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Alder Guard Station

Rio Grande National Forest

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Campground guide

What to know before booking

Alder Guard Station is located 2 miles north of the town of South Fork along Alder Creek in the Rio Grande National Forest. The two story cabin is furnished with 2 beds in each bedroom (2 bedrooms), and a futon on the first floor. The Rio Grande National Forest encompasses of a myriad of ecosystems ranging from high elevation desert to the craggy peaks of the majestic Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

max Stay

14

Official campground details, summarized

Concise planning notes based on the public Recreation.gov campground information.

Facilities

The two story cabin is furnished with 2 beds in each bedroom (2 bedrooms), and a futon on the first floor. The kitchen is equipped with a table and chairs, electric stove, refrigerator, cooking utensils and some pots and pans. The bathroom has hot water and a flush toilet. A wood stove is the only source of heat for the guard station. Picnic tables are also on site. Firewood is not provided; please bring all the firewood you will need for your stay. Although the cabin has several amenities, guests do need to provide their own sleeping bags, linens, towels, dish soap, matches, cooking gear, first aid kit, toilet paper and garbage bags. Lighting is available, however guests are advised to bring an additional light source in case of emergency. Occasionally the water well overflows due to ground water pressures. The water then may not test safely. To avoid this you are encouraged to bring spare drinking/cooking water.

Natural Features

The Rio Grande National Forest encompasses of a myriad of ecosystems ranging from high elevation desert to the craggy peaks of the majestic Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The Alder Guard Station, located in the Divide Ranger District, is surrounded by mixed conifer forests, aspen groves, and wilderness areas, though its immediate vicinity is manicured, with a fenced lawn.

Recreation

The Alder Bench trailhead is located north of the guard station on Forest Road 610. In the past, this trail was used by stockmen taking livestock up to the high country towards Blue Park and Long Park. In the fall, visitors use this trail to hunt elk and deer as this area is considered winter range for both. The 6.5 mile trail is also open for off-road single track riding, horse and foot travel, and mountain biking, but can be very rocky and steep in places. Anglers will enjoy the scenic backdrop of Alder Creek when casting lines for a variety of trout.

Campsite map

Site markers come from Recreation.gov campsite coordinates.

1 mapped sites

Campsites

A sample of official campsite metadata for scanning equipment fit before booking.

Site Alder Guard Station

ALDER GUARD STATION

CABIN ELECTRIC

35 ft

vehicle

10

people

Yes

shade

Important notices

The combination to the cabin is provided in your confirmation letter. If you have any questions, please call the Divide Ranger District at (719) 657-3321. Office hours are 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m., Monday- Friday.
Pets are only allowed outside the guard station; please clean up after your pet
Do not leave food or trash outside the guard station; bears have been spotted in the area
All garbage and food must be packed out; do not burn garbage in the fire pit or wood stove

More at Rio Grande National Forest

Other tracked campgrounds from the same park or area.

Surrounding campgrounds

Other tracked campgrounds within driving distance, nearest first.

Common questions

Is Alder Guard Station available right now?

Kestrel's most recent scan found no open sites in the next 14 days. Set an alert and you'll be emailed the moment one opens up.

How do I book Alder Guard Station?

Reservations are handled by Recreation.gov, not by Kestrel. Use the official reservation link on this page to book. Kestrel only watches availability and tells you when a site frees up.

How quickly will I hear about a cancellation?

Kestrel rescans every two minutes, and every 30 seconds during the provider's daily release window. Alerts go out by email as soon as a matching site appears.