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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.
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.
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.
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.
Access to the cabin is only allowed via the route described in this section. The road that leads to the south of the Guard Station gate crosses private property and is not open for public access to Highway 114.
From Saguache, take Highway 114 west for approximately 22 miles. The turnoff for the Guard Station is 1 mile past County Road NN14. From Gunnison, remain on Highway 114 until approximately 4 miles past the Buffalo Pass Campground entrance. The exit to the station is between mile marker 39 and 40. Look for the Upper Crossing sign on the highway. Turn east for a short distance until the road ends in a "T" Turn right and go .5 mile. The cabin will be on the left.
During the winter guests may need to snowmobile, snow shoe or ski .5 miles from the nearest maintained road in order to access the cabin.
Pro: location
Con: cabin hasn't been kept up
Gorgeous location, close to Saguache. Lots of wildlife in area.
Downside someone used the cabin before us and cleaned nothing. We found all their dirt intact. Table, stove, and dish drainer!!! covered in Prego. Who slops red sauce in the dish drainer and leaves it for the next people to clean up??
Cabin has many small issues. For around two nights rental costs all problems could be fixed but no one has lifted a finger to repair anything in this cabin in a good long while. Note taped to window in bathroom dated 2018 warned window was broken. Toilet needed a new float and thus we had to refill tank by hand to flush. Shower did not have a moveable head making it not handicap accessible. Screens had holes in them because thorn bushes weren't trimmed and had rubbed against them in wind. Bathroom door needed screws tightened so as to close easily- had to body slam door to escape bathroom.
If you visit, bring a tool kit if you're handy, I forgot mine at home and thus couldn't fix anything. Also, bring a bottle of bleach, we bleached the dickens out of the shower stall but shower curtain was still pink when we left. Shower mat started life as green, it's now brown, I recommend shoes you can shower in so as to not touch mat.
No washer/dryer on property, just FYI.
We absolutely love staying at this cabin. Great place to relax and enjoy the beautiful area. The location is quite secluded and you have the whole place to yourself. I wish they would change the availability to more than 3 nights per week.
