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Camping

Established Camping

Spillway Campground

Spillway Campground, near Lake George, Colorado, is a scenic spot that offers a great mix of outdoor fun and relaxation. With sites right along the South Platte River, it’s perfect for those who love fishing and hiking, with easy access to some beautiful trails.

The campground is known for its stunning views and a peaceful atmosphere, making it a favorite among visitors. Many campers have praised the cleanliness of the facilities and the friendliness of the hosts, who are always ready to help with any questions. One camper noted, “The hosts were extremely friendly and answered a bunch of questions for us,” which really adds to the welcoming vibe.

While there are no electric hookups or showers, the campground allows for campfires, and you can bring your pets along, making it a cozy spot for families. Just remember to bring your own water, as the potable supply is limited. As one reviewer mentioned, “Limited potable water and no hookups but this place is beautiful!”

If you’re up for some adventure, the area is great for hiking and fly fishing, with the river being a popular spot for both. Just be prepared for a bumpy ride on the way in, as some campers have pointed out that the road can be a bit rough. Whether you’re pitching a tent or parking your RV, Spillway Campground is a solid choice for a memorable outdoor experience.

Description

National Forest

PSICC

Overview

Spillway Campground is perched along the South Platte River near the base of the dam of Eleven Mile Reservoir. Adventurists and families alike will find things to do here. Birding is excellent, as is hiking. Rock climbers enjoy the solid rocky cliffs of the canyon and fly fishermen find abundant catches in the river.

Recreation

Hike the Overlook Trail for breathtaking views of Eleven Mile Canyon and Reservoir. Occasionally, Golden Eagles can be viewed nesting in the nearby granite cliffs and crags. Springtime brings higher chances of spotting Bald Eagles. Visitors enjoy fishing by shore or canoe. Rainbow and brown trout, kokanee salmon and pike are among the species anglers are likely to find.

Natural Features

The campground, at altitude 8,500 feet, is located at the edge of Eleven Mile Canyon, furthest from the canyon entrance. Some campsites are shaded by scattered spruce and ponderosa pine. Spillway is the closest campground to the Eleven Mile Reservoir, which spans 3,405 surface acres and 5 miles in length. Eleven Mile Canyon was cut by the South Platte River and is bordered by polished gray granite cliffs.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (661) 702-1420.

Nearby Attractions

Visitors enjoy the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, one of the richest and most diverse fossil deposits in the world. Petrified redwood stumps up to 14 feet wide and thousands of detailed fossils of insects and plants reveal the story of a very different, prehistoric Colorado.

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.

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Location

Spillway Campground is located in Colorado

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Lake George, Colorado, turn off of Highway 24 onto County Road 96. Follow the road for about one mile turn right to the Eleven Mile Canyon entrance. Spillway Campground is the last campground which is about 9 miles up Eleven Mile Canyon near the dam.

Coordinates

38.9066667 N
105.4677778 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.

Stay Connected

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

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group
  • Cabins
  • Tent Cabin
  • Equestrian

Features

For Campers

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

For Vehicles

  • Big Rig Friendly

Reviews

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5 Stars

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1 Star

54%
39%
10%
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4.5

out of 5

13 Reviews

Reviewed Aug. 22, 2023

Absolutely beautiful especially when the sun is out!

We had a great time in Site #24, camping in a tent.  This site is inadequate for an RV or even a camper, as the parking spot is just a widening in the road.  But the site was very private and  had beautiful views.  I left a day early as a new neighbor came to the site across the road and was running his generator a lot….so I just decided to leave….

Site#24
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Spillway Campground by Donna A., August 22, 2023
  • Review photo of Spillway Campground by Donna A., August 22, 2023
  • Review photo of Spillway Campground by Donna A., August 22, 2023
Reviewed Jul. 12, 2022

Beautiful place

Limited potable water and no hook ups but this place is beautiful! Hiking and fly fishing are the extra things to do!

Sitespillway #9
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Spillway Campground by Shirley M., July 12, 2022
  • Review photo of Spillway Campground by Shirley M., July 12, 2022
  • Review photo of Spillway Campground by Shirley M., July 12, 2022
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Jul. 11, 2022

Got lucky on July 4th Weekend!

Here I am strolling into 11 Mile Canyon area the Friday of July 4th weekend thinking its all FF sites...boy was I wrong! However, we got extremely lucky and there happened to be a single cancellation so we could nab a spot at Spillway Campground! This campground is simply the best along this long and beautiful, scenic drive along the river and its at the very end, near the dam.

The hosts were extremely friendly and answered a bunch of questions for us. 

The bathrooms were well kept and the sites themselves were great.

10/10 I cannot wait to return to Spillway Campground.

Site12
Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Oct. 2, 2020

Unique area - eleven mile canyon

Very nice campground with south Platte River front sites. We took our 19’ trailer and there are some trailer friendly sites but I would say this campground has better tent sites than trailer sites. The campground is clean and the views of the rock formations in the canyon are spectacular. The fishing was great. The mornings were cold. The host does a good job caring for the campground. There is a nice overlook trail (steep but short) right off the campground that is worth doing to get views of the reservoir. There is no access to the reservoir from the canyon. The road in the canyon can be bumpy and not great on your rig. There is a house near by with two dogs that woke us up one night and bark a lot during the day too FYI...

  • Review photo of Spillway Campground by Rebeca H., October 2, 2020
  • Review photo of Spillway Campground by Rebeca H., October 2, 2020
  • Review photo of Spillway Campground by Rebeca H., October 2, 2020
  • (12) View All
Reviewed Sep. 2, 2020

We’ll be back for sure!

Beautiful views, amazing sites right against the rocks. We made a last minute reservation and got the last available site. We were so disappointed when we realized it was the worst spot in the campground (#18) but checked with the host (who was very helpful and friendly) to see if there were any cancellations and there was! We ended up with one of the most unique spots (#5) It was beautiful and private and we were right against the rocks which we climbed up each night to watch the sunset. The campground is right along the river and since we were all the way at the end of the road it was very peaceful out there. The campground was full but it didn’t feel crowded and our family definitely plans to come back sometime! The road getting out there is sooooo bumpy- washboard for sure. We didn’t require 4WD, just be aware that it’s uncomfortable to drive on and at times it felt like our vehicle would shake apart 😂 Also, bring your own water! There is a pump out there but we still didn’t feel comfortable drinking it (and forgot our filter)

  • Review photo of Spillway Campground by Anna , September 2, 2020
  • Review photo of Spillway Campground by Anna , September 2, 2020
  • Review photo of Spillway Campground by Anna , September 2, 2020
  • (7) View All
Reviewed Jul. 25, 2020

Beautiful & Remote

This is a wonderful campground at the end of the road near the dam and right next to the Platte. This is a wonderful spot for fly fishing, and can get busy sharing the river with day visitors. This would be a challenge for large campers to get to, and archways through the rock on the road in make for a cool drive but limits what will make it down the road. We had a long spot with two pads and plenty of space. There is a wonderful hike at the East end of camp that takes hikers up to amazing views, but the trail is unclear in points so be cautious and look for markers. Site 12 was perfect for our family with a lot of space and up away from other campsites. The site was outlined by trees and plenty of rocks to climb and explore. Vault toilets were clean and accessible, busy campground with more crowding near the entrance.

  • Review photo of Spillway Campground by Amanda M., July 25, 2020
  • Review photo of Spillway Campground by Amanda M., July 25, 2020
  • Review photo of Spillway Campground by Amanda M., July 25, 2020
  • (12) View All
Reviewed Jun. 20, 2019

Great Campground

Site 16 is great for a travel trailer/ small RV. Easy access to the river for fly fishing. The Overlook trail is a short 0.5 mike hike up that has a great view. The camp hosts, Neal & Patty were very friendly and keep a nice campground. Also the fly fishing is excellent. Catch & Release, Flys only!

The only issue was the wind coming down the canyon over the dam. Can get windy but usually dies down at night.

Reservations are a must during the season. Opens mid May - late October.

Steve The “Happy Camper”

  • Review photo of Spillway Campground by Stephen K., June 20, 2019
  • Review photo of Spillway Campground by Stephen K., June 20, 2019
  • Review photo of Spillway Campground by Stephen K., June 20, 2019
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Jun. 19, 2019

Enjoyed our time here

I enjoyed our trip here.  We have site 2, 4 and 6 - tent-only sites.  

 Warning for parties that are larger than 2 people Site 2 was a bit small for a larger tent. The camp host kept the place and bathrooms very clean.

The camp was nice but was disappointed there is no lake access from the camp - blocked by a fence leading to the dam.

Month of VisitJune
Reviewed Jun. 10, 2019

Site 2

Site 2 has a flat spot big enough for a 2 person tent. Otherwise all other ground was on a hill to set up tent. Most other sites are better for larger tents. 

Great campground, just not the right campsite for a family.

Site002
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Spillway Campground by Becca M., June 10, 2019
  • Review photo of Spillway Campground by Becca M., June 10, 2019
Reviewed Jul. 4, 2018

Narrow paradise

This place is great. Quiet. Fun, and beautiful. Short steep hikes. Fly fishing mecca. Long bumpy 11 mile dirt road ride. But worth it. Recommend tent camping. No long or big campers = tough trek in.

Site27
Month of VisitJune
Reviewed Jun. 2, 2018

Peaceful getaway!

Located just below the spillway from Eleven Mile Reservoir, views of the river can be seen from the campground. The campground hosts are extremely helpful and sweet, and keep the campground clean and inviting!

Site23
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Spillway Campground by Rea M., June 2, 2018
  • Review photo of Spillway Campground by Rea M., June 2, 2018
  • Review photo of Spillway Campground by Rea M., June 2, 2018
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Jul. 24, 2016

A Climbers Paradise

Spillway campground is the furthest campground in to Eleven Mile. There are lots of camps, however, Camp 2 in Spillway is where the goods are at. You can nestle your two-man tent perfectly in a flat spot in between some rocks and it is in the shade for almost the entirety of each day. There is a trail above the camp that will take you up to some beautiful views through a meadow. Right in the camp are over 5 established bouldering routes and even more in the hill above camp. You are right next to the host, but nestled in a corner, so it is a nice, private area to spend some quality time outdoors. Plus, it is right next to Pine Cone Dome for some awesome sport routes! Bathrooms are very well maintained, the hosts are always friendly and accommodating with fire wood if needed. Otherwise, purchase your firewood at Starky's before you come into the park!

  • Review photo of Spillway Campground by Christina G., July 24, 2016
  • Review photo of Spillway Campground by Christina G., July 24, 2016
  • Review photo of Spillway Campground by Christina G., July 24, 2016

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the max vehicle length at Spillway Campground?

    Spillway Campground allows vehicles up to 40 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Spillway Campground?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Spillway Campground, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Does Spillway Campground have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Spillway Campground does not have wifi.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Spillway Campground?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is unknown, AT&T is good, and T-Mobile is unknown.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Spillway Campground?

    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 Spillway Campground. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Spillway Campground, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Spillway Campground?

    There are 23 campsites at Spillway Campground and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts