the cabin has most amenities, guests do need to provide their own food, sleeping bags, linens, towels, dish soap, matches, cooking gear, first aid kit, toilet paper and garbage bags. It is recommended that guests bring an additional light source in case of emergencies. Natural Features Upper Crossing Guard Station provides a remote setting that is easily accessible year-round via CO Highway 114. The brief dirt road leading to the cabin is actually the old stagecoach route, complete with historic graffiti that served as billboards advertising goods and services at the stagecoach stops. Views from the cabin include portions of the Continental Divide and unspoiled surrounding countryside, showcasing high mountain peaks, diverse forests, streams and lakes in addition to some of Colorado's most scenic working ranches. Historically, Ute Indians traveled through this area and found it favorable for living in the San Luis Valley.