Fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities draw campers to Carter Knolls Campground, which sits on a cliff overlooking Carter Lake in Loveland. Larimer County manages this small campground with individual and group sites, offering full hookups for RVs up to 20 feet along with drinking water, restrooms, and showers year-round.
The elevated position provides direct lake access via a short walk, though campers should exercise caution near the southwest cliffs. Deer frequent the area, and visitors report spotting skinks among the rocks. The dirt access road requires careful navigation as it operates one-way, and the open terrain offers unobstructed sunset views. Sky View Campground at Carter Lake sits just east for additional lake access. Reservations help secure spots at this compact facility.
Description
Carter Lake is located in the foothills west of Loveland at an elevation of 5,760 feet. It is a part of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project operated by the Bureau of Reclamation and the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District. The purpose of this water project is to divert water from the west slope to the east slope for drinking water, irrigation, and hydropower generation. The Bureau of Reclamation is solely responsible for power generation. The agencies jointly manage water levels for irrigation, municipal, and industry use. Recreation is managed by Larimer County Natural Resources. Three miles long and about one mile wide, Carter Lake is a 1,100-acre reservoir surrounded by 1,000 acres of public lands and is popular for fishing, sailing, camping, swimming, scuba diving, rock climbing, and water skiing. It is open year round. Park Entrance Permits and Camping Fees are required.
Please check the Season Dates tab for annual updates on site availability.
Warning 2 Alerts are In Effect
There are 2 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!
Warning 2 Alerts are In Effect
There are 2 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!
Fire Restrictions are currently in place for portions of Larimer County. Note, this is NOT a ban. For more info, view the press release,.
Ongoing site improvements and road construction are currently in progress. For more info, see **_"Alerts and Important Information"_** below or check COTREX for the latest updates on trail and area conditions.
RV Road Trip Guides
Location
Public CampgroundCarter Knolls Campground at Carter Lake is located in Colorado
Directions
(Park address: 1800 S.C.R. 31; Loveland, CO 80537) Take I-25 to the Berthoud Exit (Exit 250). Turn left (west) onto Highway 56 and continue for 9 1/2 miles, passing through the town of Berthoud. At the foothills, the road will curve sharply to the right (north). Turn left (west) onto County Road 8E and continue for 3 miles to the entrance station where you can purchase permits.
Address
1800 SOUTH COUNTY ROAD 31
Loveland, CO 80537
Coordinates
40.33788808634884 N
105.21110548227546 W
Connectivity
T-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoors
T-MobileNo CoverageVerified by 1 user
VerizonLTESome Coverage- AT&TLTESome Coverage
Connectivity
T-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoors- T-MobileNo CoverageVerified by 1 user
- VerizonLTESome Coverage
- AT&TLTESome Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
Features
For Campers
- Picnic Table
- Reservable
- Showers
- Drinking Water
- Electric Hookups
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Sewer Hookups
- Water Hookups
- 30 Amp Hookups
- 50 Amp Hookups
Drive Time
- 36 min from Fort Collins, CO
- 36 min from Boulder, CO
- 39 min from Greeley, CO
- 55 min from Denver, CO
