Off Cow Camp Cabin

Closed — Closed for the 2025/2026 winter season. Reopens in early June 2026. The cabin operates from early June through late October. Winter access may require snowmobiling, snowshoeing, or skiing.

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

Off Cow Camp Cabin is a historic one-room structure situated at 10,500 feet in a high elevation meadow on Burro Creek in Rio Grande National Forest. Renovated in 2010, the rustic cabin sleeps four people in two bunk beds and features a wood burning cook stove, fire ring, table and chairs, and a vault toilet. A several-acre fenced pasture accommodates horses and pack animals. The cabin is located within an active grazing allotment where cattle are frequently present. The surrounding landscape features meadows, aspen groves, and spruce/fir forests with Bennett Peak rising to 13,200 feet to the southeast. Fitton Guard Station, another rental cabin, sits 400 yards upstream. The cabin provides access to the Burro Creek OHV Trail #873, which connects to an extensive network of trails and forest roads used by motorcycles, mountain bikers, hikers, and horseback riders. During winter months, the area is popular with snowmobilers and backcountry skiers. Access requires hiking approximately 100 yards uphill from Burro Creek Trail #873. The trailheads are reached from Del Norte via County Road 14 and Forest Service Roads 329 and 329.1C. No potable water is available; visitors must treat water from Burro Creek. Firewood may be gathered on site, and all trash must be packed out. Bears frequent the area, requiring proper food storage.

Directions

Access is from the upper or lower Burro Creek Trailheads (trail #873). From the west side of Del Norte, head south on County Road 14 for 12 miles to the lower Burro Creek Trailhead. The cabin is 6 miles upstream from this trailhead and 1.5 miles from the upper trailhead. The upper trailhead is located 28 miles from Del Norte and is accessed by Forest Service Roads 329 and 329.1C. The cabin is a 100-yard uphill walk from Trail #873.

Nearby Campgrounds

Amenities

Water No
Fires Allowed Yes
Toilets Yes
Dump Station No
Wifi No
Pets Allowed Yes
Showers No
Electric Hookups
Water Hookups
Sewer Hookups
Camp Store No
Price $25

Vehicle

Max RV Length
Max Trailer Length
Big Rig Friendly No
Pull Through Sites No

Contact

Email sbrigham@fs.fed.us
Phone +1 (719) 657-3321

Cell Service

AT&T None
Verizon None
T-Mobile None

Availability

Photos

Community Posts

No posts yet. Be the first to share your experience!