Rourke Ranch Cabin

Open — Open year-round for day use only. Overnight camping is not permitted at Rourke Ranch or anywhere in Picket Wire Canyonlands. Access requires an 8.8-mile hike from Withers Canyon Trailhead.

About

Rourke Ranch, also known as the Wineglass Ranch, was a cattle and horse ranch founded by Eugene Rourke in 1871. Three generations of the Rourke family lived and worked on the ranch, expanding it from 40 acres to over 52,000 acres, making it one of the oldest and most successful ranching enterprises in southeast Colorado. When sold in 1971, the ranch became a National Historic District. Today, the historic adobe buildings showcase the quality workmanship of the era and stand as a testament to the hardy pioneers who settled the West. The ranch site is located deep within Picket Wire Canyonlands and requires an 8.8-mile hike from Withers Canyon Trailhead. The trail also provides access to one of the largest dinosaur tracksite displays in the United States. No motorized vehicles are permitted beyond the trailhead, and shooting is prohibited in the area.

Directions

From La Junta, drive south on Highway 109 for 13 miles. Turn right (west) on County Road 802 (David Canyon Road) and continue 8 miles. Turn left (south) on County Road 25 and travel 6 miles. Turn left at Picket Wire Corrals onto Forest Service Road 500A. Travel 3 miles to Withers Canyon Trailhead. Park and hike 8.8 miles along Picket Wire Canyon Trail to the historic ranch.

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