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Mingus Ranch is a cabin where guests can step back in time and feel like they're staying on an early 20th century homestead. The cabin was built in 1908 and was operated by the same family for six decades before it became a Forest Service property.
In collaboration with the Frontier Pathways Scenic and Historic Byway and the Colorado State Historical Society, the cabin and neighboring barn have been renovated to match their original appearance and filled with period-specific furniture and antiques. Electricity is provided and a horse corral is onsite.
Hiking, mountain biking, horse riding, off-road vehicle riding, hunting and wildlife viewing are all enjoyable activities here. An extensive network of hiking trails and roads for biking are nearby.
The modest ranch building is an example of a typical high country ranch with two stories. The cabin sleeps six and conveniences include electric heat, an electric stove and minimal electric lighting. A vault toilet, picnic table and campfire ring are located outside, as well as a horse corral. Furnishings consist of a couple bunk beds with pads, a basic wash, table and chairs and some cooking pots and utensils.
No drinking water is available so it's important to bring plenty. Other items to bring include bedding, food, garbage bags, dish soap, sunscreen and other basic camping gear. There are minimal lights at the facility, so visitors may want to bring additional light sources.
The cabin is perched in a sprawling meadow at an elevation of 9,400 feet near the base of Round Top Mountain in the heart of the Wet Mountains. Surrounding the meadow are spruce and other mixed conifers. The scenic Greenhorn Mountain is due south.
Westcliffe, a mountain town is 26 miles northwest of the cabin. The town has grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, banking, a medical clinic, and other amenities. From Mingus Ranch cabin take State Hwy 165 north for 9 miles to the junction of State Highway 96. Then take SH 96 west for 17 miles into Westcliffe. Colorado City, 29 miles south of the cabin on SH 165 has a grocery store, gas stations, and a public golf course.
Change and Cancellation Policies: To ensure fairness, reservation arrival or departure dates may not be changed outside the 6 or 12 month booking window until 18 days after booking the reservation. Camping/Day Use: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation (including campsites, cabins, lookouts, group facilities, etc.). The $10.00 service fee will be deducted from the refund amount. Cancel or change reservations through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.Late Cancellations: Late cancellations are in most cases, those cancelled after 12:00 midnight (Eastern Time) two days before arrival. Individual Campsites: A $10.00 service fee plus the first night’s use fee will be charged (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation) when a reservation is cancelled the day before or the day of arrival, except when the reservation is for a single night, then no service fee applies. Cabins/Lookouts: A $10.00 service fee plus the first night’s cabin or lookout use fee will be charged when a reservation for a cabin or lookout is cancelled within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date. Cancellations for single night’s use will not be assessed a service fee. Group Overnight and Day Use Facility: A $10.00 service will be charged plus the first night’s use fee when a reservation for a group overnight facility is cancelled within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date. Cancellations for a single night’s use will not be assessed a service fee. Customers cancelling a group day use facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date will forfeit the total day use fee (but will not pay a service fee). No Shows:Reserved campsites and group overnight facilities will be held until check-out time on the day following your scheduled arrival. Group day use facilities will be held until check-in time on your scheduled arrival date.Cabins, Lookouts, and Group Day Use Facilities: No shows, early departures, or cancellations after the scheduled arrival date are not entitled to a refund. Campsites and Group Overnight Facilities: If you do not arrive at the campground or group overnight facility and do not cancel your reservation by check out time on the day after your scheduled arrival date, you are considered a no show. A $20.00 service fee applies and you will forfeit the first night’s use fee. Refunds: Refunds must be requested no later than 14 days after your scheduled departure date. Reservation Fee: Some facilities charge a reservation service fee. This non-refundable fee is $10.00 for call center and online reservations.Refunds for Bankcard Purchases: Refunds for bankcard payments will appear on the original bankcard. Please note the charge on your bankcard statement will read "Recreation.gov 888-448-1474".Refunds for Check or Cash Purchases: Reservations paid by cash, check or money order will be refunded by check. A refund check will be processed within 30 days of receipt and approvalRefunds for Emergency Closures: In the event of an emergency closure, Recreation.gov will attempt to notify customers and offer alternate dates and sites (as appropriate). If this is not possible, Recreation.gov will cancel the reservation and refund all fees paid.To request a refund, please contact our Call Center customer service at 1-888-448-1474 or submit your request online. Senior and Access Pass Discounts: Owners of the Interagency Senior and Access Passes (and the Golden Age and Access Passes) may receive a fifty-percent discount on the use fee for individual campsites. This discount does not apply to fees for cabins, lookouts, or group facilities and it may not apply for specific facility amenities such as electricity, water, sewer, or extra fees charged for prime or premium sites. Pass Verification: The pass number must be provided at the time the reservation is made in order to receive the discount, and the pass and one form of identification must be presented upon arrival. If the proper documentation is not provided, the full recreation use fee must be paid to use the facility. If a customer makes more than one reservation for the same location and date(s), the discount will only apply to the site the pass owner occupies.Changes to the Policies and Procedures: Recreation.gov reserves the right, when necessary, to modify reservation policies. Military Discounts:Day Use Fee WaiverThe U.S. Army Corps of Engineers shall waive day use fees for active service military personnel and their dependents who present the new America the Beautiful (ATB) Military Pass. NOTE: You must have an America the Beautiful Military Pass to receive the day use fee waiver. To get the ATB Military Pass all you need is your Military CAC Card or DOD Form 1173 showing you are an active service military member or dependent. The Military day use fee waiver does NOT apply to DOD (Department of Defense) civilians.Camping Fee WaiverThe U.S. Army Corps of Engineers shall waive camping fees for active service military personnel and their dependents who are on mid- or post- deployment leave orders from a Global War on Terror Overseas Contingency Operations. The Military camping fee waiver does NOT apply to other active military personnel or DOD (Department of Defense) civilians.Camping fees are waived on a walk-up and space available basis as well as reservations made through the Recreation.gov call center at 1-877-444-6777.To qualify for the free Military camping waiver you must present the following on arrival/check-in:America the Beautiful Military Pass or proper ID showing you are an active service military member (CAC Card or DOD Form 1173). NOTE: If you do not have an ATB Military Pass you should have one issued to you for future use. To get the ATB Military Pass all you need is your Military CAC Card or DOD Form 1173 showing you are an active service military member or dependent. Copy of your mid- or post- deployment (reintegration) leave orders from a Global War on Terror to Overseas Contingency Operations. For more information: https://store.usgs.gov/faq#US-Military
From Pueblo, CO take State Highway 96 approximately 30 miles to the junction of State Highway 165. Travel south on SH 165 for 9 miles. Turn left (east) onto Forest Service Road 383 (Ditch Creek Rd.) and continue 1.5 miles. The two story cabin is on the right.
From Interstate 25 south of Pueblo, CO take Exit 74 onto State Highway 165. Travel on SH 165 north for approximately 29 miles. Turn right (east) onto Forest Service Road 383 (Ditch Creek Road). Go 1.5 miles to the two story cabin which is on the right.
A relic still standing. Humble little 2-story cabin with beds, a stove, electricity (no outlets, only lights), and a very modest heater at the foot of the wall. Extremely comfortable if you are used to primitive camping, not exactly what you are looking for if you prefer glamping. A single outhouse reinforced to provide the most comfort any outhouse has ever provided. Plenty of utensils for cooking and eating, but no running water so figure out how to do your dishes. There is a sink but the faucet has been removed, so it only serves as a drain. 4 twin beds and a full. Firepit & picnic table outside. Don't give merit to the ghost stories. People wrote ridiculous stuff in the guest log, but there is nothing spooky or insidious here, just a rickety old cabin that is older than you.
We enjoyed being transported back in history here with our family. Our good and bad takeaways: Bring a foam matress pad in your gear for the full bed upstairs (if you prefer a softer mattress), the bed was very HARD to sleep on literally. The cooler weather has brought the mice in, but don't let them bother you. If you keep your food secured in tubs, they won't be as bothersome. We moved the matress from the downstairs bedroom for our 22 year old-daughter since she couldn't handle the mouse movement sounds downstairs and felt more comfortable with her brothers and us upstairs. The mice stay downstairs for the most part, but did come up the first night to see if we brought food up (so keep them downstairs and DO NOT LEAVE FOOD LAYING ABOUT). We brought our mountain bikes and enjoyed riding straight from the cabin on the less traveled roads and trails. We brought our kayak and paddleboard and enjoyed Lake San Isabel which is only 20 minutes away. Bishop's Castle is only 10 min away too, so don't miss it. It was very cool to sit at the table and play games (bring them) and read about the Mingus family and the history of the Ranch (there is an info binder there).
As you enjoy your morning coffee out on the porch or on the picnic table, you can imagine the homesteaders out cultivating their land in the meadow in front of you. We also stayed during a full moon, which was amazing. We wished we could have had a fire in the outdoor firepit but the Statewide ban kept us from enjoying the experience. The outhouse is a good walk away so make sure you have headlamps or flashlights. The outhouse is one of the best we have ever used with a light both inside and outside. There is a house/ranch building in the same valley (that you pass on the way in and can see from the cabin) so it does feel a little less secluded but we never saw anyone and enjoyed watching their horses in the pasture. As far as it being haunted, If there is a spiritual presence, it was welcoming and not scary. Old places make noises plain and simple.
Update: let the kids have the upstairs. We brought an air mattress and it worked great. Some new outlets have been installed since last year. We brought one of those magic mesh screens which works great to keep the flies and moths out. 5g is available.
We bring the kids here every summer. We just got back home from the last stay. No wood fires allowed right now, but you can use a propane fire bowl. We saw some deer, chipmunks, mice, hummingbirds, swallows, crows and an eagle! We also heard coyote's that were too close for comfort before the sun rose this morning. It is rustic without many comforts, however there are lights and heat in the cabin. Glamping is a great word, just be prepared to walk to the outhouse in the middle of the night. It is dark, bring flashlights; you will need them.
Absolutely beautiful place to unplug and enjoy living. Trails everywhere, a few towns close by as well as tourist spots. Need to bring your own water. It has a working stove and a few outlets as well as some pots, pans, eating utensils, plates etc. Convenient outhouse next to the old barn. Great price for the family and friends to enjoy the outdoors.
