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I'm planning on going for Wilson Peak and Gladstone from Bilk Basin this summer and was thinking about camping high in Bilk Basin for this, but I have a few questions:
1. Does anyone have any pictures of the old mining cabin at around 12,800 recently? Does it look like it has degraded significantly since the pics from 2010 or earlier?
2. Is there a reason sleeping in that cabin wouldn't be legal? I've looked into camping regulations in Lizard Head Wilderness and nothing makes me think it'd be a problem.
3. Any general advice for coming up that way?

I always camp on the knoll just east of the small lake at 12063 in upper Bilk basin, where there are several excellent spots. And, water. Some footwear for the Bilk Creek crossing is also recommended.
Enjoy - it's a much more pleasant approach than the standard route.

I don't think there are any legal issues with sleeping in that cabin. It has a lot of animal droppings in it though. I'd bring a tent.

I doubt hantavirus is a thing at that altitude but I wouldn’t want to test it. Hantavirus in general is a thing in the four corners and desert southwest and it is found in mice droppings. Agree with Scott on using a tent

A lot of old/abandoned cabins have exposed nails, so I personally wouldn’t go exploring inside without an up-to-date tetanus shot. And I don’t know how much you shift around in your sleep, but missing and/or weak floorboards are also a common hazard.

While I am in favor of taking advantage of an old structure’s shelter, I usually do so by figuring out which side provides the most shelter from the wind, then settling in as close as safely possible to the exterior of that wall.

Hi. I hiked into Bilk Basin from sunshine Mesa in 2009. Awesome approach. I drove there August 2024 with the intention of hiking in with my cousin, only to find the trail closed for restoration. It did not seem from the sign that the trail would be reopening again soon or ever. So I would contact the ranger station for that district.

I’m pretty sure there’s a trail into Bilk Basin from the southwest. I only mentioned this because the report you were citing from 2010 is the same trailhead that I used in 2009 and found closed last year.

Thanks for all the replies! I didn't consider scat at all, it sounds like a good idea to just find a spot near (but 100 feet from!) the water around 12k, although I'm excited to check out the cabin on the way up to the ridge.

Regarding access, I called the Uncompahgre National Forest office and they didn't think there was any reason the trail would be closed this summer. I'm planning on heading up next weekend (the 21st) so I'll post a report on here updating with info for access, trail conditions, and road conditions to the trailhead. Thanks again for your wisdom everyone!

That is great news - good luck!!