Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-234483
When Carnero Guard Station reopens
Carnero Guard Station's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
0
Openings · last 90 days
6
Only 6 openings in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18 – Nov 16, 2026 · of 1 monitored site
Of the 60 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Nov 16, 2026): 14 open for online reservation · 45 reserved · 1 unavailable (cause unspecified).
Where the open windows are
76.7% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 14 of 60 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18 – Nov 16, 2026Not open online76.7%
Open site-nights14 / 60
Reserved (of online inventory)45 / 59
Weekday openings11
Weekend openings3
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 11 fall on weekdays and 3 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Nov 2026October holds the most room. 10 of 31 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 1 site| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open | |
| Thanksgiving | THU Nov 26 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Nov 27 | 0 | None open | |
| SAT Nov 28 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night. Thanksgiving: no online availability on any tracked night.
Availability
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| 001 | 14 |
This site currently has 14 site-nights available.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateWed · Sep 30
Next open weekendFri · Oct 9
The next bookable night is Sep 30; the first open weekend starts Oct 9. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
14 open site-nights across 1 site at Carnero Guard Station, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 5 2-night, 1 3-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Oct 8 at site 001.
RV length. Longest recorded site here is 40 ft. 1 site takes 25 ft, 1 site takes 35 ft, 1 site takes 40 ft.
All 1 site with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | 40 ft | None | 14 | 4 nights | Sep 30, Oct 8, Oct 9, Oct 12, Oct 13, Oct 14, Oct 15, Oct 18, Oct 19, Oct 21, Oct 22, Nov 11 +2 more |
About Carnero Guard Station
Overview
Carnero Guard Station is situated in a high open meadow surrounded by forest at an elevation of 9,840 feet. The high-elevation cabin is located in the north-central area of the San Luis Valley in the Rio Grande National Forest.
The guard station was first proposed in 1907 by the Cochetopa National Forest, and was originally named the John Smith Ranger Station after a homesteader who built a cabin near the site, but never filed on the land. Construction on the cabin began in 1908 and the name was changed to the Carnero Guard Station in 1916.
Recreation
The cabin is a good base camp for hunting, and fishing, which is available at several creeks within a short drive. The area also offers many opportunities for hiking and off-road vehicle adventures in summer, and cross country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter.
There is an off-road vehicle trail about 10 miles southwest of the cabin that travels to within 2 miles of the La Garita Wilderness.
Elk, deer, and other wildlife are often seen in meadows adjacent to the cabin, and moose have been spotted in the Moon Pass area, about 5 miles west.
Facilities
The two-room cabin is furnished with four bunk beds (the top bunk is a single bed, the bottom is a fold-out futon couch that sleeps two) and can accommodate up to 12 people. The cabin has a stove, refrigerator, heater and lighting, all powered with propane. The kitchen is equipped with a table and chairs, cooking utensils and some pots and pans. A picnic table, fire pit and an outdoor vault toilet are also on site. There is no electricity at the cabin, however water is available by an outside hand pump. Water is also available at the Saguache Ranger District Office during business hours from May through November.
Natural Features
Volcanic rock outcroppings dot the forested hillsides and wide pastures near the cabin. The La Garita Wilderness is located approximately 20 miles west of the guard station and features about 35 miles of the Continental Divide well above the timberline.
This area also provides habitats for large herds of elk and mule deer, and on the southern slopes, there is an ancient forest of towering spruce and fir. It is a landscape of rushing streams, broad and gentle alpine meadows, beaver ponds, long talus slopes and tremendous mountain beauty.
Nearby Attractions
Guests at Carnero Guard Station are a short drive from Penitente Canyon, which has become a great draw for rock climbing.
1 monitored siteRVs up to 40 ftNo hookupsPets OKFire pitsMax party 12
Getting there
Carnero Guard Station may be reached by traveling south on Highway 285 approximately 15 miles south of Saguache to the La Garita turnoff (Road G). In La Garita proceed west on County Road 41G for approximately 17 miles. Look for the cabin on the right. NOTE: Forest Road 41G leading to the cabin is unimproved but may be traveled by passenger car, weather permitting. The cabin may also be accessed from Highway 114 west of Saguache, also on Forest Road 41G. During winter months, the cabin may be accessible only by snowmobile, skis or snowshoes.
46525 St Hwy 114, Saguache, CO 81149719-655-2547
BikingCampingFishingHikingHuntingWildlife ViewingWinter Sports
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-234483 · facility
Photo gallery
Roll CS-234483 · Carnero Guard Station · Saguache CO4 frames · facility
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Carnero Guard Station?
Reservations for Carnero Guard Station are made through Recreation.gov. 76.7% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation; 14 of 60 remain open. Campsite Sniper has also detected 6 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 16:19 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Carnero Guard Station?
Campsite Sniper detected 6 site-date openings here over the last 90 days, none in the last 7. A free alert watches around the clock and pings you the moment one appears.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Carnero Guard Station?
1 three-night opening is showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Oct 12 at site 001. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which sites at Carnero Guard Station fit a 35-foot RV?
1 of the 1 site that support RV analysis has a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 40 ft.
Which month has the most availability at Carnero Guard Station?
October 2026, with 10 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 31.
When is the next open date at Carnero Guard Station?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Wed, Sep 30 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Oct 9. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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