## Overview

 Cayton Campground is located along the San Juan Skyway (Colorado Highway 145) and the Dolores River. Visitors enjoy the area for its great fishing, hiking and scenic driving opportunities.
## Recreation

 The Dolores River is a popular fishing destination that can often be crowded on summer weekends. Anglers will find rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout. The area boasts some excellent trails. The Colorado Trail follows the ridge across Bolam Pass. The Lizard Head and Cross Mountain Trails near Lizard Head Pass lead to alpine basins surrounded by 14,000-foot peaks. The Barlow Creek Road continues past the campground and crosses Bolam Pass with spectacular views. Road conditions near the pass often limit travel to four-wheel drive vehicles. The route eventually connects with the Hermosa Park Road, behind Durango Mountain Resort, and leads to U.S. Highway 550.
## Facilities

 The campground offers 27 single-family campsites, many of which are situated along the river. Eighteen sites offer electric hookups. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets, drinking water and a dump station are provided.
## Natural Features

 The campground is situated near the banks of the Dolores River, in a grassy meadow surrounded by fir and aspen trees. At an elevation of 9,400 feet, campers should expect cool evenings. 
## Nearby Attractions

 The Priest Gulch Trailhead, 11 miles southwest of Rico, leads to the alpine country west of the campground. The Bear Creek Trail, 14 miles south of Rico, heads southeast into the La Plata Mountains. Other nearby trails include the Calico National Recreation Trail and the Rico-Silverton Trail. Highway 145, which runs between the campground and Telluride, offers some of the most majestic scenery along the San Juan Skyway, including views of the \"[14ers][1],\" which are peaks over 14,000 feet.
## Charges &amp; Cancellations

 Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee.\_\_ A visitor who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night\'s use fee including tax and applicable add-on for a campsite. Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. No-Shows A no-show visitor is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date. No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night\'s rate, taxes and applicable add-on for a campsite.\_\_\_\_ Refunds Visitors may submit a refund request through their Recreation.gov profile within 7 days of the end date of their reservation. Refunds will not be issued after the 7 days has ended. Refunds for debit or credit card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay. For check or cash purchases, Recreation.gov will mail a Treasury check for refunds of cash, check, or money order payments to the address associated with the reservation. Treasury check refunds may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive.\_\_ In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team or facility manager will refund all fees and will attempt to notify you using the contact information within the Recreation.gov visitor profile. 

[1]: http://www.14ers.com/

Cayton Campground

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.

Big Campground With A Little Bit Of History

Very quiet and spacious. On a 3 week camping trip and this was the best place yet

Peaceful and wonderful

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

Nice campground

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.

Pricey for what you get

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. 

Better Views than Telluride

This was a nice campground in a great, serene location by the Dolores river.  Would go back!!!

Secluded campground near Rico and Telluride

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. 

Nice CG in a canyon

Such a beautiful place! Wildflowers growing all along the dirt road of the campground. River was high &amp; fast rushing, nice to listen &amp; 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!