Duncan Cabin
The Duncan cabin offers a new and unique cabin stay experience for the adventurous folks that prefer to stay in places off the beaten path. Located four miles from a trailhead, the cabin must be accessed on foot, bicycle, or by horse. The cabin offers solitude and amazing views of the San Luis Valley in a setting that is far from your typical 3-star hotel stay.
The one-room cabin is furnished with two 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 6 people. The cabin has a wood stove, 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 or water at the cabin. The cabin is a good base camp for horse riding and has a corral nearby. It is a good place for hunting, hiking and watching the night sky.
Reservations
Make Reservations HerePlease make reservations at Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
General Information
Late May to Late November
Quiet hours are from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am.
Visitors must park at the trailhead. Hike or ride horses or bikes 4 miles to the cabin. No e-bikes. Any supplemental feed for horses that is brought in must be certified weed-free. Fires in the wood stove and fire ring outside must be "Dead Out" before leaving the cabin. Please make sure your fires are cold to the touch before departing.
Visit the USGS store for passes.
Overnight Use:
$40 per night
$40 per night. Recreation.gov charges a reservation fee.
Dogs must be under control at all times.
Contact Name: Saguache Ranger District
Contact Phone: 719-655-2547
Address: 46525 State Highway 114 Saguache, CO 81149
Phone: (719) 655-2547
Hours: Monday through Friday / 9:00 to 3:30 (Closed on federal holidays)
Getting There
Latitude / Longitude
Latitude: 37.87414
Longitude: -105.6144
Elevation
8,120 feet
Directions
From Moffat, Colorado, take State Highway 17 south through town.
- From Moffat, turn east toward Crestone on County Rd T and follow it for 12 miles.
- Before reaching Crestone, turn right onto Camino Baca Grande Rd and continue for 2 miles.
- Turn right at Camino Real Road. There are no street signs but look for a small brown sign on the right that says “Liberty Road.”
- Follow Camino Real for 3.4 miles. Look for another small brown “Liberty” sign and turn left onto Camino Del Ray.
- Continue uphill for about 2.5 miles until the road ends at a T‑intersection.
- Look for a brown “Liberty” sign on the right and turn right onto Camino Baca Grande Way.
- Continue onto gravel Forest Road 952 and follow it to the Liberty Gate trailhead.
- The final 4 miles must be traveled on foot, horseback, or bicycle. Stay on Forest Road 952. About 0.3 miles after Liberty Gate, keep right at the turnoff toward Deadman Creek. There is a stream crossing 2 miles beyond Liberty Gate.
Travel Considerations
Travel Considerations
- Sandy areas and occasional flooding in Deadman Creek can delay or prevent access to Duncan Cabin.
- Ample parking for vehicles and trailers is available at the Liberty Gate trailhead.
- Travel beyond Liberty Gate is limited to hiking, cycling, or horseback.
- For current trail and road conditions between the trailhead and the cabin, contact the Saguache Ranger District at 719‑655‑2547.
Notes for the route:
- The pavement ends on Camino Baca Grande Way. Continue until reaching the narrow gateway marking Forest Road 952.
- The road is very rough and bumpy for the last 5 miles before Liberty Gate.
Facility and Amenity Information
Restrooms
Vault ToiletWater
Potable water is not available at this site.
Water must be packed in or taken and purified from local streams.
Picnic Tables
Picnic tables are available at this site.
Horse/Pack Animal Information
Horse/Pack animals are allowed at this site.
Corral located at the cabin.
