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Established Camping

Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest

Warning 3 Alerts are In Effect

There are 3 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!

Please bring all the water you and guest will need for cooking, drinking, cleaning and etc

ATTENTION BE BEAR AWARE Bears are active in all campgrounds, It is important that you store all food (dry, fresh, frozen, packaged, etc.), all beverages (canned, bottled, fresh, frozen etc.), all pet food and any product that has an odor in a locked food storage locker at the site, locked vehicle (windows and door must be locked), or in your locked camper with all windows, doors and hatches locked when you are not with it. Help us keep you and bears safe.

Dogs are required to be on leash at all times in campgrounds. Not complying can result in loss of campsite and possible fines.

Blue River Campground, near Silverthorne, Colorado, is a solid spot for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors without straying too far from civilization. This campground offers a mix of riverfront sites and open spaces, making it a nice choice for both tent campers and RVers.

You’ll find that many sites are right by the river, providing easy access for some relaxing water time. Campers have mentioned the friendly hosts and the clean facilities, which include fire rings and bear boxes at each site. Just a heads up, there’s no water fill or hookups, so come prepared with everything you need.

While the views are beautiful, especially with the nearby mountains, some campers noted that shade can be hard to come by. If you’re planning to visit during warmer months, be ready for some sun. The campground is first-come, first-served, so arriving early is a good idea if you want to snag a prime riverside spot.

For those looking to explore, the surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor activities, from hiking to wildlife watching. Just keep in mind that you might hear some road noise from the nearby highway, but the sound of the river helps balance it out. Whether you’re just passing through or planning a longer stay, Blue River Campground is a convenient and enjoyable place to set up camp.

Description

USDA Forest Service

White River National Forest

Overview

Blue River Campground is located 10 minutes north of Silverthorne on Highway 9 in White River National Forest. This cozy campground is located between Lake Dillon and Green Mountain Reservoirs along the banks of the Blue River. With breath taking scenery and the sound of the flowing river, this is a favorite spot for many.__

Recreation

Encompassing a landscape of rivers, mountains, trails and forest roads, the White River National Forest is one of the top recreation forests in the nation. Anglers will find populations of rainbow and brown trout when casting their lines out into the water. River access through the campground is for paid campers only. Boating, kayaking, paddleboarding and endless miles of hiking trails are within a short drive in either direction from the campground.

Facilities

Encompassing a landscape of rivers, mountains, trails and forest roads, the White River National Forest is one of the top recreation forests in the nation. Anglers will find populations of rainbow and brown trout when casting their lines out into the water. River access through the campground is for paid campers only. Boating, kayaking, paddleboarding and endless miles of hiking trails are within a short drive in either direction from the campground.

Natural Features

In the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the 2.3 million-acre White River National Forest is a place of serenity and adventure, boasting eight wilderness areas, four defined seasons and ten peaks surpassing 14,000 feet in elevation. The White River National Forest was established in 1891 as the White River Plateau Timber Reserve; the second such reserve to be named in the United States. In 1905, the newly formed Forest Service was given authority of the reserve. Long before this designation, the area was home to the Ute Indians who followed herds of elk and bison on their seasonal migrations. Wildlife in the area abounds. Bighorn sheep navigate rocky ridges and bull elk bugle at dusk. Scenic rivers sustain populations of cutthroat, rainbow and brown trout. Alpine regions provide habitat for pika and ptarmigan. __

contact_info

For facility specific information, please call (801) 226-3564.

Charges & Cancellations

Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.

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Location

Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest is located in Colorado

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Silverthorne, on Interstate 70 take exit 205 and go north 8 miles north on Colorado Highway 9. Turn right onto Forest Rd. 1877. From Kremmling, Colorado, turn off Highway 40 onto Colorado Highway 9 South and go 30 miles, turn left onto Forest Rd 1877 at Blue River Campground.

Coordinates

39.726021 N
106.131125 W

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Reviews

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16 Reviews

Reviewed Sep. 19, 2022

Nice river - Noisy road

Van camper: nice spot for the night enRoute to other adventures. River side sites and wide open sites, many are close and some 50 yards from highway.

Site5
Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Aug. 5, 2022

Nice River

About 1/3 of the sites are located directly on the river with direct access. Host was friendly and neighbors polite

Site12
Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed Jun. 15, 2022

Beautiful site, no water fill

Lovely campground for smaller trailers with a few select sites right on the river. No water or any other hook ups, no dump station, so arrive fully loaded with water.

Site13
Month of VisitJune
Reviewed Jun. 7, 2022

Nice

Nice basic USFS campground right off the road.

Each site has a picnic table, fire pit, and a bear box.

There are accessible non gendered vault toilets but I don't think any of the camp sites are accessible.  There is water available during the open season.

No shade or any division between sites, but they are spread apart nicely. 

Sites are reservable on recreation.gov, $22/night plus an $8 reservation fee.

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  • Review photo of Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest by Laura M., June 7, 2022
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Reviewed Jun. 16, 2021

Camped during very hot weather. No shade!

We camped during very hot weather. Our campsite, like many others had minimal to no shade. The river is beautiful. Camp is clean, hosts very present

Site21
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest by Ruth L., June 16, 2021
Reviewed Sep. 7, 2020

Nice campsites!

First come first serve campground! Being right next to the river was nice. There was an outhouse available . Only stayed one night but it was nice!

Reviewed Sep. 4, 2020

Beautiful views few shady spots

Very kind camp host with really nice views of the balds. Not much shade though. Clean facilities, bear canisters at campsites. Clean and beautiful, not much more you can ask! The host said they are going to a full reservation model next year so no first come first serve after then.

  • Review photo of Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest by Katie H., September 4, 2020
  • Review photo of Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest by Katie H., September 4, 2020
  • Review photo of Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest by Katie H., September 4, 2020
  • (9) View All
Reviewed Aug. 19, 2020

Beautiful camping on the Blue River

This campground is right off of highway 9 in Silverthorne. There are 24 sites, some right on the river. Each site has a bear box, fire ring, and picnic table. We had plenty of space and privacy from our neighbors. Sites are first come first serve only. We got here around 5pm on a Friday night and took the last open spot. The camp host was friendly and seemed to be out and about often. You can hear cars on the highway, but you can also hear the river so it wasn’t too bad. There isn’t much to do at the campground, but it’s a great place to pull off and stay. Cash only - $22/night

  • Review photo of Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest by Hannah F., August 19, 2020
  • Review photo of Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest by Hannah F., August 19, 2020
  • Review photo of Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest by Hannah F., August 19, 2020
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Jul. 14, 2020

Nice

First night in Colorado, and weren't sure where we wanted to be. There are campsites right on the water but since we arrived at about 4 p.m. those were taken. Could hear traffic but not terrible.

  • Review photo of Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest by Matt H., July 14, 2020
  • Review photo of Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest by Matt H., July 14, 2020
Reviewed Jun. 3, 2019

Blue River Campground

Cool campground, not huge on the highway noise but overall the campground is in excellent condition, very clean bathrooms, bear proof storage. We arrived Thursday night with about 3 other people in the site so we got site 10 right off the river. Great spot for fly fishing. Campground accepts dogs as well.

  • Review photo of Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest by Zack D., June 3, 2019
  • Review photo of Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest by Zack D., June 3, 2019
  • Review photo of Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest by Zack D., June 3, 2019
Reviewed Jun. 2, 2019

Beautiful River Campsites

We stayed at campsite #16, it was right in the river with our own little beach. This site featured 2 pines right next to the water that would have been perfect for a hammock. There was a bear safe box to keep your food items and grill. There was a fire pit with a grate that you could move up and down we cooked all of our food on the pit. Bathrooms just had a toilet and paper no sink or mirror but they were very clean. Beautiful views of the mountains. It was a little close to the main road but if you’re on a river site you can’t hear the cars at all!

  • Review photo of Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest by Matt & Ashley S., June 2, 2019
  • Review photo of Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest by Matt & Ashley S., June 2, 2019
  • Review photo of Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest by Matt & Ashley S., June 2, 2019
  • (4) View All
Reviewed May. 26, 2019

Adorable campground on the water!

Great campground. Went on Memorial Day weekend and had no issue finding a spot right by the river. The bathrooms were clean and the fire pits had grates on them for cooking. Would definitely come again!

  • Review photo of Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest by Ralitsa K., May 26, 2019
  • Review photo of Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest by Ralitsa K., May 26, 2019
  • Review photo of Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest by Ralitsa K., May 26, 2019
Reviewed Apr. 10, 2019

Great week long trip!

This area used to be a lot nicer when all the trees were still around before the pine bark beetle infestation. However, they planted new trees to take their place! The river is relaxing at night and keep you cool on those hot summer nights.

  • Review photo of Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest by Krystal S., April 10, 2019
  • Review photo of Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest by Krystal S., April 10, 2019
Reviewed Jun. 28, 2018

Riverside Camping Close to Silverthorne

This small campground is located right on the Blue River between Silverthorne and Green Mountain Reservoir on Highway 9.  It is about 6 miles from Silverthorne and beautiful Dillon Reservoir. There are 24 camping sites, vault toilets, picnic tables and fire pits with grill grates. There are also bear proof lockers at each sight. Bathrooms are well-maintained. There is no firewood available for purchase at campground, so get some in-town. $20 per night and slightly more on holidays. Pay your fee in the envelope at the entrance (side of the info sign). There was a host on duty.

There were a good amount of riverside camp sites, some with shade some with less tree cover. I was able to score an awesome sight by the river even on a busy weekend. Great spot for fishing (no bait).

The one downside is that it is relatively close to the highway, so if you don’t get a river spot the noise could be an issue depending on what you’re hoping for! It didn’t bother us as the river sounds covered the highway noise.

Stay limit is 14 days.

From I-70 take Exit 205, Silverthorne/Dillon, and travel north on HWY 9 for approximately 6 miles. The campground is on the right side of the highway

Site12
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest by Natalie S., June 28, 2018
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  • Review photo of Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest by Natalie S., June 28, 2018
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Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much does it cost to camp at Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest?

    Camping at Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest can cost between $24.00 and $26.00 depending on the site.

  • What is the max vehicle length at Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest?

    Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest allows vehicles up to 2 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest?

    Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest?

    There are 24 campsites at Blue River Campground (Co) — White River National Forest and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts