Duncan Cabin

Colorado Rockies

Duncan Cabin in Colorado Rockies — photo 4

Duncan Cabin

Colorado Rockies

About this campsite

Overview

The cabin was constructed in the 1880s. The cabin sits 8,120 feet above sea level beside a small dry stream‐bed. The nearest source of water is Pole Creek which is approximately 1,500 feet from the cabin. The cabin sits on a west‐facing gently sloping grade that looks out onto the San Luis Valley. Although large coniferous trees are located near the cabin, the vegetation is primarily Rabbitbrush, Pinon, and Juniper.

Recreation

The cabin is a good base camp for horse riding. It does have a corral close to the cabin. It is a good place for hunting, hiking and watching the night sky. It is close to the Great Sand Dunes National Park that is designated as an international Dark Sky Park.

Facilities

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 and water at the cabin. Water is also available at the Saguache Ranger District Office during business hours from May through November.

Natural Features

This area also provides habitats for large herds of elk, pronghorn and mule deer. It is also close to the Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Nearby Attractions

The Duncan cabin is located in the Rio Grande National Forest 11.8 miles southeast of Crestone, CO. There is a lot of hiking trails in this area. The Great Sand Dunes National Park is also close by.

Location

Duncan Cabin•CO

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Common questions about Duncan Cabin

Is Duncan Cabin free to camp at?

Yes. Duncan Cabin in CO is a free camp, so there is no nightly fee to stay. There is no booking system for it, so plan on first in, best dressed, especially on long weekends. We hold no facilities list for it, so go in self sufficient with your own water and a way to deal with rubbish.

Can you book Duncan Cabin online?

We hold no online booking link for Duncan Cabin, so it is not bookable through this page. For sites like this, turning up early in the day is the surest way to get a spot, particularly in peak season. If a managing authority takes bookings by phone, their number is the fastest way to confirm a site.

Where is Duncan Cabin?

Duncan Cabin sits in CO. The map on this page shows the exact spot, and the coordinates travel straight into your navigation app. Check road conditions before you set out if you are towing, since access tracks can change with the weather.

Nearby Campsites

within 50km

13.1 km away

Medano Pass Primitive Road Campsites

Roadside camping is permitted at 21 campsites in Great Sand Dunes National Preserve beginning 5.2 miles from where the road begins near Piñon Flats Campground. These designated sites are free of charge and first-come, first-served. All 21 sites fill on summer weekends. Passable only in the warmer months and only with high-clearance 4-wheel drive vehicles. This road crosses areas of deep sand, traverses Medano Creek nine times, and passes through excellent habitat for bighorn sheep.

14.1 km away

Burnt Gulch Trail Camp

Campground: Burnt Gulch Trail Camp.

14.2 km away

Burnt Gulch Trail 4WD Parking & Camp

Campground: Burnt Gulch Trail 4WD Parking & Camp.

16.9 km away

North Crestone Campground

Campground: North Crestone Campground. Operated by United States Forest Service.

17.2 km away

Pinon Flats Campground

Overview Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is in the San Luis Valley of south-central Colorado at an elevation of 8,175 feet. The dunes lie on the eastern edge of the valley at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Range. The dunefield is part of the nearly 150,000 total acres of the park and preserve that also protects alpine lakes, tundra, six peaks over 13,000 feet, ancient spruce and pine forests, large stands of aspen and cottonwood, grasslands, and wetlands. The park is part of a fragile, dynamic system that influences and sustains the tallest dunes in North America. President Herbert Hoover established the park unit as a national monument by presidential proclamation on March 17, 1932 through the Antiquities Act. The Works Progress Administration constructed the Superintendent’s Residence, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. But otherwise, GRSA did not see a great deal of development during the New Deal. Park development did not occur in earnest until Mission 66. During this period, the NPS was able to construct a Visitor Center, the Pinon Flat Campground (88 sites), a picnic area, five comfort stations, six single family residences and a triplex, while also building or improving roads and trails through the park. The Visitor Center shows the motivation of the Western Office of Design and Construction to configure designs to corresponding regions using principles of “regional modernism.” Built in the Pueblo Revival style, the Visitor Center mimics adobe construction through modern materials and forms blended with traditional materials and forms seen during the CCC-era in Cecil Doty’s work. Following Mission 66, Congress designated nearly 91% of the monument as wilderness in 1976, which certainly limited the park’s ability to further develop visitor and administrative facilities. GRSA became a national park and preserve in 2000, which also included a transfer of land from the Rio Grande National Forest. The dunes have long stood as a landmark for travelers from ancient North Americans to Southern Ute, Jicarilla Apaches, Navajos, early explorers, gold miners, homesteaders, ranchers, farmers and migrant field workers, to you - today's park visitor. Recreation Great Sand Dunes' wide range of natural features provides endless outdoor recreational activities. The park is perfect for kids, who love exploring the dunefield on foot or by sled. Medano Creek, at the base of the dunes, is a popular place in the summertime. Kids and adults alike love to splash in the cool water. Many kid-friendly, ranger-led activities and a junior ranger program are available. Many miles of hiking and backpacking trails lead through the park's forests and alpine terrain, including the Mosca Pass Trail, Dunes Overlook/Sand Ramp Trail and Indian Grove Trail. Facilities Reservations are required to stay in Pinon Flats campground. The campground offers 88 campsites. The park recommends making a reservation in advance, especially for peak summer months from May through September. Private first-come, first-served camping is also available just outside the park boundary. For more information about camping, visit www.nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/camping.htm. Due to the historic design, the campground may not be able to accommodate all large, modern size vehicles. Most sites are small and unlevel, review photos and measurements carefully when choosing a site. During visitor center operating hours, you can see a park film, experience interactive exhibits, speak with a helpful ranger and visit the Western National Parks Association store. Kids of all ages can pick up a Junior Ranger booklet or participate in the Junior Ranger Explorer program. Natural Features Great Sand Dunes are the magnificent centerpiece of a natural system that includes high mountain peaks, sparkling streams, vast grasslands and lush f