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Established Camping

Chapman Campground And Group Camp - White River NF

Warning 4 Alerts are In Effect

There are 4 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.

Quiet Hours: 10pm - 6am. This means no use of generators during this time.

Campers are Saying

Chapman Campground And Group Camp, near Meredith, Colorado, is a fantastic spot for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. With a mix of tent and RV sites, it’s perfect for campers who appreciate a little privacy and the beauty of nature.

This campground is all about the great outdoors, featuring clean pit toilets and fresh drinking water, but don’t expect any frills like showers or electric hookups. Visitors rave about the spacious sites, many of which are shaded and provide a great view of the night sky. One camper noted, “There was lots of tree cover for protection from the elements,” making it a cozy retreat.

Outdoor activities abound here. You can fish or paddleboard at the nearby Chapman Reservoir, and hiking trails are just a stone's throw away. Wildlife sightings are common, with ospreys, deer, and even the occasional fox making an appearance. As one happy camper put it, “The fishing was fair in the Res and we caught 2 nice browns in the river.”

If you’re planning a visit, keep in mind that reservations are recommended, especially during peak season. The campground hosts are friendly and dedicated to keeping the area clean, ensuring a pleasant stay for everyone. Whether you’re here for a quick getaway or a longer adventure, Chapman Campground offers a peaceful slice of Colorado’s stunning wilderness.

General Overview

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

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.

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.

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Location

Chapman Campground And Group Camp - White River NF is located in Colorado

Detail location of campground

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

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Hike-In
    Backcountry sites.
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Good
  • Verizon
    Unknown
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Unknown

Site Types

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

Features

For Campers

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

For Vehicles

  • Pull-Through Sites
  • Big Rig Friendly

Reviews

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4.5

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10 Reviews

Reviewed Jul. 2, 2024

Remote, off grid camping in the mountains

This remote campground might pose some access challenges for larger rigs. Clean pit toilets, no showers, no laundry. Fresh drinking water and dumpsters are available. No dump station in campground. Mixture of river and non river sites. Plenty of room and privacy between sites. No mobile phone coverage, no wi-fi, no amenities within 30 miles of the campground. 2 campground hosts on site. Small reservoir lake nearby for fishing and canoeing. Hiking and fishing nearby. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring and bear box.

Site66
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Chapman Campground And Group Camp - White River NF by Renee H., July 2, 2024
  • Frying Pan River near our campsite
    Play button icon
  • Review photo of Chapman Campground And Group Camp - White River NF by Renee H., July 2, 2024
  • (16) View All
Reviewed Jul. 7, 2022

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!

Site31
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Chapman Campground And Group Camp - White River NF by Nikki and Will W., July 7, 2022
  • Review photo of Chapman Campground And Group Camp - White River NF by Nikki and Will W., July 7, 2022
  • Review photo of Chapman Campground And Group Camp - White River NF by Nikki and Will W., July 7, 2022
  • (9) View All
Reviewed Jun. 7, 2021

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!

SiteA6
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Chapman Campground And Group Camp - White River NF by Andrew C., June 7, 2021
Reviewed Apr. 8, 2021

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!

Site13
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Chapman Campground And Group Camp - White River NF by Lise F., April 8, 2021
  • Review photo of Chapman Campground And Group Camp - White River NF by Lise F., April 8, 2021
  • Review photo of Chapman Campground And Group Camp - White River NF by Lise F., April 8, 2021
  • (10) View All
Reviewed Mar. 13, 2021

Great spot

Stayed here for two nights. We were about a 1 min walk from Chapman Reservoir. Walked down there a few times and caught a bunch of little rainbow and cutthroat trout - they were very eager to take flies. If it wasn't so far from Denver, it would definitely be one of my regular camping spots.

Reviewed Oct. 27, 2020

Words can’t describe

Reservations recommended and much needed for this popular campground. It’s well worth it though because the hiking biking fishing paddle boarding and all other outdoor activities abound from Chapman. Any of the loops has something to offer. You will not be disappointed at this great campground!

Reviewed Aug. 11, 2020

Busy, but a great spot to explore

We didn’t make a reservation, but managed to find a campsite near the reservoir with enough room for our portable kitchen, tent and a nice shaded spot for the hammocks. We will be going back!

Reviewed Jul. 16, 2018

Beautiful and serene

We reserved campsite #49. It was about 100 ft from the Frying Pan River. We fell asleep to sound of rushing water- so peaceful. Not much shade but there was a picnic table, fire ring, and bear box at the site. The campground hosts were very friendly. You can swim and fish in Chapman Reservoir. No motorized boats allowed. There were a few people jumping off the dam into the reservoir. Only about an 8 ft jump. There is a small store in Meredith, 10 min away, in case you forgot any essentials. Ruedi Reservoir is about 15 minutes away and motor boats are allowed. This area is absolutely breathtaking!!!

Site49
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Chapman Campground And Group Camp - White River NF by Erin E., July 16, 2018
  • Review photo of Chapman Campground And Group Camp - White River NF by Erin E., July 16, 2018
  • Review photo of Chapman Campground And Group Camp - White River NF by Erin E., July 16, 2018
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Jun. 3, 2018

Chapman Perfection

We camped here in late fall last year, a few weeks before closing. Chapman is huge, 80 something sites I think. We were the only ones there! So many nice campsites to choose from. You can camp on the Frying Pan River or on Chapman Res or in the forest. The fishing was fair in the Res and we caught 2 nice browns in the river. Great views everywhere and silence except for the river and the birds made this a perfect 2 days camping.

Reviewed Jun. 8, 2015

Great campground for families

We've been going to Chapman for years - its a great campground for families and has lots to choose from. Hiking, Backpacking, Fishing, 4-Wheeling. If you have a long-ish rig or are not good at backing up - stay away from loop C. Loop D along the creek have great shade but are close together.

Great campground!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the max vehicle length at Chapman Campground And Group Camp - White River NF?

    Chapman Campground And Group Camp - White River NF allows vehicles up to 99 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Chapman Campground And Group Camp - White River NF?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Chapman Campground And Group Camp - White River NF, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Does Chapman Campground And Group Camp - White River NF have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Chapman Campground And Group Camp - White River NF does not have wifi.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Chapman Campground And Group Camp - White River NF?

    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 Chapman Campground And Group Camp - White River NF. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Chapman Campground And Group Camp - White River NF, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Chapman Campground And Group Camp - White River NF?

    There are 84 campsites at Chapman Campground And Group Camp - White River NF and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts