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Map showing campground location near Heeney, Colorado
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Cow Creek North Campground

6 ReviewsAdd Review

White River National Forest's Cow Creek North Campground sits along the shore of Green Mountain Reservoir, where sites face open water and the Blue River valley stretches into view. Managed by the US Forest Service, the campground is one of two Cow Creek areas on this side of the reservoir, with Cow Creek South Campground located a short distance to the southeast. The north entrance tends to accommodate larger rigs more comfortably than its southern counterpart, making it a reasonable stop for RVs and campers passing through between Silverthorne and Steamboat Springs.

Sites here sit mostly in open scrubland with minimal tree cover, which means little shade but unobstructed sightlines across the reservoir. Wind is a consistent factor. Reviewers note gusts can reach significant speeds on most evenings, so sites with any natural windbreak fill up quickly. The reservoir supports swimming and water sports in summer, and fishing is available, though results vary. Bears are present in the area, and weather at this elevation can shift without much warning.

The campground includes toilets, picnic tables, fire pits, and trash service. No hookups or showers are available. Cell service is unreliable. The nearest supplies are in Heeney, though the store there is noted as pricey. Weekends book up well in advance, and sites can be claimed by mid-afternoon on Fridays, as Daniel B. observed: "we saw so many people leaving since sites were occupied on a Friday by 4pm." Reservations are available and strongly recommended for any weekend stay.

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Map & DirectionsCow Creek North Campground is located in Colorado near Heeney

Detail location of campground
Public Campground

Directions

From I-70 take Exit 205, Silverthorne/Dillon, and travel north on HWY 9 for 20 miles. The campground will be on your left between Highway 6 and Green Mountain Reservoir.

Coordinates

39.88309516 N
106.287354 W

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Connectivity

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    No Coverage
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    Verizon
    No Coverage
    Verified by 1 user
    Last on 6/29/26
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    AT&TLTE
    Some Coverage
    Verified by 5 users
    Last on 6/29/26

Connectivity

Presented byT-MobileT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile
    No Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    Verizon
    No Coverage
    Verified by 1 user
    Last on 6/29/26
  • signal strength bars
    AT&TLTE
    Some Coverage
    Verified by 5 users
    Last on 6/29/26

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • ADA Access
  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Reservable
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

Drive Time

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Reviews6 Camper Reviews - Cow Creek North Campground

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5 Stars

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4.0

out of 5

6 Reviews

Visitors often highlighted beautiful lakeside sites with mountain views at good value for $13/night. Several guests reported strong winds and emphasized weekend reservations book up quickly, sometimes a month in advance.

Reviewed Sep. 6, 2020

All full up this weekend but beautiful!

Make sure to check before you head in for space! This site is listed a few times on the dyrt. There is a N and S campground. Camp host said it best... best views in the area for sure! Located right next to the water with a very friendly host. It was all booked up when we drove through but we will definitely stay on our way back through. Clean facilities and virtually zero shade.

  • Review photo of Cow Creek North Campground by Katie H., September 6, 2020
  • Review photo of Cow Creek North Campground by Katie H., September 6, 2020
  • Review photo of Cow Creek North Campground by Katie H., September 6, 2020
  • (9) View All
Reviewed Aug. 9, 2020

Only reservable campground on Green Mountain Reservoir

Stayed here several weekdays in late July, but could not book a weekend a month ahead. Beautiful lake and views. Lots of great hiking trails within a 30-60 minute drive. Spacious sites and the hilly terrain adds some privacy. A few sites near the reservoir have trees, but most are in open scrubland. We moved from here to Elliott Creek Campground on the opposite side of the lake, which is a first come campground.

Reviewed Jun. 12, 2019

Fun place

Fun place to camp. Pretty windy and was advised the wind can get up to 70mph. Otherwise we had a blast. They had plots, a table, hooks to hang things, fire pits, and were starting to put bear lockers in, and toilets at each group of plots. The store in Heeney is expensive but the lady who owns it was very nice.

Reviewed May. 17, 2019

1 of the 2 best on this side of the lake

Weather and fishing dependent, easily one of the best campground on this side of Green Mountain. Multiple sites right next to the lake. Good to okay fishing. Swimming and water sports are good during Summer. But can be chilly in Spring and Fall. Not as much coverage in some sites compared to South Cow. But still has some good wind block, which you will want during most evenings. Weather can be unpredictable and severe at times. Beware. High Country lake. Bears, wildlife, weather all unpredictable. Phone service can be scarce. Only services and gear/supplies are at the Master Bait and Tackle on the other side of the lake, sometimes the Marina depending upon what you need.

  • Review photo of Cow Creek North Campground by Thomas B., May 17, 2019
  • Review photo of Cow Creek North Campground by Thomas B., May 17, 2019
  • Review photo of Cow Creek North Campground by Thomas B., May 17, 2019
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Jul. 25, 2016

Basic spot, Amazing Views

If you're just car camping, you should be fine here without reservations during the week, but on Fri and Saturday nights - totally different story. This campground is accessed via a small road turn off of HWY 9 between Silverthorne and Steamboat on a nice strip of highway. The main campers here are those coming or going from those two fun mountain towns looking for a nice place to split up the drive. Your sites look out onto the Green Mountain Resevoir/Blue River.
There are 2 sites for campers: A north and south entrance. The North entrance/campgrounds has more plots which would be better for those camping with larger RVs and campers. The South entrance has smaller plots and less of them. In general, you get what you pay for here: $13/night and with that is your standard toilet, no showers or hook ups.

It's a very pretty spot, but since you're right on the shoreline of a valley, your views will be complemented with heavy winds. What was pretty neat was we saw a sailboat docked by one site, so someone actually knew ahead of time and planned a fun activity.

Fires are allowed (watch for bans) and pits were at most sites (from what I could tell). Plots are small, and there's little privacy between each plot. Essentially it felt like the campgrounds was trying to maximize the plots available and I don't think that was a financial decision - there's a lot of commuters looking for camping in this area and the park is trying their best to accommodate. I do stress reservations on weekends - we saw so many people leaving since sites were occupied on a Friday by 4pm.

  • Review photo of Cow Creek North Campground by Daniel B., July 25, 2016
  • Review photo of Cow Creek North Campground by Daniel B., July 25, 2016
  • Review photo of Cow Creek North Campground by Daniel B., July 25, 2016
  • (6) View All
Showing results 1-6 of 6 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find Cow Creek Campground at Green Mountain Reservoir in Colorado?

Cow Creek Campground is located off Highway 9 between Silverthorne and Steamboat Springs. Look for a small road turnoff from Highway 9 that leads to the Green Mountain Reservoir area. The campground is situated alongside the reservoir. Weekday arrivals are recommended as the campground fills quickly on Friday and Saturday nights, especially during summer months. The nearest town is Heeney, which has a small store for basic supplies.

What's the difference between Cow Creek North and South Campgrounds at Green Mountain Reservoir?

Cow Creek North Campground offers more sites directly adjacent to the water with excellent Mountain and reservoir views, while Cow Creek South has better tree coverage providing more shade. North campground features more open scrubland terrain with hilly topography that creates some privacy between sites. South campground tends to have more protection from the frequent high winds that can affect the North campground. Both areas get busy on weekends, with North campground often filling up first due to its prime waterfront locations ideal for fishing and water activities.

What amenities and facilities are available at Cow Creek South Campground?

Cow Creek South Campground provides basic amenities including designated campsites with fire pits, picnic tables, and hooks for hanging items. Toilet facilities are available near groups of plots. The campground has been adding bear lockers for food storage. South campground offers better tree coverage than the North campground, providing more shade. The small store in nearby Heeney carries limited supplies at premium prices. While the campground is somewhat primitive, the beautiful reservoir access and mountain views compensate for the modest facilities.

Is there a map of Green Mountain Reservoir campgrounds showing Cow Creek?

There is no specific mention of an available map for Cow Creek campgrounds at Green Mountain Reservoir in the available information. Visitors should check with the U.S. Forest Service website or contact the Dillon Ranger District office for official maps of the area. Upon arrival, the camp host can provide orientation assistance and site information. For planning purposes, knowing that the campground is divided into North and South sections with varying proximity to the water is helpful. Consider stopping at a ranger station en route for the most current maps.

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