South Mineral Campground — San Juan National Forest

Top 3 sites for me. Absolutely love it here and can't wait to go back

This is not dispersed camping at all.  The actual South Mineral Campground is a drive-in, specific site, pay first come first serve situation.  It was so crowded.  Even in the free sampsites it was overrun by RV's, trailers, and tons of people.  It may have been because it was Labor Day weekend, but definitely not a place that I would want to camp if you are looking for peace, quiet, and serenity.  It was like going to a tailgate party at some sort of festival.  I would change the description of this plae as driving in to what we thought was "dispersed camping" was actually not.  Great for families.  We did not stay here.

Got there on a Sunday at 11 am in late July and they had around 6 sites available. We enjoyed the weather the view and the sounds of the rushing creek. The hosts keep the park clean, portable toilets kept clean and firewood for sale. Our site was near the trailhead to Ice Lake. Lots of dispersed camping on the CR 7 going towards campground. Also a forest road for 4x4 vehicles drive past the campground to find amazing views and even more great dispersed areas to camp.

Stayed at campsite #17 in early June. Large campsite near intersection of campground roads; some traffic driving by. Campground wasn't crowded during our stay. Site was across road from vault toilets, and a few sites away from the nearest water station. Vault toilets were very clean & had tp. Elevation of campground is over 9800 feet. Snow was still on the ground in places. Overnight temperatures around 30 degrees F. Firewood was available for sale. Campground hosts were great! Kept the campground clean & safe. Campsite included metal fire ring & table. Site had great views of nearby mountains. The trailhead for Ice Lakes Trail is near campground entrance. Forest road accessing the campground was easy to drive for any vehicle. Pass a handful of walk-in dispersed tent sites on the way. South Mineral Creek & Clear Creek flow along side campground, providing fishing opportunities. Overall beautiful campground.

I’ve stayed at both the CG and along the road in the dozens of available (if your lucky and early) dispersed sites.

Prime area to have your base to hike to Ice Lakes (closed still due to fire) or off-roading around the San Juan’s.

It’s a really busy area but if you can grab one of the better sites in the CG you’ll feel like the only one there. Clean, usually good well mannered neighbors but since it’s an easy spot to get too you’ll get the opposite as well.

Beautiful river flowing down the valley as well which is always a bonus.

IF you can’t get a spot here at least you have options for dispersed camping all around which helps take the stress off but remember it is quite a busy area and that really is my only negative

south mineral currently closed due to the forest fires last year. checked its status 5/15/21

My husband and I spent the last 9 days in the southwest traveling around camping. I would have to say this spot was my favorite spot of all. The actual South Mineral Campground was full, but there are spots along the river the whole way and plenty of them. If you're ready for some quiet, primitive camping- this is it. Gear up, though because the weather can change with the snap of your fingers. I wore 2 pairs of socks, 2 jackets, sweats, my buff, my hood and a beanie + I was under 2 blankets IN AUGUST! You're surrounded by mountains, trees, and the beautiful sky. Best it's based at the Ice Lake Trail head!

I managed to get the last available spot, I recommend getting there early or planning to dispersed camp nearby, which there are a lot of options for.

The bathrooms near the front are older and used by hikers for the Ice Lakes Trail. I recommend taking the extra walk to one of the two other restrooms at the campground.

There’s a mix of exposed and shaded spots. Lots of easy walking trails nearby with creeks and waterfalls. Overall a good experience.

South Mineral Creek Campground is just about as remote as you wanna get without sacrificing the real luxuries in life, like running water and toilets. The road in is quite a ways from, well, pretty much everything you know and love about civilization but that's part of the draw if you ask me. You won't have cell service but you will have an abundance of critters who make themselves right at home in your camp if you let them and beautifully vibrant wildflowers in the late summer months. If you've been wondering how to show the kids a magnificent world beyond TikTok and Fortnite, this is a great place to start. The only reason anyone will be pulling out a phone is to snap pictures.

I can’t say enough great things about this campground! The views all around a tremendous, with the San Juan peaks high above you and waterfalls cascading in every direction. The place is kept spotless and the bathrooms were some of the cleanest I’ve seen in a Colorado campground. I really appreciated the fact that they could have probably squeezed quite a few more campsites in this popular campground, but they chose instead to keep the spots well spaced out and give each camper a private place to enjoy. With that being said, make reservations, this place fills up quick!

Down an access road about 4 miles is South Mineral Campground. On the way there you will pass several single dispersed campsites next to the river or in the reeds by the beaver ponds, as well as a few semi developed dispersed campgrounds. South Mineral is set back between the base of Ice Mountain and the river, with a really nice and fast rushing waterfall/cascade. There are essentially two loops, with around 25 sites that are nicely sized and spaced with great hammocking trees. The campground is fairly level with handicap access to several sites. There is no electric or water hook ups, but there is water available. There is a day use parking area for those who want to fish, as well as a parking area across from the entrance of the campground for hikers and backpackers heading up to Ice Lake or Clear Lake and beyond or just peak bagging. The vault toilets were clean-ish, but in the need of servicing (it was not long after the July 4th weekend). If you are in need of a shower, head into Silverton and go to the Red Mountain Lodge RV park office. You can get a key to the shower for $5. The showers are clean and not too busy in the middle of the day.

Car camped in the dispersed sites along Forest Road 585 while on a cross country road trip. Well maintained and clean pit toilets with ample toilet paper, which was a pleasant surprise. Free and easy for a pit stop for the night.

The trail head for Ice Lake and Island Lake is just across the road. There is a stream that runs along side the campground. The spaces are nice and large. This campground does not take reservations, but we were lucky enough to get a place on a Sunday afternoon.

There are several pit toilets, which are clean and have TP.

We camped with our small travel trailer and were really happy here! Going back this year.

Camped here after hiking to Ice Lakes and Island Lake. It's right at the trail head! The camp hosts were awesome and the spots are beautiful. Great spot.