San Isabel National Forest manages Father Dyer Campground on the east side of Turquoise Lake, roughly ten minutes by car from Leadville. The campground sits within a forested loop at elevation, where conifer cover gives individual sites a reasonable degree of separation. Sites include picnic tables, fire rings, pedestal grills, and access to potable water and vault toilets. Firewood is available at the host site.
The facilities are consistently clean. Multiple reviewers across several seasons comment on the vault toilets in particular, and Sheryl S. calls them "the cleanest best smelling pit bathrooms we had ever seen." The camp hosts are attentive and have a track record of proactively addressing site issues before guests arrive. Sites are well-maintained, though at least one reviewer found the tent pad on their site uneven enough to require sleeping on a slope.
Turquoise Lake is the main draw. The walk down takes roughly two to five minutes on foot, and a short drive connects campers to the Lady of the Lake day use area, where a campground tag covers the entry fee. Anglers can fish the lake from shore, and the Turquoise Lake Trail provides a longer hiking option for those who want more mileage. Views from the lake shore face Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive. Mosquitoes are common, and afternoon wind on the lake can be significant.
Early-season camping here comes with real considerations. Snow melt in late May and early June can partially flood lower sites, and temperatures can drop below freezing overnight. The access road has drawn some comments about rough conditions. Reservations are available and fill quickly, especially around holiday weekends. RVs up to 35 feet are accommodated, and the campground has a one-way loop road that warrants attention on arrival.
Baby Doe and Printer Boy Group Campground sit nearby along Turquoise Lake for those who want to compare options before booking. Father Dyer tends to work best for campers who want lake access without camping directly on the water, and who value maintained facilities over a more rustic setup.
Description
Overview
Father Dyer Campground is situated on the eastern shore of Turquoise Lake in the shade of a lodgepole pine and subalpine fir forest. The family-friendly campground is a popular summer destination for boating, hiking and fishing. The campground is named after Father John Lewis Dyer, one of the first Methodist ministers to tour Colorado's high country mining camps. For 20 years, beginning in 1862, he travelled the circuit encompassing Alma, Fairplay and Leadville, regularly skiing over the 13,186-foot Mosquito Pass on long, wooden skis.
Recreation
The 1.2-mile Turquoise Lake Nature Trail is a gentle loop trail through the forest and down to the shoreline of Turquoise Lake. This trail connects to the 6.4-mile Turquoise Lake Trail that parallels the shoreline from Sugar Loaf Dam to May Queen Campground. Trail guides are available at the trailhead located about a mile south, at the entrance to Molly Brown Campground. On the lake, boating, sailing, canoeing and fishing are favorite activities. Anglers fish for stocked cutthroat, rainbow, brown and lake trout. Matchless Boat Ramp is located about two miles south of the campground.
Facilities
The campground offers 26 single-family sites. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and trash collection are provided. Firewood is available for purchase from the Host. Parking spurs are gravel or dirt.
Natural Features
Campsites are nestled in the forest near the scenic lakeshore. The Mount Massive Wilderness Area, a 30,540 acre stretch of primitive land encompassing Colorado's second highest peak at 14,421 feet, is nearby. Much of the wilderness is above timberline with many alpine plant communities and permanent snowfields.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (661) 702-1420.
Nearby Attractions
Venture to Independence Pass for a scenic drive with breathtaking views of the Rockies and surrounding alpine tundra habitat. At 12,095 feet, it is one of the highest paved mountain passes in the country and marks where the Top of the Rockies National Scenic and Historic Byway crosses the Continental Divide.
Charges & 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.
Fee Info
Extra Vehicle Fee $10.00
Warning 1 Alert is In Effect
There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!
Warning 1 Alert is In Effect
There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!
Fire restrictions are currently in effect that prohibit all fires. Generators with an approved spark arrestor and fires or stoves that use liquid petroleum (LPG) fuels are permitted.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsFather Dyer is located in Colorado near Leadville
Directions
From Leadville, Colorado, drive west on County Road 4 about 3 miles, turn right on County Road 9C and follow to Father Dyer Campground on the left.
Address
LEADVILLE RANGER DISTRICT
810 FRONT STREET
Leadville, CO 80461
Coordinates
39.2735611 N
106.3486861 W
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 13 usersLast on 7/19/26
- VerizonLTEGood CoverageVerified by 41 usersLast on 7/19/26
- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 27 usersLast on 7/19/26
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 13 usersLast on 7/19/26
- VerizonLTEGood CoverageVerified by 41 usersLast on 7/19/26
- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 27 usersLast on 7/19/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Pull-Through Sites
- Big Rig Friendly
Drive Time
- 1 hr 45 min from Denver, CO
- 1 hr 55 min from Boulder, CO
- 2 hrs 31 min from Fort Collins, CO
- 2 hrs 31 min from Colorado Springs, CO


















