Established Camping
Chapman Campground And Group Camp - White River NF
About
National Forest
White River National Forest
Overview
Situated above the Ruedi Reservoir, Chapman Campground sits at the base of a wide valley adjacent to the Fryingpan River in White River National Forest. Sites are surrounded by lodgepole pine, and several are at the river's edge, offering an ideal setting for visitors seeking recreation and relaxation.
Recreation
Flowing through this campground is Fryingpan River, renowned for its fly fishing. Downriver, below the campground and Ruedi Dam, large rainbow, brown, cutthroat and brook trout are plentiful in an area nicknamed the "toilet bowl." Here, the fish feed on mysis shrimp, a small freshwater shrimp stocked in the lake. The stretch of river from the dam down to the confluence of Fryingpan and the Roaring Fork River has been designated as Gold Medal Waters by the Colorado Wildlife Commission. Special regulations in this area include fishing only with artificial flies and lures, and releasing all trout except brown trout, with a limit of 2 fish over 14 inches. Chapman Reservoir is also an option for anglers wanting to cast lines in at its shore. Motorized watercraft is prohibited on Chapman Reservoir. A horseshoe pit and volleyball court encourage game playing. A nature trail can be accessed from the site.
Facilities
Chapman Campground has 84 standard sites suitable for tents, trailers, and RVs. A group site is also available.The campground is equipped with picnic tables, campfire rings, vault toilets, and drinking water located in Loops F, G & H. Electrical hook-ups are not available.Trash and recycling collection is provided.
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 8 wilderness areas, 4 defined seasons, and 10 peaks surpassing 14,000 feet in elevation. 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. These species, along with many others, depend on surrounding undeveloped wilderness, clean streams, and diverse forests to live.
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.
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Hike-InBackcountry sites.
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonUnknown
- AT&TUnknown
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Pull-Through Sites
- Big Rig Friendly
Stayed 1 night on July 3rd
We stayed one night because that's what our schedule allowed. However, this campsite seemed great and we would've loved to have stayed longer!
We had site 31. It was right next to the vault toilets (but they were very clean and the smell was unnoticeable). Our site was also only a 30 second walk to the reservoir which was great for fishing and paddle boards!
There was lots of tree cover for protection from the elements. But, it still offered a great view of the night sky.
This was a last minute, spontaneous camping trip because we needed to get away from our first responder lives for at least a night. I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to book a night for July 3rd with only a day and a half of notice.
We'll be going back when we have more time. I'm looking forward to catching more cutthroat trout!
- (9) View All
Hidden Gem
Chapman Campground is an awesome little place to get away. There's a huge variety of sites that will accommodate almost any camper except for large RVs. The tent sites tend to offer plenty of shade and separation from your neighbor, with water and toilets easily accessible from most locations. The reservoir is small, but an awesome place to escape and do some light paddleboarding or fishing. We saw quite a bit of wildlife during our short stay, ospreys, marmots, foxes, deer, and plenty of fish and other birds. The cherry on top were the amazing campground hosts who were wonderful, friendly, and on top of keeping things clean. Will definitely be back!
Beautiful, Peaceful, Away.....
It's been a few years, but we camped at the very Western-most camping spot & enjoyed it greatly - very close to creek & quiet. I would not have wanted one of the other camping spots. They are a bit close for our tastes. Wish we could have spent more time than one night. We plan on going back!
- (10) View All
Location
Chapman Campground And Group Camp - White River NF is located in Colorado
Directions
Take I-70 west of Denver to Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Take exit 116 (Highway 82) south to Basalt. At Basalt, take Frying Pan Road. Go 29 miles to Chapman Campground.
Coordinates
39.3083333 N
106.6330556 W