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Established Camping

South Fork Rustic Campground

Closed For the Season

This campground is closed for the season from October 15, 2024 through May 31, 2025.

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South Fork Rustic Campground is located near Parshall, Colorado, in the Arapaho National Forest. The area features forested terrain with nearby rivers and streams. Campers can experience temperatures ranging from 30°F in winter to 80°F in summer, and they can explore attractions like the Hot Sulphur Springs and the Colorado River, which are accessible within an hour.

Description

Thousand Trails

18 sites with vault toilets - no potable water

Reservation Info

No reservations - first come first served

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Location

South Fork Rustic Campground is located in Colorado

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Granby, Colorado, take State Highway 40 west toward Parshall, Colorado. Two miles before Parshall, turn left on County Road 3. Go approximately 18 miles on County Road 3. Turn south onto County Road 30 and travel 12 miles. Drive through a large culvert. Continue south for a half-mile and turn right into the campground.

Coordinates

39.79616578 N
106.02931636 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Hike-In
    Backcountry sites.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Good
  • Verizon
    Fair
  • AT&T
    Good
  • T-Mobile
    Fair

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group
  • Equestrian

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Pull-Through Sites

Contact

General Info


Reviews

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3.5

out of 5

2 Reviews

Reviewed Dec. 11, 2020

Camping Like it Used to Be

South Fork is located in the Arapaho National Forest and administered by the Sulphur Ranger District. Situated on the banks of the South Fork of the Williams Fork of the Colorado River, this campground reminds me of days gone by when reservations were not a "thing".

Southfork is a first come, first served campground with 21 sites. While there is generally a resident Host, the lightly used campground has the feel of what campgrounds were like 50 years ago. Individual sites are mostly flat. All sites have picnic tables, fire rings, and tent pads. All will fit tents, most will accommodate travel trailers, and some will allow 5th wheels/large RVs well over 40' (some spurs are 50'). There is also a group site that fronts the creek which is available by reservation. There are two well maintained pit toilets and two functioning hand crank water wells available. For equestrians, there is a small corral on the south end of the campground though I've never seen it in use. Like the Sugarloaf campground, Southfork was cleared of trees a number of years ago.

When I first camped at Southfork some 8 years ago, the sites in the center were all open with small seedling Lodge pole pines beginning to take root. Spruce trees along the creek were not cleared and are very large making for nice shady sites (these are the most popular and always fill fast). Today, the seedlings have grown quite fast and are in the range of 5-7 feet tall providing a nice screen between the formerly open sites. Note that this is not always the most quite campground as there is a tramway that connects the Henderson Mine with it's Mill located off the Ute pass road. When the tram is running, it creates a fair amount of background noise. While I have no problem just hanging out at the campground, there are many other activities available in the area.

For those with a restless spirit of adventure, trout fishing, hiking, and Geocaching are available in the Southfork area. If you are interested in more detail, check out the review of Sugarloaf campground located just to the south.

Due to a lack of amenities, Southfork may not be for everyone but if you're looking for a campground that has the spirit of bygone days, this place is well worth a look.

SiteSite 2 though we've stayed at multiple sites.
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of South Fork Rustic Campground by David B., December 11, 2020
  • Review photo of South Fork Rustic Campground by David B., December 11, 2020
Reviewed Sep. 29, 2020

Rustic and Scenic Campground Located in the White River National Forest

This is a bare bones remote campground with assigned sites and vault toilets. There is no potable water on site, so bring plenty of water for your stay. The 18 sites are on a first come basis and can't be reserved.

I don't own horses, but have seen some in the area so it is equestrian friendly. The campground is located in a canyon with high cliffs and there are several hiking and backpacking trails that branch off from the campground. The south fork of the white river runs through the campground affording good fly fishing.

While you can get to the campground in a standard automobile the gravel road is rutted in places as you get close to the campground and can become dicey in heavy rain or snow for the last mile or two. 

I have been there numerous times as early as July and as late as September when snow can be expected.

  • Review photo of South Fork Rustic Campground by Daniel , September 29, 2020
  • Review photo of South Fork Rustic Campground by Daniel , September 29, 2020

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much does it cost to camp at South Fork Rustic Campground?

    Camping at South Fork Rustic Campground can starts at $19.00.

  • What is the elevation of South Fork Rustic Campground?

    South Fork Rustic Campground is located at 8923 feet.

  • What is the max vehicle length at South Fork Rustic Campground?

    South Fork Rustic Campground allows vehicles up to 23 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at South Fork Rustic Campground?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at South Fork Rustic Campground, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.