May Queen Campground is located at the far western end of Turquoise Lake in a shaded lodgepole pine forest. Conveniently perched near the Charles Boustead Memorial Tunnel, May Queen offers easy access to boating, fishing and hiking. Incredible views of the Holy Cross and Mount Massive Wildernesses can be seen from the area, and visitors are likely to see native wildlife like chipmunks, beavers and porcupines. The Charles Boustead Memorial Tunnel is a 5.5-mile tunnel that transports water from the Fryingpan and Roaring Fork River Basins through the Continental Divide to the Arkansas River Basin by emptying water into Turquoise Lake.
The campground sits at an elevation of 9,900 ft. on Turquoise Lake. Most campsites are situated on a level, open field along a creek, feeding into the lake. Six first come-first, serve-sites are perched on the wooded hillside above the creek. Nearby is the Mount Massive Wilderness area, a 30,540 acre expanse encompassing Mount Massive, Colorado's second highest peak at 14,421 feet. Much of the wilderness is above timberline with many alpine plant communities and permanent snowfields.
Nearby is the abandoned bed of the Colorado Midland Railroad, built in the 1890s. The trail is hard to trace, but visitors may find artifacts in the gulch it once crossed. The town of Leadville, a historic gold and silver mining town, is a fun place to explore with the family. Drive on the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway to Independence Pass, one of the highest paved passes in Colorado. Continue over the pass to the town of Aspen, a well-known ski resort town.
Activities
- Swimming Site
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Camping
- Historic & Cultural Site
- Boating
Amenities
- Campfire Rings
- Drinking Water
- Drinking Water (Hand Pump)
- Firewood Vender
- Host
- Lake Access
- Picnic Tables
- Self Pay Station
- Trash Collection
- Vault Toilets
Big Meadows is located in the San Juan Mountains in south-central Colorado, about 11 miles west of South Fork. The campground is lightly wooded with spruce trees, creating a beautiful meadow atmosphere. The Rio Grande National Forest spans 1.86 million acres in south-central Colorado. The Continental Divide runs for 236 miles along most of the forest's western border, presenting a myriad of ecosystems from alpine desert to dense wilderness.
The campground meanders up a mountainside above Big Meadows Reservoir in a series of loops. As a sub-alpine region, the campground gets more rainfall than the opposite side of the lake, resulting in plentiful wildflowers and aspens surrounding the campsites.
An accessible fishing pier, located on the north shore of the reservoir, allows anglers to cast for rainbow, brown and brook trout. Hunting, boating and hiking are also popular pastimes. Hikers and horseback riders will enjoy the 6-mile Archuleta Trail. The trail accesses the Weminuche Wilderness, Colorado's largest wilderness, which boasts the headwaters of dozens of major streams and rivers that feed into the Rio Grande and San Juan rivers.
Activities
- Day Use Area
- Wildlife Viewing
- Fishing
- Camping
- Boating
Amenities
- Accessible Sites
- Cell Phone Service
- Drinking Water (peak season)
- Firewood
- Host
- Lake Access
- Pit Toilets
- Self Pay Station
- Picnic Table
- Grills/Fire Ring
- Tent Pad
- Quiet Area
- Accessibility
- Accessible Occupant Message
- Privacy
West Fork Campground sits near the West Fork San Juan River in a secluded 10-acre area, just over a mile from Highway 160. Visitors enjoy the area for its hiking opportunities and plentiful solitude. The campground is situated among a forest of mixed conifers, where sites have sun and shade. The West Fork can be heard, but not seen from the campground.
The West Fork and nearby Wolf Creek offer fishing opportunities, but are heavily fished streams. Only skilled and patient fishermen have much luck in these waters. The West Fork Trail, also known as the Rainbow Trail, leads into the Weminuche Wilderness from a trailhead a mile beyond the campground. The first portion of the trail passes through private property, so please stay on the trail and leave the gates as you find them.
Trailheads for Windy Pass and Treasure Mountain Trails are located across Highway 160 from the West Fork Road turnoff. Treasure Falls, located off Highway 160 about three miles from the campground, is an impressive 100-foot waterfall with a short hike leading to its base.
Activities
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Camping
- Boating
Amenities
- Drinking Water
- Host
- Vault Toilets
- Grills/Fire Ring
- Quiet Area
- Picnic Table
- Fire Pit
Haviland Lake Campground is situated on its beautiful namesake within the San Juan National Forest, 18 miles north of Durango. Visitors enjoy the area for its canoeing, fishing and hiking opportunities in a scenic, natural setting.
The campground is situated on the shore of Haviland Lake, among shady, towering ponderosa pines, at an elevation of 8,705 feet. Many sites have lake views and easy shoreline access. Campers are awarded spectacular views of the Hermosa Cliffs across the lake.
Haviland Lake is an 80-acre, no-wake lake with excellent boating, canoeing and fishing opportunities. An accessible fishing dock is located on the lakeshore. Anglers cast for rainbow and brown trout. A Colorado Division of Wildlife fishing license is required to fish. Several trailheads are in the vicinity. The Forebay Lake Trail begins in the campground and leads to small Forebay Lake, just over a mile east of the campground. The historic Rico-to-Rockwood Wagon Road passes through Haviland and Chris Park. Built in the late 1800s, the road was used for six years until the railway opened.
Activities
- Horseback Riding
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Camping
- Boating
Help tip for Amenities information
- Accessible Vault Toilets
- Drinking Water
- Parking Area
- Electricity Hookup
- Grills/Fire Ring
- Privacy
- Picnic Table
- Platform
- Quiet Area
- Tent Pad
A camping trip to the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park makes for a beautiful getaway for sightseeing, stargazing, and hiking. The park protects the most dramatic section of the Gunnison River Canyon; no other canyon in North America combines the narrow opening, sheer walls, and startling depths of Black Canyon. Perched on the South Rim of the Black Canyon, this campground is surrounded by scrub oak forests and sits atop ancient hard rocks. Deer, grouse, bears, and bobcats are known to frequent the area.
Take one of many spectacular hikes such as the Oak Flat Loop Trail, and watch for the black-billed magpie. In summer, catch an evening educational program in the campground amphitheater.
Activities
- Day Use Area
- Wildlife Viewing
- Hiking
- Camping
- Amphitheater
- Backpacking
- Birding
- Cross Country Skiing
- Evening Programs
- Fishing
- Guided Interpretive Walks
- Interpretive Programs
- Photography
- Picnicking
- Scenic Drive
- Star Gazing
- Visitor Center
- Wilderness
Amenities
- Accessible Campsites
- Accessible Drinking Water
- Accessible Parking
- Campfire Programs
- Campfire Rings
- Drinking Water (peak season)
- Electric Hookups
- Entrance Station
- Food Storage Locker
- Host
- Paved Roads
- Pets Allowed
- Picnic Tables
- RV Parking
- Self Pay Station
- Tent Pads
- Vault Toilets
- Accessibility
- Electricity Hookup
- Accessible Occupant Message
