Colton Guard Station

My daughter, her three children and I spent 3 nights at the Colton Guard Station. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed every minute of our stay. The previous guests left the place very tidy, and we made an extra effort to do the same when we left. My daughter/kids slept in the bunkbeds provided and I camped outside under the stars. (Unfortunately, the extra bunkhouse was undergoing repairs during our time there.) The small kitchen was modestly stocked with a few items but for sure I would recommend bringing some of your own cookware and anything else you think you might need to make your stay comfortable. We felt very spoiled to have a flushing toilet (especially for the three-year-old.) I brought a small generator which helped with the lighting at night. The propane stove was a bit tricky to work but fortunately someone left a few instructions on how to use it, or we would have never figured it out. There are probably birds and a few critters living in the attic space as we heard them at night moving around. I'd recommend bringing some extra matches and toilet paper "just in case".

We loved exploring the old buildings and swinging on the rope swing. The woodshed was stocked with wood, but we had fun collecting our own and loved sitting around the campfire at night eating smore's or making popcorn. The chipmunks were cute, and were very bold, as they crept close to "harvest" any food the kids dropped on the ground.

We made day trips to East Park and Oak Park Reservoirs to canoe and ATV ride. It rained on us every day, but we didn't mind. The cabin was really nice to come "home" to. There was a meteor shower happening while we were there and it was stunning to see the Milky Way without all the light pollution.

Thank you to the Forest Service for letting us rent out this historical cabin. I would like to encourage them to continue to make this area accessible to the public and to keep the fees reasonable so that families like ours can enjoy it.

There was no toilet paper or I would have given you 5 ⭐️

It would be nice to have water im the kitchen sink. Also a list of silverware and dishes that you need to bring would be helpful. I see that you still mention having a refrigerator and there’s not one. I was aware of that from my last visit but new renters would not be and this could be a problem. Enjoyed having enough firewood and had a great time.

Lovely setting, peaceful and quiet.
There was no potable water and no water running in bathroom or kitchen sink.
There was no frig a indicated in information.
No matches to go with propane stove.
The Sheep Creek Geological Scenic Drive was well worth it.

Excellent stay

Amazing! Very clean! Tons of firewood. BBQ that goes over the fire pit with seats around it. You don’t really need to bring anything except the food to cook. All Utensils, cast iron pans, plates, and some games. There is a very nice stove inside and full running water with a bathroom inside. Solar powers the lights for the rooms and having running water all around the cabin is very nice. I wasn’t expecting all the amenity’s so far away! The beds are very comfortable and you will get a good nights rest. Walking around the property is very fun seeing the old horse barn and a beautiful landscape. I’ve been to a ton of fire lookouts cabins and stations all over and this one is by far the best one I’ve been to. The night sky full of stars and a nice comfortable fire will make memories you will talk about for years! Its wayyy better than an Airbnb! I wish I could live there forever! Thank you to the Forest Service for this amazing place we can stay at!

The weather was fantastic. They said there was no water available until June 1st, so we scheduled for the 19th so that water would be turned on, but it wasn't. That was a bummer. The cabin was full of dead bugs and the toilet had mold growing in it. The sink was full of dead bugs as well as the shower. It would have been nice if they would have cleaned it up before we came. We left it better than we got it. I finally just kept filling the toilet bowl with water from a bucket and cleaned the inside toilet so that we didn't have to use the out house. That worked. The cabin gives you a rustic feel and it was nice to sit out on the porch in the cool 67 degree weather in the evening. It would be nice if they sprayed for tics, because we found one that we think my grandkids dragged in from walking through the tall grass in the front of the cabin. It was very peaceful and quiet and at least the solar lights worked at night. I guess you will have to be the judge on weather you like it or not. We liked it, but felt the Forrest Service could have done more to prepare the cabin for guest prior to their arrival since we booked so far in advance. I would suggest they cut down the tall grass and spray for tics and bugs not only in the grass around the cabin, but in the cabin as well. I would also suggest they clean up all the dead bugs and flies before guest arrive. Just a health concern and courtesy on their part.

The aspens were in their full glory! The cabin was (mostly) quiet, other than many elk hunters on noisy UTVs using the road to the cabin as a turn-around. Overall, our stay was a delightful family get-together.

Nice to have an indoor toilet. Enjoyed the refreshing air and cool nights. Would do this again.

Dad and 17 year old son from Alabama. Visited for one week in Early June 2022.
The high desert landscapes at Colton Guard Station in the Ashley National Forest are gorgeous beyond description. We enjoyed millions of brightly colored flowers, fragrant sagebrush, the bustle of marmots, grouse, ground squirrels, birds and deer. Driving the forest roads to the canyon rim (within the few miles around the cabin) was genuinely breathtaking. It is as dramatic as seeing the Grand Canyon but you are alone to enjoy it all to yourself! While there, we found and cracked open some geodes. I would highly recommend a 4-wheel drive vehicle with a high ground clearance for exploring the forest roads.
The Colton Spring Guard Station site includes 5 buildings; the main cabin, a large bunkhouse, a cellar (being used as a woodshed), a storage shed formerly used for gasoline, a horse barn, and the vault outhouse. All of the buildings are a fairly well-maintained glimpse of mid-last century with clean, simple, but well-planned functionality in an attractive farmhouse-style architecture. A solar panel upgrade provides limited use electric light to the main cabin. No power outlets are available. There are fireplaces in the cabin and bunkhouse and a large propane stove. No refrigerator on site.
No water for us to use in the kitchen or bathroom this trip since the cabin remained “winterized”. Also no water from Colton Spring due to the remnants of cattle grazing and the source of the spring being not easily accessible. The stream coming from the spring contains black piping used for filling stock tanks further down the valley and while obtrusive, this is public use land, so you are only alone until the next car full of people or horse riders show up to look around the property.
Other activities that are relatively close by are the Red Fleet dinosaur trackway, Moonshine Arch, Flaming gorge, big brush creek cave, the McConkie Ranch petroglyphs, and Dinosaur National Monument.