Elwood Cabin
Open — Open year-round for reservations. Summer access by vehicle on Forest Road 380 (2 miles from Summitville Road junction). Winter access requires snowmobile, skis, or snowshoes for approximately 2 miles on unplowed Forest Road 380, with about 400 feet elevation gain. Roads can be slick when wet.
Wheeled Vehicles in Wilderness
This order describes the prohibition of wheeled vehicles in all National Forest Wilderness Areas of the Rocky Mountain Region and any exceptions thereof.
Weed Free Forage Products
The purpose of this Order is to prevent the introduction or spread of noxious weeds.
Occupancy and Use Restrictions
The purpose of this Order is to protect the public health and safety in the Rocky Mountain Region. This Order is supplemental to and does not rescind or replace those restrictions in 36 C.F.R. Part 261, Subpart A, or any Forest Supervisor Order issued under 36 C.F.R. Part 261, Subpart B.
Cave Closure and Restrictions
The purpose of this Order is to reduce the spread of the fungus that causes White nose syndrome and to protect bat species during critical biological periods.
Fall/Winter Slash Pile Burns Planned
Rio Grande National Forest announced today their winter slash pile burning plans. As conditions allow, fire crews plan to burn numerous piles of woody debris from timber sale and thinning project areas across the Rio Grande National Forest. This year’s pile burn areas include:
Motor Vehicle Seasonal Groomed Road Closures
This special order is to protect public safety by preventing damage to groomed snowmobile and cross-country ski routes.
Wolf Creek Pass Winter Recreation Area
This special order restricts parking, camping and snowmobile use at Wolf Creek Pass.
Food Storage Regulations
This special order covers food storage restrictions from April 1 to December 1 annually, within recreation sites across the entire Rio Grande National Forest.
Sangre de Cristo Wilderness Occupancy & Use
This special order covers the entire Sangre de Cristo Wilderness Area including the portion on the San Isabel National Forest. The includes restrictions on group size, camping, campfires, horse use, dogs, switchback cutting, and wagon or cart use.
Beaver Creek Recreation Area Use Restrictions
This special order restricts camping, parking, and dogs in the Beaver Creek Recreation Area. It also prohibits boats at Million Reservoir.
Big Meadows Recreation Area Use Regulations
This special order prohibits camping, parking, campfire and stove use, and restricts dogs within the Big Meadows Recreation area on the Divide Ranger District.
Camping limit on Rio Grande National Forest
This special order establishes a 14-day camping limit within a continuous 30-day period anywhere on the Rio Grande National Forest.
Sangre de Cristo Wilderness Goat Restriction
This special order prohibits the use of goats in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness and Recommended Wilderness areas.
La Garita Wilderness Use Restrictions
This special order covers the entire La Garita Wilderness area including portions on the Gunnison National Forest. The order restricts group size, camping, campfire and stove use, equipment storing, horse use, dogs, and cutting switchbacks on trails.
Weminuche Wilderness and South San Juan Wilderness Restrictions
This special order restricts group use, horse use, camping, campfires, and dogs in the Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas.
Spectacle Lake Restriction
This special order prohibits anyone from being in Spectacle Lake due to biological considerations.
Camping Restriction N. Crestone Trailhead
This special order restricts camping at the North Crestone Trailhead.
Forest Road #950 N. Crestone Closure
This special order closes FSR # 950, near Crestone, seasonally from November 25 to May 1 annually.
Park Creek Road Speed Limit
This special order establishes a 25 MPH speed limit on FSR # 380 Park Creek Road.
Alamosa Canyon Speed Limit
This special order establishes a speed limit of 20 MPH or less on FSR # 250 in the Alamosa Canyon.
Rito Hondo Day Use Area
This special order restricts parking, camping, boat use, and campfire use around the Rito Hondo Dam.
Road Canyon Reservoir Day Use Area
This special order restricts parking, camping and campfire uses in the area around Road Canyon Reservoir #1.
Conejos Canyon Roads and Camping Restrictions
This special order restricts the vehicle use and parking and limits camping to designated areas on FSR# 250 along the Conejos River.
About
Elwood Cabin sits at 11,000 feet elevation in a saddle along the San Juan Mountains, overlooking an open meadow filled with wildflowers in summer. Built in 1911 by the Mountain States Telephone Company as a line shack to support crews maintaining the transcontinental telephone line, remnants of this historic line can still be found along Iron Creek. The cabin served as a Forest Service station from 1950 to 1962, providing living quarters for employees working on area projects. Today, it offers a unique high-altitude retreat for up to 6 guests seeking relaxation and recreation in south-central Colorado. Summer months bring excellent scenic touring opportunities around the Summitville ghost town area and exploration of historical mining sites dating to the 1870s gold rush. Anglers enjoy fishing wild trout streams including Iron Creek and Treasure Creek, as well as nearby Platoro Reservoir for trout and salmon. Hiking opportunities span both the Rio Grande and San Juan National Forests and the South San Juan Wilderness. During winter, the area can receive up to ten feet of snow, creating ideal conditions for snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Guests at this elevation experience dramatic light on the landscape and star-filled skies on clear evenings, with frequent sightings of elk, deer, bears, marmots, and chipmunks.
Directions
From Del Norte, take U.S. Highway 160 west to South Fork. Continue west 8 miles to Park Creek Road. Travel 15 miles on Park Creek Road to Summitville Road, stay right on FSR 380. The cabin is about 2 miles on the left. From Pagosa Springs, go east on Highway 160 to the top of Wolf Creek Pass, continue 9 miles to Park Creek Road, then follow same directions. In winter, access begins at the unplowed portion of FSR 380, requiring a 2-mile ski, snowshoe, or snowmobile trip with 400 feet elevation gain.
Nearby Campgrounds
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | — |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | — |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $50 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (719) 274-8971 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Availability
Photos
Community Posts
No posts yet. Be the first to share your experience!