Carbon River Ranger Station

It was a basic ranger station. What can I say. There wasn't even any public restroom there. Had to drive down to the carbon river entrance ( the old ranger station location) to use the restroom. Also, one of the rangers there really could use some more training on interacting with the public. I would describe his demeanor as acerbic at best. Wish I could say it was just maybe a "bad day" but I... It was a basic ranger station. What can I say. There wasn't even any public restroom there. Had to drive down to the carbon river entrance ( the old ranger station location) to use the restroom. Also, one of the rangers there really could use some more training on interacting with the public. I would describe his demeanor as acerbic at best. Wish I could say it was just maybe a "bad day" but I have used this station before. Same Ranger, same castigating attitude. I guess every profession has to have at least one.....🙄 Just be warned. It's not you, it's him.

Ranger was on the phone when we stepped in, so we looked around a bit. Lots of useful information, and when he got off the phone, he had us keep some of the pamphlets. The entrance up ahead doesn't have much parking at all - we visited on a weekday when it was still winter (right at the end of winter), so I imagine in a weekend, or in any other season, parking might be impossible to come by, unles... Ranger was on the phone when we stepped in, so we looked around a bit. Lots of useful information, and when he got off the phone, he had us keep some of the pamphlets. The entrance up ahead doesn't have much parking at all - we visited on a weekday when it was still winter (right at the end of winter), so I imagine in a weekend, or in any other season, parking might be impossible to come by, unless you just park in this lot and make a trek to the park entrance. Five stars for the ranger station. Read on if you're planning to visit. Over the winter from '22-23, many trees on the loop next to the parking lot (on the right side, facing the park) fell. This made parts of the loop apparently inaccessible, and we didn't want to accidentally harm or disturb nature, so we stayed on obvious trails. This trail wasn't particularly exciting to us, and it was a bit steep, so if you aren't fit, I wouldn't recommend it. We also went on a trail straight ahead from the parking lot. It started off paved, but eventually became a trail along the Carbonado River, partially covered in snow. It was magical. I usually don't like huge wide trails like this, but we saw some nature (cute squirrels and birds), tons of lush vegetation, great views of the river (and little tiny waterfalls for people who like that sound), and we even got snowed on a little! Since it was winter, and in the middle of the week, almost nobody was around. It was one of the most magical, spiritual, amazing experiences of my life. We went deep enough that we could even see some glaciers. I HIGHLY recommend this route for the winter time. There was almost no snow on the road, and just enough snow in the path that it felt like a winter wonderland. I hope I'm lucky enough to have another experience like this for the rest of my life. And outside of gas, the experience was FREE. The ranger told us that it was free that day - no paying for parking or National Park entrance or anything. I don't understand how I got so lucky. I am blessed. I hope just ONE of you who reads this review gets as lucky as I got.