Mingus Ranch

Summary

Mingus Ranch is an iconic cabin experience located in the Wet Mountains, Colorado. Built in 1908, the cabin has been restored to its original appearance and provides an authentic early 20th century homestead. Guests can enjoy hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding in the area. The cabin provides basic amenities and furniture, as well as a horse corral, though guests should bring their own sleeping bags, food, and water.

Overview

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.

Recreation

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.

Facilities

The modest two-story ranch building is an example of a typical high country ranch. 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 two bunk beds, two single beds, a kitchen sink not equipped with running water, 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 please bring additional light sources. The outhouse is several hundred feet from the cabin. 

Natural Features

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.

Nearby Attractions

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.

Charges & Cancellations

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