Baby Doe Campground is situated on the eastern shore of Turquoise Lake in the shade of a lodgepole pine and subalpine fir forest. The family-friendly campground is a popular summer destination for boating, hiking, and Turquoise Lake camping.
The campground was named after Elizabeth McCourt's nickname, Baby Doe. She made a name for herself in the Colorado mining community in the 19th century when she took on the rugged work of a miner, and was given her nickname.
Recreation
The 1.2-mile Turquoise Lake Nature Trail meanders along the shoreline is a gentle loop trail through the forest and down to the shoreline of Turquoise Lake. This trail connects to the 6.4-mile Turquoise Lake Trail that parallels the shoreline from Sugar Loaf Dam to May Queen Campground. Trail guides are available at the trailhead located about a mile south, at the entrance to Molly Brown Campground.
On the lake, boating, sailing, canoeing and fishing are favorite activities. Anglers fish for stocked cutthroat, rainbow, brown and lake trout. A boat ramp is located about a mile south of the campground.
Facilities
The campground offers single-family sites, some of which are accessible. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring with grill. Vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection are provided. Firewood is available for purchase from the host. Parking spurs are gravel or dirt.
Natural Features
Campsites are perched along the scenic lakeshore. The Mount Massive Wilderness Area, a 30,540 acre stretch of primitive land boasting Colorado's second highest peak at 14,421 feet, is nearby. Much of the wilderness is above timberline with many alpine plant communities and permanent snowfields.
Nearby Attractions
Venture to Independence Pass for a scenic drive with breathtaking views of the Rockies and surrounding alpine tundra habitat. At 12,095 feet, it is one of the highest paved mountain passes in the country and marks where the Top of the Rockies National Scenic and Historic Byway crosses the Continental Divide.
ADA Access: N
Nice sites with plenty of shade. Clean facilties and close to the lake. Really beautiful woods all around with soft pine need floors… great for camping!!!
This was what my eight year old son said when we arrived. Really nice primitive campsites nestled amongst the trees. Lake is stunning but wind can be strong
It was a really nice campground. The hosts were SO gracious. They came up and talked to us about things to do and see and gave us a map of Leadville. The bathrooms there were kept up very nicely even though they were vault toilets. The lake itself was rather low when we went but still pretty. Would go again!
Quiet clean campground with gorgeous views of Turquoise Lake and the surrounding mountains!
Just west of Leadville Colorado sits Turquoise Lake at an elevation of around 10,000 ft. Baby Doe Campground is one of the few camps that are situated around the lake on its east side. You camp under the pine trees beside the lake with beautiful views of Mt. Massive and Mt. Elbert to the south over turquoise water. Cost are $24 per night for car camping, bathrooms and water are provided. We camped on June 26th and 27th of 2018 and got to summit Mt. Sherman one of Colorado's 14ers on the 27th. I was really surprised at how bad the mosquito's were at the lake and at this elevation, definitely the worst mosquito experience I had while living in Colorado. If your in town while visiting be sure to check out Periodic Brewing and High Mountain Pies. Highlight: Being able to summit my 1st Colorado 14er was definitely the highlight of the trip, can't wait to go back for another one, I know where I'll be camping.
Beautiful location! Close to Turquoise Lake. Camp hosts came around in the morning to give us parking passes for the park. Also, the cleanest, best stocked and least offensive smelling vault toilet bathrooms I've ever come across. Each camp site allows two vehicles, but could definitely fit three if you have a larger group. Nice, level spot for tents.
Some of the sites are close to each other. It is a short walk to the waterfront. The nature trail around the lake is awesome!
Gorgeous campground with a few extra mosquitos, but not unusual for waterfront camping. Turquoise Lake is beautiful with fishing, boating, and hiking available. Short drive from Leadville. Be sure to bring warm clothes for nights because it’s gets chilly at night. Has vault toilets, potable water, and fairly level sites. Campground has larger sites so the generator noise from the larger rv’s can be loud, but family friendly.
This is one of our favorite places to go. The campground is maintained very well and has beautiful scenery with the lake just walking distance from the campground. Bathrooms always clean. Love this place.