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Established Camping

Cayton Campground

Warning 2 Alerts are In Effect

There are 2 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!

ALERT: STAGE 2 FIRE BAN NOW IN EFFECT! Due to increased risk of wildfires, the San Juan National Forest fire managers have issued restrictions on campfires, smoking, and other activities within the forest. These restrictions begin August 8, 2025.This is from Order #02-13-00-25-13 and is in effect until December 31, 2025 or unless rescinded earlier.Restrictions include:

  • Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, including a charcoal fire and pellet fire on all National Forest System lands. Portable cooking stoves, lanterns, and heating devices using liquefied or bottled fuel, such as propane, are allowed as they can be switched off instantly.
  • Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a designated campground, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
  • Possessing, discharging, or using any kind of firework or other pyrotechnic device is prohibited year-round on national forest lands.
  • Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained, and in effective working order.

The Stage 2 Fire Ban has been rescinded as of 12:01am on 9/05/2025. You may now have a campfire in your campsite again!

CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Cayton Campground, near Rico, Colorado, is a scenic spot that offers a blend of tranquility and adventure. With sites right along the Dolores River, you can enjoy the soothing sounds of rushing water while soaking in the stunning mountain views.

This campground features spacious sites, some equipped with electric hookups, making it suitable for both tents and RVs. Visitors have noted the clean facilities, including well-maintained vault toilets and accessible drinking water. One camper mentioned, “Campground was nicely maintained & had all we needed with stunning views & lovely river to listen to.”

For those eager to explore, there are hiking trails nearby that lead to breathtaking waterfalls, and the area is rich with wildflowers in the summer months. If you’re up for a little drive, the scenic route to Telluride is worth it, with many campers raving about the views along the way. Just keep in mind that cell service is spotty, so it’s a great chance to unplug and enjoy nature.

Cayton Campground is open from May to September, making it a perfect summer getaway. Whether you’re looking to relax by the river or hit the trails, this campground has a lot to offer for a memorable outdoor experience.

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Location

Cayton Campground is located in Colorado

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Rico, travel northeast on Colorado Highway 145 for 6 miles. Turn right (east) on Forest Road 578 (Barlow Creek Road). The campground entrance is a half-mile further.

Address

San Juan NF
Rico, CO

Coordinates

37.7713889 N
107.9772222 W

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Connectivity

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Connectivity

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site

Site Types

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

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Firewood Available
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Pull-Through Sites
  • 30 Amp Hookups
  • Big Rig Friendly

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Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

12 Reviews

Reviewed Sep. 28, 2025

Awesome campground and hosts in the Rocky Mountains near Telluride

Spectacular everything! Campground has electric and non. Camphosts are wonderful. On The San Juan Scenic Byway a few miles south of Telluride along the Delores river. Lots of fishing, hiking, views, and activities. Take thecSan Juan Scenic Byway and the Million Dollar Highway from Oaray to Silverton and then to Durango. Come back via Mancos to Delores. One of the best scenic drives in America. Oaray to Silverton is a tad scary if not fond of heights on high mountain roads.

Site26
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Cayton Campground by Dave , September 28, 2025
  • Review photo of Cayton Campground by Dave , September 28, 2025
  • Review photo of Cayton Campground by Dave , September 28, 2025
  • (8) View All
Reviewed Jun. 30, 2025

Wooded and by a running creek

My wife and I enjoyed staying here. The camp host, Sharon, was a wonderful host. The camping area was well laid out among the woods. The only negative was the close proximity to the main road but the road noise was minimal.

Site6
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Cayton Campground by wayne H., June 30, 2025
  • Review photo of Cayton Campground by wayne H., June 30, 2025
  • Review photo of Cayton Campground by wayne H., June 30, 2025
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Jun. 6, 2025

Dr. Cayton Campground

The acoustical sound of a river while camping in the mountains surrounded by tall pine trees is just the right prescription for what was needed. And, to find it right off the highway, so convenient.

Site10
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Cayton Campground by Lauri S., June 6, 2025
  • Review photo of Cayton Campground by Lauri S., June 6, 2025
  • Review photo of Cayton Campground by Lauri S., June 6, 2025
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Sep. 9, 2023

One of my favorite campgrounds

Such a beautiful place! Wildflowers growing all along the dirt road of the campground. River was high & fast rushing, nice to listen & fall asleep to. Firewood was available for purchase. Toilet was clean. We hiked up to Hope Lake as suggested by cashier at gas station in Rico. A bit to early to see the lake in all its glory, August would have been better. Yet, we loved our time at Cayton Campground!

Site?
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Cayton Campground by Sara T., September 9, 2023
  • Review photo of Cayton Campground by Sara T., September 9, 2023
  • Review photo of Cayton Campground by Sara T., September 9, 2023
  • (7) View All
Reviewed Aug. 9, 2022

Nice CG in a canyon

Nice CG but in a canyon next to hwy so some hwy noise. Two loops, loop A has 20 sites and is the electric water hookup loop and for larger RVs and TTs. Loop B is has 7 sites with several FcFS and has no hookups. CG has vault toilets, dumpster, water spigots and an onsite CG host. Low price on loop B (non electric) would be $13 senior. Note that there is NO cell signal here at least for my TMobile phone, but some sites with open views to north would work with Starlink.

UPDATE: fees increased to $30 nonelectric and $41 electric...excessive fees in my opinion. Reduced to 3 stars due to high fees.

Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Cayton Campground by Greg L., August 9, 2022
  • Review photo of Cayton Campground by Greg L., August 9, 2022
  • Review photo of Cayton Campground by Greg L., August 9, 2022
  • (18) View All
Reviewed Jun. 19, 2022

Better Views than Telluride

Amazing location near telluride, worth the scenic drive!

I can’t believe people come all the way to Telluride and miss the views along the road out to this amazing spot!! Campground is right along the river (which is also nearby the road, but it’s not heavily trafficked). There’s also off road trails nearby that lead to amazing waterfalls.

Spotless restrooms. Drinkable water on site. Dump available for a small addition fee. The camp hosts were among the friendliness we’ve had.

We had the three group sites (18-19-20) and it was perfect. We had open views, the other sites are more in the trees, they looked amazing too. Sites are big, saw a variety of campers and even big rigs. Sites were pretty level and very easy to back into.

Highly recommend Trout Lake (10 mins away). Everything is very lush and green. We will definitely be back!

The only (kind of) negative is there is zero cell and internet. None whatsoever. Nearest service is a 10 minute drive into Ricco.

Site19
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Cayton Campground by Kelsey C., June 19, 2022
  • Review photo of Cayton Campground by Kelsey C., June 19, 2022
Reviewed Jul. 29, 2021

Pricey for what you get

This developed campground seemed to be pretty expensive for not so great a location. It is right on the main highway and very loud. Sites with electric are the best sites as they are close to the creek. Tent only sites are on the upper terrace. While it was clean, the people friendly, and laid out ok, it was pricey-$15 to dump,$24 to camp next to the highway, and$7 for firewood.

  • Review photo of Cayton Campground by Annie C., July 29, 2021
  • Review photo of Cayton Campground by Annie C., July 29, 2021
  • Review photo of Cayton Campground by Annie C., July 29, 2021
  • (8) View All
Reviewed Jun. 27, 2021

Nice campground

Good campground, stayed here for just one night. Right off the highway next to the Dolores River. There are 2 loops, one loop with electric and tent only. It was $24 a nice plus an extra $6 for electric. Camp hosts were nice and friendly. Our site didn’t have any shade and the “drinkable” water was yellow. Bathrooms were very clean. Really nice though, I would stay at again.

Knocked off stars for no clean water, kind of expensive, no shade, you can hear the highway

Site26
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Cayton Campground by Jill M., June 27, 2021
  • Review photo of Cayton Campground by Jill M., June 27, 2021
  • Review photo of Cayton Campground by Jill M., June 27, 2021
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Oct. 24, 2018

Big Campground With A Little Bit Of History

When staying in Colorado, there are just way to many amazing campgrounds, so finding the perfect fit has so many faces for every individual camper. To be honest, I could camp my way though Colorado and never become bored. Cayton Campground is one of those little gems in the mountains that personifies all that you think of when you envision on of those signature Colorado Campgrounds.

Nestled in a small valley of the mountains and surrounded by trees, passing a small stream it is rustic and beautiful. A little bit of modern with a rich history of Colorado past, this campground is named for a former ranger which worked and did big things in this area. What sets this camp apart from others is just that, the camp has numerous signs telling of the past making it a little treat for those hiking around camp to discover.

I found this camp when in the Telluride area late in the year. It was posted that it has seasonal closures and I could easily see why when traveling into the campground. Though the campground roads were wide, clear and even, some of the drive out through the mountains looked like as snowfall would come along it could get a little hairy on some of the turns and climbs.

The campground was very impressive for a mountain camp, spaces all had amazing views of the mountains around you, they were large and spacious making for a lot of room to really spread out your camp and enjoy and the toilets, despite being vault toilets, were in great shape. There also happened to be potable water which was a big bonus.

I spent time here hiking around in the wide open space, enjoying the river which runs through camp (many spaces running just up to its shore) and enjoying the sounds of my neighbor at camp who was a musician playing his guitar, which seemed to be a soundtrack to the mountains.

My site was one of the non-electric sites, though about half the campground does have electricity running to the sites, these were primarily occupied by small RVs. The site had typical amenities with a fire ring and grill and picnic table. It was peaceful and pleasant.

Sites here are $30 for electric connection or $24 for non-electric.

I plan to return to do more hiking in the area now that I am more familiar with just what happens to be around the area. While I was there for hiking near Telluride, just south are also some amazing places to check out. This area is known for the 14ers.

Sitesite 22 loop b
  • Review photo of Cayton Campground by Crystal C., October 24, 2018
  • Review photo of Cayton Campground by Crystal C., October 24, 2018
  • Review photo of Cayton Campground by Crystal C., October 24, 2018
Reviewed Mar. 30, 2018

Telluride Film Fest

Camped here over Labor Day weekend 2017, during the film festival. It is a bit of a drive into town, but the campground is very scenic and the sites are well-spaced. Overall a great experience. The camp host wasn’t ever around to sell us firewood, but we were able to buy some at a grocery store in Telluride. Definitely recommend.

SiteB21
Month of VisitSeptember

Frequently Asked Questions

What do reviews say about Cayton Campground?

Cayton Campground receives praise for its beautiful riverside setting, spacious sites, and serene mountain atmosphere. Visitors appreciate the sound of the rushing Dolores River and the surrounding pine trees. The campground features two loops with varying amenities - Loop A offers electric hookups for larger RVs, while Loop B has no hookups. Some visitors note highway noise due to its proximity to the road, though many find it minimal. The campground is considered a hidden gem with reasonable prices, clean facilities, and friendly camp hosts, though the water quality has been questioned by some campers.

Is there a map available for Cayton Campground?

Yes, maps for Cayton Campground are available. The campground has two distinct loops: Loop A contains 20 sites with electric and water hookups designed for larger RVs and trailers, while Loop B features 7 sites with no hookups, some of which are first-come, first-served. For detailed campground maps, check with the on-site camp host upon arrival or contact the managing agency beforehand. Official forest service maps showing the campground layout can help with planning your stay.

Are there photos of Cayton Campground to preview before visiting?

Yes, photos of Cayton Campground are available online through various camping platforms and review sites. These images showcase the campground's riverside setting, pine tree surroundings, and mountainous backdrop. Photos typically highlight the two camping loops, riverside sites, vault toilets, and nearby Dolores River. Looking at these images will give you a good sense of the natural beauty, including seasonal wildflowers that grow along the campground's dirt roads.

Where is Cayton Campground located in Colorado?

Cayton Campground is located in southwest Colorado near Telluride, alongside the scenic Dolores River. The campground sits in a mountain canyon, just off the highway, making it accessible while still offering beautiful mountain views. It's within driving distance of Telluride, though not immediately adjacent to the town, offering a good base for exploring the region while enjoying a more secluded natural setting.

What activities are available near Cayton Campground on the Dolores River?

The Dolores River right beside Cayton Campground offers excellent opportunities for fishing, wading, and enjoying the soothing sounds of rushing water. Nearby hiking trails include the scenic Hope Lake trail. The campground's mountainous setting provides access to off-road adventures and wildlife viewing. The proximity to Telluride means visitors can enjoy the town's cultural events, like film festivals, while using the campground as a base. The surrounding forest areas are perfect for nature photography, especially when wildflowers are blooming. For those willing to drive, there are numerous scenic mountain drives in the region.