Campground Guide Southwestern Public Lands

This guide provides information on National Forest and Bureau of Land Management campgrounds and day-use areas in southwestern Colorado. The map, table, and descriptions inside will help you learn more about these facilities and the amenities they offer. Facilities Camping

Most of the campgrounds and picnic areas in Campgrounds open when sites are snow free, this guide have tables, fire grates, and centrally with full operation from about Memorial Day located toilets. Some offer a more primitive to after Labor Day. Some stay open longer, with experience, while others have modern reduced services and fees. The most popular conveniences. campgrounds tend to be near larger lakes, major highways and communities; these are often full on Partnering with the USDA Forest Service since 1975 Campground roads and parking areas are summer weekends and holidays. Campgrounds are Rocky Mountain RecreationPartnering Company with has the been USDA a leader in the managed usually gravel; a few are paved. Most, but not intended to be temporary sites for vacationers, with recreation industryForest for 30 Service years, providing since 1975 management services to all, offer drinking water. At some, you must a time limit on stays. Most permit 14 days. A few campgrounds, marinas, day use areas and other recreation sites for Federal, remove your own trash; others offer trash service National Forest sites allow up to 28 days. State and RockyLocal Agencies. Mountain Our Recreation mission at CompanyRocky Mountain has been Recreation is to or sanitary dumping stations. A few provide optimize the recreation potential of our natural environment while a leader in the managed recreation industry for electrical hookups for recreational vehicles. Individual campsites can accommodate up to preserving the inherent characteristics of the area, and to offer our guests the Many offer universally accessible (barrier-free) eight people and two vehicles. Some campgrounds best customer30 years, service, providing ensuring management they leave with services a positive to and memorable picnic tables, fire grates, and restrooms. allow you to pay extra for an additional vehicle. campgrounds,experience, thusmarinas, “creating day usepositive areas memories”. and other Our staff will be happy to use our decades of managerial experience to ensure Group campsites vary in how many people they recreation sites for Federal, State and Local Fee campgrounds have campground hosts on you and your family enjoy the camping or boating experience you are looking can accommodate, as do group picnic sites. Check Agencies. Our mission at Rocky Mountain site or self-serve registration and fee-payment for. From our headquarters in Southern California, our goal is to provide a with campground hosts or our offices listed on back Recreation is to optimize the recreation potential stations at entrances, where regulations and clean, safe and enjoyable place for you to enjoy the outdoors. for more information. Some campgrounds offer of our natural environment while preserving the information are posted. Prices range from Visit us at www.rockymountainrec.com campfire programs in summer. inherent characteristics of the area, and to offer $10 – $30 for individual sites (double sites (800)416-6992 our guests the best customer service, ensuring cost more), and $50 – $175 for group sites. Contact the San Juan Public Lands Center at USFS fee campgrounds are run by private 970-247-4874 or [email protected] or more they leave with a positive and memorable concessionaires under permit. information. experience, thus “creating positive memories”. Our staff will be happy to use our decades of managerial experience to ensure you and your family enjoy the camping or boating experience Advance Reservations you are looking for. From our headquarters in Southern California, our goal is to provide a Advance reservations for many of the facilities described in this guide are available through the National clean, safe and enjoyable place for you to enjoy Recreation Reservation System. Information on which campsites and picnic sites may be reserved can be the outdoors. found inside. Reservations can be made up to 240 days in advance for individual sites, and up to 360 days in advance Visit us at for group sites. You may pay by credit card over the phone or on-line. In addition to a camping fee, a www.rockymountainrec.com non-refundable reservation fee is charged. Changes, no-shows and cancellations are subject to service fees. (800)416-6992 TO BOOK RESERVATIONS: Special thanks to Rocky Mountain Call toll-free 877-444-6777; TDD 877-833-6777, Recreation Company, or go to www.recreation.gov, campground concessionaire for the San Juan National Forest, for funding the For customer service, call 888-448-1474. printing of this guide.

Dispersed Camping This Publication is created for you by Association.

Camping outside of campgrounds is usually allowed, but you’ll find some areas posted as closed. The San Juan Mountains Association can get you involved in helping the agencies manage the In popular areas, dispersed sites have toilets or fire natural environment of the San Juans. As a nonprofit partner with the USFS and BLM, our grates. To avoid damaging vegetation, camp in mission is to promote and provide education, interpretation, information, and conservation of already used areas. Never level a site or dig trenches; cultural and natural resources. Programs and volunteer opportunities include: instead pick a level site with good drainage. • Refer to the appropriate Motorized Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) for more specific dispersed EDUCATION CONSERVATION INTERPRETATION/ camping requirements, including where it is • Community Lectures • Leave No Trace and Tread INFORMATION allowed and what motor vehicle use is legal to • Workshops and Field Lightly! Training • Visitor Information access the camp area. MVUMs are available free Seminars • Public/Private Partnerships Specialists from most San Juan NF offices. • Cultural Site Stewardship • Volunteer Services • Wilderness Information • Keep vehicles within 300 feet of any Forest • Guided Nature Walks • Adopt-A-Road Program Specialists system roads, but only do so without causing • Ghost Riders resource damage. • Books and Maps, etc. • Wherever possible, locate your site 100’ from water. Visit us at SJMA.org • You cannot camp more than 14 days in any one The San Juan Mountains Association is a nonprofit spot in the backcountry. 501 (c)3 equal opportunity service provider. For more • Pack out all trash. information on membership or to purchase area maps and books, please call 970-247-4874 or visit our website at: www.sjma.org

Edition 16/0430 Columbine Public Lands Campgrounds & Day Use Areas

Uncompahgre NF San Miguel Columbine County Be RCarefulanger Distric witht Fire Gunnison NF San Juan National Forest

LIZARD HEAD ¤£550 Silverton Southwestern Colorado may look lush and

3 19" 78 !? SILVERTON green, but Lthisege isn darid country that can be VISITOR CENTER Rio Grande NF Admdangerouslyinistrative Facility dry in summer or fall. Be careful SOUTH MINERAL !@withPUB LfireIC LAND S– C EaN Tspark,ER !A a puffLOOKOU Tof wind and nearby LITTLE MOLAS flammableADMIN OFFICE/C OMPmaterialsOUND canWOR K combineCENTER/OTHER to cause " !? !7 ANDREWS LAKE 9 " disaster before you know it. 1 Transportation Road ¤£160 US Highway )"250 County Road • If there are current fireNatio narestrictions,l Forest as Rico Trail «¬151 State Highway 629 Hinsdale County a public notice, they Swillystem R obead posted WEMINUCHE San Juan Recreation Sites 8 7 WILDERNESS County 5 " at campground entrances, Forest ENGINEER MTN !7 WILLIAMS CREEK GUARD STATION entrance signs and trailheads. Check " 17 Administrativwithe Boun dcampgroundaries hosts or with SIG CREEK National Monument Forest Boundary GRANITE PEAK Ranger District Division GUARD STATION Wilderdistrictness offices. «¬145 Columbine Ranger District !7 County Boundary WEMINUCHE • In campgrounds,Pagos acampfires Ranger District are allowed WILDERNESS UNC NF Adjacent National Electra Mancos/Dolores Ranger District Emerald Forest Boundary Lake Major onlyWater Bo dwithiny a Nfireon-Nati ongrate,al Forest L anandd firewood Lake HAVILAND LAKE Municipality Bureau of Land Management HERMOSA " R must fit inside the metal ring. E V 6 I CREEK CHRIS PARK " R • If camping in the backcountry, don’t WILDERNESS E 3 N I P Williams Crk build new fire rings/fire pits - use a Reservoir LOWER VALLECITO " camp stove or an existing fire ring/ HERMOSA TRANSFER PARK 20 " 21 " fire pit. Fire rings/fire pits scar 10 4" VALLECITO PINE RIVER 1 WORK CENTER " )"124 7 FLORIDA 16 the scenery and sterilize the soil 1 !7 2

0

6 ")201 "250 MILLER CREEK 11 ) MIDDLE MOUNTAIN beneath. Don’t build a fire beneath " ")252 Lemon " Vallecito 15 12 Reservoir " PINE POINT overhanging branches. KROEGER Reservoir " 8" 5" GRAHAM CREEK Archuleta " ANIMAS EAST ANIMAS SNOWSLIDE OVERLOOK "13 NORTH CANYON County • Regulations require fires be put out 18 2" !7 )"243 14 )"501 OLD TIMERS 1 3 completely every time you leave camp JUNCTION 6 CREEK 7" Morajo gor Gr idto tic bed.s = 5 m Pourile inter vwateral over ashes and )"240 )"204 Mstirinor Guntilrid tic scold. = 1 mil eStir inter vwetal ashes until there SAN JUAN PUBLIC La Plata LANDS CENTER County is no smoke or heat. ¤£160 MDR 3/27/2015 ¤£160 6 !@ 6 629.B 2 2 • Do not burn trash. Some items are 6 9 Vicinity Map Durango Bayfield COLUMBINE harmful to the environment. Plastics ¬140 Uncompahgre NF Gunnison NF « DISTRICT OFFICE !7 ¤£160 and tin will not burn to ash, and the !? Rio Grande NF COLE RANCH

BLM Private Land H PAGOSA A resulting debris is messy and difficult to T S A N 6 U RANGER 75 DISTRICT National Forest Other District ¤£550 clean up. J U A N CHIMNEY ROCK N F NATIONAL MANCOS-DOLORES 172 RANGER COLUMBINE 0 4 8 16 «¬ 521 MONUMENT • Do not park hot vehicles over dry grass. «¬ DISTRICT RANGER Kilometers 537 DISTRICT COLOR•AD ONever toss cigarette butts - extinguish Miles 334 151 NEW MEXICO Ignacio )" «¬ Carson NF 0 2.5 5 10 approx. 300 mileands southw edisposest from of safely.

Key Camp Group Picnic Reserve RV Name Location Elev. Services Map Sites Sites Sites Sites Size 1 Andrews Lake 37 mi. N of Durango 10,800’ 4

2 Animas Overlook 11 mi. N of Durango 9000’ 4

3 Chris Park 18 mi. N of Durango 7900’ 3 3 50’

4 Florida 22 mi. NE of Durango 8300’ 20 1 1 25’

5 Graham Creek 18 mi. N of Bayfield 7700’ 25 15 35’

6 Haviland Lake 18 mi. N of Durango 8100’ 43 5 26 45’ 2 group 7 Junction Creek 5 mi. NW of Durango 7300’ 46 29 60’ + indiv. 8 Kroeger 18 mi. NW of Durango 8900’ 10 25’

9 Little Molas 4 mi. SW of Silverton 10,900’ 10 35’

10 Lower Hermosa 14 mi. NW of Durango 7700’ 19 30’

11 Middle Mountain 23 mi. N of Bayfield 7700’ 24 35’

12 Miller Creek 18 mi. NE of Durango 8200’ 12 4 45’

13 North Canyon 19 mi. NW of Bayfield 7700’ 21 12 40’

14 Old Timers 16 mi. N of Bayfield 7700’ 10

15 Pine Point 20 mi. N of Bayfield 7700’ 30 15 40’

16 Pine River 27 mi. N of Bayfield 8100’ 6 16’

17 Sig Creek 32 mi. N of Durango 9200’ 9 25’

18 Snowslide 18 mi. NW of Durango 8800’ 13 35’

19 South Mineral 7 mi. W of Silverton 9800’ 26 35’

20 Transfer Park 23 mi. NE of Durango 8500’ 25 35’

21 Vallecito 22 mi. N of Bayfield 7900’ 80 7 33 45’

Campground Fees Charged Electricity Horse Corral Symbols Used Picnic Area Drinking Water Rafting RV Dump Station in this Guide: Group Camping Fishing Trailhead Restrooms Barrier-Free Boat Launch Horse Facilities Pagosa Public Lands Campgrounds & Day Use Areas

Be Careful with Fire Pagosa Hinsdale County AdditionalRanger District Info: San Juan National Forest

Rio Grande NF Legend For detailed campground WEMINUCHE Administrative Facility WILDERNESS information, including Mineral !@ PUBLIC LANDS CENTER !A LOOKOUT Emerald photos of campsites, scan County !? ADMIN OFFICE/COMPOUND !7 WORK CENTER/OTHER Lake PALISADES this QR code with your HORSE R Transportation E " " V I 3 Road ¤£160 US Highwaysmartphone,)"250 County Roa dor visit: R CIMARRONA National Forest E 6 TEAL Trail «¬151 State Highway 629 N System Road I Williams Crk http://www.rockymountainrec.com/ P " WILLIAMS CREEK 8 Reservoir Recreation Sites " camp/sanjuan.htm

4 " 11 0 WILLIAMS CREEK BRIDGE 2 " Wolf Creek Rio Grande Administrative Boundaries 2 Pass

2 County " National Monument Forest Boundary 0 PIEDRA WEST 6 " 10 Ranger District Division FORK Wilderness For additional campground Columbine Ranger District 7 County Boundary ¤£160 !7 Painformation,gosa Ranger District including 7 6 SILVER FALLS UNC NF Adjacent National Archuleta 6 Mancos/Dolores Ranger District GUARD STATION Forest Boundary specific USFS information, Vallecito County Major Water Body Non-National Forest Land 1 " Municipality scan this QR code with Reservoir 3 6 4 JOB EAST your smartphone, or visit: CORPS FORK http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sanjuan/ TURKEY SPRINGS TREASURE GUARD STATION GUARD STATION home/?cid=stelprdb5362505 !7 !7 !7 PAGOSA SOUTH ¤£160 6 DISTRICT SAN JUAN 2 )"600 9 OFFICE WILDERNESS LOWER !=?!= PIEDRA Pagosa Conejos " County For campground 5 ¤£160 Springs SQUARE TOP UTE GUARD STATION information, and to " !7 756 9 make reservations, scan CHIMNEY ROCK this QR code with your NATIONAL )"326 MONUMENT 651 smartphone, or visit: 537 !A EIGHT MILE Major Grid tics = 5 mile interval BLANCO RIVER www.recreation.gov and search for )"334 «¬151 LOOKOUT " Minor Grid tics = 1 mile interval 1 San Juan Forest, CO

)"500 MDR 3/16/2015

¤£84 Vicinity Map For information on the Uncompahgre NF Gunnison NF Tres Rios BLM area, scan Navajo Reservoir Rio Grande NF H PAGOSA A this QR code with your T S A N U RANGER DISTRICT COLORADO J U A N smartphone, or visit: N F MANCOS-DOLORES http://www.blm.gov/co/st/ 0 4 8 16 RANGER COLUMBINE NEW MEXICO BLM Private Land DISTRICT RANGER Kilometers en/BLM_Programs/recreation/DISTRICT COLORADO Miles National Forest Other District NEW MEXICO recreation_areas0/tres_rios_field_office.htmlCarson NF 0 2.5 5 10 approx. 300 miles southwest from Denver

Key Camp Group Picnic Reserve Name Location Elev. RV Size Services Map Sites Sites Sites Sites 1 Blanco River Group 15 mi. SE of Pagosa 7300’ 1 1 35’

2 Bridge 19 mi. NW of Pagosa 7800’ 19 35’

3 Cimarrona 27 mi. NW of Pagosa 8400’ 21 35’

4 East Fork 11 mi. NE of Pagosa 7700’ 26 17 35’

5 Lower Piedra 18 mi. E of Bayfield 6600’ 17 35’

6 Palisades 28 mi. NW of Pagosa 8400’ 12 12 45’

7 Piedra Picnic Area 16 mi. NW of Pagosa 7600’ 4

8 Teal 25 mi. NW of Pagosa 8300’ 16 35’

9 Ute 17 mi. W of Pagosa 6800’ 26 35’

10 West Fork 15 mi. NE of Pagosa 7900’ 28 15 35’

11 Williams Creek 23 mi. NW of Pagosa 8200’ 61 32 45’

Avoid Conflict with Wildlife

Wild animals are residents of this diverse terrain. Campground visitors are likely DOGS AND WILDLIFE DON’T MIX! to see squirrels, chipmunks, marmots, deer, elk, skunks, porcupines, racoons and Dogs must be on a leash in campgrounds and must be leashed or under voice many of the some 300 species of birds. Backcountry visitors may catch a glimpse of control at all times in the backcountry. One of the most negative effects you can bighorn sheep, mountain goats, black bear, beaver, river otters, or even mountain have on wildlife is to allow your dog to roam free. Dogs stress and endanger wild lions. View wildlife from a safe distance and treat wild animals with respect – for animals by chasing them. Even if the animal appears to have escaped unharmed, it your safety as well as theirs. may not survive as a result. In addition, many wild creatures pose dangers to dogs. Your pet can be attacked by predators, or suffer when a skunk or porcupine must UNWANTED VISITORS defend itself against curiosity or attack. Don’t attract unwanted visitors to your campsite. Critters have an acute sense of smell and are easily lured by the aroma of food or trash. Some rodents have a taste STORE FOOD PROPERLY for leather and anything sweaty or salty; store these items carefully. Never feed Black bears can cause a lot of damage to your belongings, and if a bear is wildlife or encourage them to become unafraid of humans - this endangers you and desensitized to humans by your behavior, it may have to be destroyed. Bear-safety them. regulations are in effect for campgrounds. Food, containers, packaging, cooking utensils, garbage, pet food and bird feeders must be stored in a bear-resistant RATTLESNAKES manner (i.e. inside a hard-sided vehicle or camper; hung at least 10 feet above Rattlesnakes are seldom seen at high elevations but may be found in lower areas. ground and 4 feet away from a tree or other support; inside an approved bear Snakebites are serious, but less than 2% are fatal. Don’t put your hands and resistant container; or within an electrified enclosure. feet in places without looking first. Snakes fill an important niche in the animal community, including eating rodents. If you see a snake, please treat it as any other forest animal — as a subject to observe but not to disturb or injure. Dolores Public Lands Campgrounds & Day Use Areas

Unc NF Our

Unc NF San Miguel County

Uncompahgre NF

BOXELDER 50 4 4 ¤£550 " GLADE MOUNTAIN " WILDERNESS 12 GUARD 497 SHEEP STATION 6 BENCHMARK 5 POINT DOLORES !7 LOOKOUT 35 CANYON DUNTON 3" OVERLOOK !A Groundhog GUARD STATION !7 BURRO Dove Creek 3 Reservoir " 9 BRIDGE 4 5 CAYTON San Juan

5 Dolores County 1 4 County 57 ")31 RICO INFORMATION 8 ")38 STATION !7 BRADFIELD Rico

" 2 WEST DOLORES 7 WEMINUC MAVREESO " 8 ")S 3 " 15 ") 16 504 FERRIS 10 " LOWRY )"DD 7 9 PUEBLO "

6 2 ¤£491 5 McPhee «¬145 ")21 Reservoir Electra HOUSE Lake 8 CREEK

" 71 JERSEY JIM ")25 2 11 MCPHEE HERMOSA !7 " ") LOOKOUT SITE CREEK 31 !A MCPHEE RECREATION " WILDERNESS AREA 1 ASPEN GUARD !7 STATION ANASAZI HERITAGE !@ Dolores " CENTER Hovenweep DOLORES PUBLIC National Monument 1 TRANSFER LANDS CENTER 6 14 Montezuma 5 CANYONS OF THE ANCIENTS )"124 NATIONAL MONUMENT County Summit Reservoir «¬184 )"250 ")42 ")252 Lemon La Plata BLM Private Land Reservoir Cortez County National Forest Other District ¤£160 Mancos TARGET TREE 1 7 13" 0 0 4 8 16 Kilometers Miles )"240 ¤£491 Durango 0 2.5 5 10 MDR 3/16/2015 ¤£160

Legend Vicinity Map

Uncompahgre NF Gunnison NF Key Mancos-Dolores Camp Group Picnic" Reserve Name Location Administrative or RecreElev.ation Facility RECREATION SITE RV Size Services Map Ranger District Sites Sites SitesAdministratiSitesve Boundaries Rio Grande NF !@ PUBLIC LANDS CENTER !A LOOKOUT San Juan National Forest H PAGOSA A National Monument Forest Boundary T S A N U RANGER 1 Anasazi Heritage Center 10 mi. N of Cortez!? ADMIN OFFICE/COM7000’POUND !7 WORK CENTER/OTHER 5 Ranger District Division DISTRICT Wilderness J U A N Columbine Ranger District N F Tres Rios Transportation County Boundary MANCOS-DOLORES Pagosa Ranger District RANGER COLUMBINE Road US Highway 250 County Road UNC NF Adjacent National 2 BradfieldField Office 37 mi. N or Cortez ¤£1606500’ 16)" 1 group 45’ Mancos/Dolores Ranger District DISTRICT RANGER National Forest Forest Boundary DISTRICT COLOR Bureau of Land Management Trail «¬151 State Highway 629 System Road Major Water Body Non-National Forest Land ADO NEW MEXICO Municipality Bureau of Land Management Carson NF 3 Burro Bridge 37 mi. NE of Dolores 9100’ 14 35’ approx. 300 miles southwest from Denver Not 4 Box Elder 6 mi. E of Dove Creek 6500’ 11 Advisable 5 Cayton 6 mi. N of Rico 9400’ 27 16 50’ 6 Dolores Overlook 7 mi. NW of Dove Creek 6500’ 3 5 0’ 7 Ferris 37 mi. NW of Dolores 6600’ 7 45’ 8 House Creek 12 mi. NW of Dolores 7000’ 65 2 2 35 50’ Lowery Pueblo 9 mi. W of 9 6700’ 7 Picnic Area Pleasant View 10 Mavreeso 20 mi. NE of Dolores 7700’ 19 12 35’ 11 McPhee 8 mi. W of Mancos 7400’ 76 2 2 group 50 50’ 12 Mountain Sheep Point 5 mi. N of Dove Creek 6500’ 2 13 Target Tree 7 mi. E of Mancos 7800’ 25 1 45’ 14 Transfer 11 mi. NE of Mancos 8900’ 12 1 1 group 45’ 15 West Dolores 21 mi. NE of Dolores 7700’ 18 2 10 35’ Campground Rules OBEY “QUIET TIME” CAMPFIRES Please be a good neighbor in campgrounds. Don’t make loud noises, Campfires are only allowed in fire grates at campsites, and firewood must especially at night. Posted quiet hours are typically from 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. At fit inside the metal ring. When no one is physically attending a campfire, it other hours during the day, limit the use of generators to no more than one must be put out completely. Pour water on the fire and stir ashes until they hour at a time. Drive slowly through campground loops and watch closely are cool with no smoke. Be aware of any fire restrictions in effect. These for pedestrians. should be posted at the campground entrance.

OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLES TRASH Motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs, etc. cannot be used inside campgrounds, except Use trash receptacles in campgrounds. Some primitive campgrounds require to travel between your campsite and locations outside the campground; you to pack out your own trash. Do not burn trash - many materials will however, their use may not be allowed on county roads. not burn to ash. Leave a clean campsite when you depart. Follow bear-safety regulations on page 3. HORSES AND PACK STOCK Most campgrounds do not allow horses or pack stock. Those camping with PROTECT VEGETATION horses should seek out campgrounds with facilities listed in this guide that Do not break limbs, drive nails or carve into bark of trees or shrubs. This specifically accommodate pack stock. allows insects and disease to enter and can weaken or kill trees. Walk on paths and roads to keep grass and plants alive. Leave wildflowers for others to enjoy. DOGS ON LEASH Bring firewood with you or check with campground hosts. Collect only dead Dogs must be leashed or otherwise physically restrained in campgrounds. wood lying on the ground. Do not allow pets to harass other visitors, dogs, or wildlife. Do not leave pets unattended. Control barking. Must be under voice command. SHOOTING FIREARMS in campgrounds is prohibited.