MINGUS RANCH
MINGUS RANCH

Featured amenities

Picnic Table Picnic Table
Electric Hookup Electric Hookup
Fire Pit Fire Pit
Bedrooms Bedrooms

About Mingus Ranch

Mingus Ranch is a cabin where guests can step back in time and feel like they're staying on an early 20th century homestead. The cabin was built in 1908 and was operated by the same family for six decades before it became a Forest Service property. In collaboration with the Frontier Pathways Scenic and Historic Byway and the Colorado State Historical Society, the cabin and neighboring barn have been renovated to match their original appearance and filled with period-specific furniture and antiques. Electricity is provided and a horse corral is onsite.

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently open - May 1 to Nov 29

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Picnic Table Picnic Table
Electric Hookup Electric Hookup
Fire Pit Fire Pit
Bedrooms Bedrooms
RV Utilities and Hookups

RV Utilities and Hookups

  • Electric Hookup
Cooking and Fire

Cooking and Fire

  • Picnic Table
  • Fire Pit
On Site Services

On Site Services

  • Horse Stable

Cabin Interior

  • Bedrooms
Missing information?

01, Loop: MINR

🏠 Cabin
  • 7 guests

Site Details

Up to 7 guests
Surface: Gravel
View Site Details

Reviews (50)

Review Summary

4.4
50 reviews
5
68.0%
34
4
20.0%
10
3
4.0%
2
2
4.0%
2
1
4.0%
2

Nils G

Verified

October 8, 2020 • Stayed at: 01, Loop: MINR

5

Very clean, cozy and spacious cabin. We slept on the twin bed in the downstairs living room area and didn't use the upstairs at all. The outhouse you'll want to use is the one by the barn. When we were there in early September the guestbooks were all filled out, so someone needs to bring a notebook and start a new one.

Nils G

Verified

October 8, 2020 • Stayed at: 01, Loop: MINR

5

Very clean, cozy and spacious cabin. We slept on the twin bed in the downstairs living room area and didn't use the upstairs at all. The outhouse you'll want to use is the one by the barn. When we were there in early September the guestbooks were all filled out, so someone needs to bring a notebook and start a new one.

Saul M

Verified

September 14, 2020 • Stayed at: 01, Loop: MINR

5

Beautiful rustic cabin with a whole valley pretty much to yourself (there is one other ranch but not super close)

Saul M

Verified

September 14, 2020 • Stayed at: 01, Loop: MINR

5

Beautiful rustic cabin with a whole valley pretty much to yourself (there is one other ranch but not super close)

Sarah R

Verified

July 26, 2020 • Stayed at: 01, Loop: MINR

4

We thoroughly enjoyed our time here. We chose to sleep outside in our tent rather than inside the cabin. We found our tent more comfortable than the cabin. We did not have any issues with flies, as another reviewer mentioned. There were a few mice around, which is to be expected. Its a beautiful property and the clear night skies allowed incredible stargazing. We found the property to be erie in the evenings. For that reason we would not stay at the property again but plan to camp again in the area.

Sarah R

Verified

July 26, 2020 • Stayed at: 01, Loop: MINR

4

We thoroughly enjoyed our time here. We chose to sleep outside in our tent rather than inside the cabin. We found our tent more comfortable than the cabin. We did not have any issues with flies, as another reviewer mentioned. There were a few mice around, which is to be expected. Its a beautiful property and the clear night skies allowed incredible stargazing. We found the property to be erie in the evenings. For that reason we would not stay at the property again but plan to camp again in the area.

Lou D

Verified

January 17, 2020 • Stayed at: 01, Loop: MINR

3

The whole place was full of flies. My friend spent around two hours killing some but they were still everywhere. Like thousand of so of them dead on the floor and flying around

Lou D

Verified

January 17, 2020 • Stayed at: 01, Loop: MINR

3

The whole place was full of flies. My friend spent around two hours killing some but they were still everywhere. Like thousand of so of them dead on the floor and flying around

Wesley H

Verified

January 11, 2020 • Stayed at: 01, Loop: MINR

5

Loved our time at Mingus Ranch. No better way to immerse yourself into early 1900s mountain ranch living. The area is beautiful--the cabin overlooks a large meadow. There are numerous trails and unpaved roads for exploring. We drove for miles up the mountain and saw numerous types of wildlife. The original Mingus cabin is simple in design yet roomy for a party of six. One upstairs bedroom has a full bed, the other a twin bed and a set of bunk beds. The downstairs bedroom has a twin bed. There is an electric stove with a minimal set of cookware but minimal electric lighting. Previous visitors usually leave some supplies for the next guests--matches, bottled water, trash bags, etc. A vault toilet, picnic table and campfire ring are located outside, as well as a horse corral. No drinking water is available so it's important to bring plenty. Other items to bring include bedding, food, garbage bags, dish soap, sunscreen and other basic camping gear. There are no electrical outlets--probably to reduce risk of fire--so bring flashlights. We found Mingus Ranch a nice base of operations as we toured Bishop Castle, Canon City, Royal Gorge, etc. But it's also a great place to sit and enjoy nature.

Wesley H

Verified

January 11, 2020 • Stayed at: 01, Loop: MINR

5

Loved our time at Mingus Ranch. No better way to immerse yourself into early 1900s mountain ranch living. The area is beautiful--the cabin overlooks a large meadow. There are numerous trails and unpaved roads for exploring. We drove for miles up the mountain and saw numerous types of wildlife. The original Mingus cabin is simple in design yet roomy for a party of six. One upstairs bedroom has a full bed, the other a twin bed and a set of bunk beds. The downstairs bedroom has a twin bed. There is an electric stove with a minimal set of cookware but minimal electric lighting. Previous visitors usually leave some supplies for the next guests--matches, bottled water, trash bags, etc. A vault toilet, picnic table and campfire ring are located outside, as well as a horse corral. No drinking water is available so it's important to bring plenty. Other items to bring include bedding, food, garbage bags, dish soap, sunscreen and other basic camping gear. There are no electrical outlets--probably to reduce risk of fire--so bring flashlights. We found Mingus Ranch a nice base of operations as we toured Bishop Castle, Canon City, Royal Gorge, etc. But it's also a great place to sit and enjoy nature.

Location & Directions for Mingus Ranch

San Carlos Ranger District, Canon City, CO 81212 United States

Elevation: 2,944 ft

Getting There

From Pueblo, CO take State Highway 96 approximately 30 mi to the junction of State Highway 165. Travel south on SH 165 for 9 mi. Turn left (east) onto Forest Service Road 383 (Ditch Creek Rd.) and continue 1.5 mi. The two story cabin is on the rig...

Nearest town

Canon City, CO - 39 mi

About 55 min to downtown

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: October 7, 2026

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Explore Canon City, CO

Population: 17,122

Nearby larger city

Pueblo, CO

Approx. 29 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 5,335 ft

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Managed by the USDA Forest Service