Staying overnight
Before your visit
Review the MRS website
Be sure to read the the whole page below and review the following additional pages:
- Visit
- Safety
- MRS Community Agreement
- Lodging
- Dining
- Field areas (for researchers).
Pack your gear
For those staying at the MRS for summer courses or research, please bring the items noted below (at a minimum). The nearest location to purchase any supplies is 20 min away in Nederland.
Bedding
- Sleeping bag, or sheets and blankets for twin sized beds.
- Pillow, pillow case.
Toiletries & personal care
- Soap/Shampoo
- Towel/washcloths
- Toothbrush/paste
- Personal medications
- Shower sandals
Optional, but recommended
- Cell phone
- Cash for dining hall (if you have not pre-paid via your course tuition etc) or bookstore
- Shower shoes
- Laundry detergent
- Quarters for laundry machines
Clothing
- Layers of clothing
- i.e. lightweight base, fleece and/or wool jacket/pullover, puffy vest, plus shell
- Shorts
- Warm socks
- Warm hat & gloves.
- Raincoat and pants (shell).
- Footwear appropriate for field work
- Light to medium weight water proof/resistant hiking boots or shoes
- Brimmed hat or cap
Field gear
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Daypack
- Water bottles/bladder
- Flashlight/headlamp
Researchers should also check the researcher safety tasks page for additional recommended field safety gear.
See our location and how to get here
See our visit page. Carpooling is strongly encouraged.
Upon your arrival
Park
The main parking area is located at the entrance to the station near the Marr Alpine Laboratory, and past the propane tanks. Long-term parking in the upper portion of the station beyond the dining hall is discouraged. No parking permits are required. Please drive around the station only when necessary to minimize dust and reduce wear and tear on roads. The speed limit is 15 miles per hour within the station property. Walking or bicycling at the station is strongly encouraged.
Check in
All residents and visitors must check-in at the John W. Marr Alpine Laboratory upon arrival and departure unless other arrangements are made. Please arrive during business hours, Monday-Friday 8am-4pm. If you plan to arrive after hours, please make necessary arrangements and look for housing assignments near the front door of the Marr Laboratory.
Sign safety waiver
During check in, you must complete and agree to the MRS Safety Waiver (PDF). The one-page PDF is fillable, so consider downloading, completing, and printing it before your visit. See also: MRS emergency guideline packet (PDF) and our Safety webpage.
Summer course students: Attend morning orientation
A morning site orientation and safety briefing will be held to familiarize you with the station facilities. Course tuition includes room and board. Summer basic cabins are small and rustic, have electricity, an electric heater, and twin sized beds (bunk beds). Most everyone will have a roommate and cabin assignments will be provided the first morning. Cabins must be vacated by 10am the last day of class.
Lodging
We offer housing for students, researchers, organized K-12 events, and conference attendees.
- 1 lodge for 32 people (8 sleeping rooms, 4 beds each). Year round.
- 2 apartments (2 bedroom). Year round.
- 4 summer cooking cabins (1-2 bedroom). June 01 - Sept 30
- 36 summer basic cabins (1-2 people). June 01 - Sept 30
For more information, see the Lodging page.
Course students: Your tuition covers lodging. Summer courses use the basic cabins. Winter courses use the lodge.
Summer basic cabins
Cabins are small and rustic, have electricity, an electric heater, and twin sized beds. No sheets, blankets, or pillows are provided.
Bathhouse/showers
Those staying overnight in the lodge have bathrooms and showers near their rooms. Those staying in cabins have access to the bathhouse with separate mens/womens bathroom and showers. There is no fee for showers. Please remember to bring your own soap/shampoo/towels. Additional bathrooms for day use are located in the Marr Alpine Lab.
Toiletries & other supplies
No supplies (toiletries, personal care, clothing, etc.) are available for purchase at the MRS. The nearest supplies are available in Nederland, a 15 minute drive from the MRS.
Laundry
There is a pay laundry on-site @ $1.25/load. The laundry room is located at the north end of the bathhouse. No change machine / change is available, please bring your own quarters. No laundry soap is available, please bring your own.
Quiet hours
You are welcome to come and go from the station. Quiet time is expected from 10 pm to 6 am.
NO pets
Although we love them, pets are not permitted at the Mountain Research Station. Year round residents/employees may have pets by special permission.
Guests
Guests are welcome at the station, but should check in at the Marr Lab administrative office and plan to leave before 10 pm. Guests are welcome at the dining hall but must pay cash for all meals. Meals may be purchased in advance with cash at the Marr Lab administrative office, or can be purchased with cash at the dining hall with exact change. Overnights guests are charged at $10/night and should check in with the Station Manager.
Check out
Cabins must be vacated by 10am the day of your departure.
Food
The Mountain Research Station has its own dining hall serving excellent food in summer. All meals include vegetarian options. Vegan meals should be requested in advance. Service is available early June through mid-August, when summer field courses are in residence.
For more information (e.g., hours and prices), see the Dining page.
Summer course students: Your tuition covers dining all meals.
Winter course students should check with their instructor.
Special diets
The dining hall can meet most dietary requirements, such as allergies, vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, etc. Visitors with special dietary requirements must inform the MRS at the time of class registration or lodging reservations. Please be aware that our food may contain or come into contact with common allergens, such as dairy, eggs, wheat, soybeans, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish or wheat. While we take steps to minimize risk and safely handle the foods that contain potential allergens, please be advised that cross contamination may occur.
Snacks
No food items besides dining hall meals are available for purchase at the MRS. The nearest snack options are in Nederland, a 15 minute drive from the MRS.
Food Storage
To prevent wildlife encounters no food is allowed in cabins with exception of “cooking cabins” that have kitchen facilities. Metal food lockers for food storage are provided near all cabins. Lockers are large and can accommodate coolers.
Communications
Phones
The Marr Alpine Lab has a phone for guests. Cell phone coverage is available, but patchy. AT&T and Verizon are the best carriers. Cell phones may work near campus and above treeline, but they often do NOT work in the forest.
WiFi & computers
WiFi is available near some areas of the station (Marr Alpine Lab, Moores-Collins Lodge, Kiowa Lab, & Dining Hall) but not Megaron. Log on with UCBGuest by opening a web browser. Desktop computers for students are available in the Marr Alpine Lab library. Visiting guests and researchers...please ask staff about log on options.
Mail & packages
Long-term residents are encouraged to get a PO Box from the US Post Office in Nederland; however, short-term residents may have mail delivered to the station. The USPS will not deliver large boxes. Residents must make their own arrangements for pick-up in Nederland. Both United Parcel Service and FedEx deliver directly to the Mountain Research Station. It is strongly encouraged to use one of these carriers for incoming packages larger than a letter. Residents are responsible for postage and payment of all outgoing shipments. The MRS will not pick up packages at the USPS office in Nederland, please use UPS or FedEx.
Recreation
Hiking & exploration
Numerous hiking trails and other recreational opportunities surround the Mountain Research Station. Nearby are the Brainard Lake Recreation Area, Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests, and Indian Peaks Wilderness Area and is approximately 20 miles south of Rocky Mountain National Park. Trail guides, maps and other resources are available on the internet to help navigate through the area.
Volleyball
The station's volleyball court is across the road from the dining hall.
Ping pong
A table is sometimes available in the Megaron building.
Want to see more visitor info?
From research and coursework to public visits, there are many ways to engage at the Mountain Research Station.
Please review our visitor pages to help you plan ahead and ensure a safe, enjoyable experience.