Accessible by forest road, Shepherds Rim Campground operates as the only reservable campground at Trappers Lake from June through September. The US Forest Service manages this forested site with 22 drive-in and walk-in spots, accommodating RVs up to 54 feet with pull-through options available. Sites feature shade from surrounding trees, though mosquito activity can be notable during peak season.
The campground provides drinking water, restrooms, and a dump station down the access road, with an on-site host maintaining the facilities. Cell service remains unavailable in this remote location, situated over 100 miles round-trip from the nearest gas station or grocery store. Campers can access fishing opportunities and hiking trails leading into the adjacent Flat Tops Wilderness Area, making it a staging point for places to camp around White River National Forest backcountry adventures.
Description
Overview
Surrounded by mountains and nestled near the wilderness, the Shepherds Rim Campground at Trappers Lake has 15 scenic campsites. Located at 9,720 feet in elevation, visitors can locate this campground on the right side of the road as you travel south from the Trappers Lake Outlet area.
Recreation
Trappers Lake is known as the Cradle of Wilderness. At approximately 302 surface acres, the lake contains a strain of native cutthroat trout and the Colorado Parks and Wildlife operates a spawn collection station at the Cabin Creek inlet during May and June. Trappers Lake lies completely within the Flat Tops Wilderness; motorized boats and wheeled carts for boat transport are prohibited.
Facilities
Shepherds Rim Campground has 16 sites suitable for tents, trailers and RVs. The sites are equipped with picnic tables and campfire rings. Guests also have access to vault toilets and drinking water, but electrical hook-ups are not available. There is an RV dump station within the Trappers Lake complex.
Natural Features
In the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the 2.3 million acre White River National Forest is a place of serenity and adventure, boasting eight wilderness areas, four defined seasons, and 10 peaks surpassing 14,000 feet in elevation. Wildlife in the area abounds. Bighorn sheep navigate rocky ridges and bull elk bugle at dusk. Scenic rivers sustain populations of cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout. Alpine regions provide habitat for pika and ptarmigan. These species, along with many others, depend on surrounding undeveloped wilderness, clean streams, and diverse forests to live.Shepherds Rim Campground at Trappers Lake is located adjacent to the Flat Tops Wilderness, offering a natural environment with many pothole lakes, surrounding glacier carved mountains, and access to trails and wilderness areas.__Wildlife frequent the area and moose, elk, deer, marmots, pine marten, and an abundance of birds may be seen.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (801) 226-3564.
Nearby Attractions
Fishing Access: Trappers Lake, Little Trappers Lake, Wall Lake, Fraser Creek, Lake of the WoodsTrail Access: Little Trappers Trail #1814, Carhart Trail #1815, Trappers Lake Trail #1816, Wall Lake Trail #1818, Island Lakes Trail #1842, Chinese Wall Trail #1803, Deer Lake Trail #2021, South Derby Trail #1857, Himes Peak Trail #1877
Charges & Cancellations
Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.
RV Road Trip Guides
Location
Public CampgroundShepherds Rim Campground is located in Colorado
Directions
From Meeker, take Colorado Highway 13 east for 1 mile, then turn right on Rio Blanco County Road 8 and follow this for 39 miles to Trappers Lake Road #205. Turn south on Trappers Lake Road #205, and continue for 10 miles just past the Outlet Trailhead. The Shepherds Rim Campground is on the right.
Coordinates
39.9947222 N
107.2427778 W
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- 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
- Firewood Available
- Reservable
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Pull-Through Sites
Drive Time
- 3 hrs 18 min from Grand Junction, CO
- 4 hrs 47 min from Denver, CO
- 4 hrs 57 min from Boulder, CO
- 5 hrs 25 min from Fort Collins, CO













