Colorado / Saguache County / San Luis Valley Field Office

Brewery Creek Guard Station

Closed — Closed for winter. Reopens May 22, 2025 and operates through November 18, 2025. Access may be limited during spring snowmelt (March through mid-May) and requires snowshoes, skis, or snowmobile in winter. Reservations available through Recreation.gov.

About

Brewery Creek Guard Station is a historic two-room cabin built in 1935 at an elevation of 9,500 feet in a densely wooded aspen grove overlooking Brewery Creek. Originally used by a forest ranger who oversaw the Poncha and Bonanza Districts of the former Cochetopa National Forest, the cabin now serves as a comfortable getaway for visitors seeking recreation in the Rio Grande National Forest. The cabin is equipped with three bunkbeds, a propane-powered refrigerator, stove, and heater, and includes a kitchen and dining area. A hand pump provides drinking water (tested monthly), and a vault toilet is available on-site. The cabin offers spectacular views of Antora Peak (13,266 feet) and Windy Point (12,129 feet), while active beaver dams occupy the nearby creek, providing fishing opportunities. Located two miles from the historical silver mining town of Bonanza, the cabin serves as an excellent base for exploring the forest. Summer activities include hiking, off-road vehicle adventures on the Bonanza Mines OHV Tour, and fishing. Fall brings hunting opportunities, while winter offers cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Several hiking trails lead to Antora and Antora Meadows. Elk, deer, and other wildlife are frequently spotted in adjacent meadows. Renters must pack out all garbage and leave the cabin clean.

Directions

From Saguache, take Highway 285 north 15 miles to Villa Grove. Turn left onto County Road LL56 (Bonanza turnoff) 0.1 mile north of Villa Grove. Stay on LL56 for 13 miles west to the Brewery Creek sign, turn left and cross the bridge. Travel on Forest Road 880 for 1.5 miles. Pass through two boundary gates (one for private property, one for BLM/Forest boundary). The cabin gate is to the right beyond the second gate, 0.25 miles before the cabin.

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