Sweetwater Lake sits in White River National Forest above the Eagle River valley, reached by a rough access road that demands attention from drivers towing anything close to the 30-foot trailer limit. The loop is tight enough that, as one reviewer noted, tow vehicles need the full width of the road to keep trailers from going off the edge. Plan accordingly. Campers coming from places to camp around Gypsum should factor in extra drive time for the road conditions.
Only seven sites are available here, and they fill early, particularly on summer weekends. Sites 2 and 3 are close together, which makes them a reasonable choice for larger groups traveling in convoy. Each site has a fire pit and a bear-proof food storage cabinet large enough to hold a full cooler and dry goods. A single-stall vault toilet sits near the entrance. Trails run around the lake, and horse traffic moves through the campground regularly, so expect riders sharing the paths.
The campground is open from mid-June through mid-October, and the season aligns with accessible campgrounds around White River National Forest at elevation. Nearby options include Deep Lake to the west and SE Flat Tops Area to the southwest for campers exploring the Flat Tops Wilderness corridor. Bring bug spray, reserve early if possible, and confirm your rig clears the 30-foot maximum before making the drive up.
Description
Bear activity has been increasing. For this reason a "food storage order" is in effect at all developed campgrounds on the Eagle/Holy Cross Ranger District, and the Piney Guard Station, Tigiwon Lodge, Mount of the Holy Cross Overlook, Homestake Road FSR 703, and Nolan Creek Road. This order requires all food and refuse to be stored in hard-sided vehicles, approved bear-resistant containers, or supended at least 10 feet clear of the ground at all points and four feet horizontally from any supporting tree or pole. This order has been issued to provide for public safety and wildlife conservation. Hopefully it will reduce wildlife habituation problems. Click here to see food storage order. NATURAL FEATURES: Sweetwater Campground, elevation 7,740 feet, is on the south end of 72 acre, Sweetwater Lake. The vegetation surrounding the campground and the sites is scrub oak, serviceberry, wild rose and willow. High limestone cliffs tower above the area on two sides. FACILITIES: Sweetwater Campground has 9 partially shaded campsites with picnic tables and fire ring grills. This campground has small sites. Six of the sites can accommodate vehicles up to 30 feet long. There is one vault toilet. ATTRACTIONS: TRAILS - There are three popular hiking and horseback riding trails beginning at the end of the campground. The Ute Trail, #2031, (9.4 miles) goes up to Deep Lake on the Flattops. The Cross Creek Trail, #1855, (6.5 miles) travels through sagebrush flats full of wildflowers and aspen forests to the Sweetwater Trail, #1854. The short Scenic Overlook trail, (500 yards) has nice views of the lake and a waterfall. FISHING - Sweetwater Lake offers good fishing from the shore or small boats for brook, brown and rainbow trout, as well as kokanee salmon. BOATING - Canoes and rowboats are popular on this lake, but some electric motors are used. No gasoline-powered motors are allowed on Sweetwater Lake. Hand-launched boats only since there is no public boat ramp. Sweetwater Campground is the only public access to Sweetwater Lake. There is a printable Recreation Quicksheet for this campground which is complete with directions, details, and other information about this campground.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsSweetwater Lake is located in Colorado near Gypsum
Directions
Directions from Eagle: Travel 12 miles west of Eagle on I-70 to Dotsero. Go north on Colorado River Road for 7 miles. Turn left onto the Sweetwater Creek road. Stay on road for 10 miles, then turn left at the sign for Sweetwater Campground.
Coordinates
39.79700008 N
107.16100055 W
Connectivity
T-MobileNo CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 8/4/26- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 8/4/26
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
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
- Picnic Table
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
Drive Time
- 2 hrs 18 min from Grand Junction, CO
- 3 hrs from Denver, CO
- 3 hrs 10 min from Boulder, CO
- 3 hrs 45 min from Fort Collins, CO
