Established Camping
North Pines Campground at Carter Lake
Warning 1 Alert is In Effect
There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!
Warning 1 Alert is In Effect
There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!
Due to ongoing site improvements and road construction currently in progress, the following campgrounds are impacted: - **Eagle Campground:** Sites are reservable on Friday and Saturday nights only, through Sept 21. Reserve online or call 1-800-397-7795. _Other Important Advisories:_ - Larger camping units (RV/Trailers over 27 ft) not recommended. - The Shower House/Overflow Parking Lot has limited access. - For more info, see **_"Alerts and Important Information"_** below or select an Eagle campsite: - **North Pines Campground:** Starting August 4th, the campground will be temporarily closed. - After September 1, the North Pines boat ramp and day-use areas will be accessible on weekends only (Saturdays and Sundays), until further notice. (Exception: closed on Saturday, September 6.) - **Big Thompson Campground:** Starting April 1, the campground will begin transitioning into day-use parking and will not offer camping. The area is currently closed until further notice. For questions, please call (970) 619-4570.
North Pines Campground at Carter Lake is near Loveland, Colorado, and features terrain with rolling hills and a large reservoir. Temperatures range from 20°F in winter to 85°F in summer. Nearby attractions include Carter Lake for boating and fishing, and the Devil's Backbone Open Space for hiking.
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.
Location
North Pines 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
40.35397004 N
105.2202294 W
Detours Nearby
Backcountry Campground — Horsetooth Mountain Open Space
20 min away
A Little Country in the City - County Line Hobby Farm
27 min away
Drive Time
- 33 min from Fort Collins
- 37 min from Greeley
- 39 min from Boulder
- 58 min from Denver
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
Connectivity
T-MobileNo CoverageVerified by 2 users- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
- Tent Cabin
Features
For Campers
- Picnic Table
- Reservable
- Showers
- Drinking Water
- Electric Hookups
- Toilets
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Sewer Hookups
- Water Hookups
- 30 Amp Hookups
- 50 Amp Hookups
- Big Rig Friendly
