Graham Creek Campground, near Vallecito Reservoir, Colorado, is a fantastic spot for those looking to escape into nature without sacrificing comfort. This campground is RV-friendly and features picnic tables and fire rings, making it perfect for cozy evenings around the campfire.

Visitors rave about the stunning scenery, with many sites offering breathtaking views of the lake and surrounding mountains. As one camper noted, “Our site was in the woods overlooking a small prairie and large lake,” which really captures the beauty of the area. Wildlife is abundant here, with deer frequently spotted wandering through the campground at dusk.

For those who enjoy fishing, the lake is a great spot to cast a line, and some campers suggest bringing a canoe or kayak to fully enjoy the water. While the campground is primitive, with vault toilets and no showers, it provides a peaceful retreat for those looking to disconnect. Just be mindful of the road conditions; following the right directions is key to getting there smoothly.

## Overview

 Graham Creek Campground is situated above Vallecito Lake, in the scenic San Juan National Forest of southwestern Colorado. Visitors enjoy the area for its beautiful scenery and wide range of recreational activities, including boating, fishing and hiking.
## Recreation

 Vallecito Lake is a very popular fishing destination, where anglers cast for German brown trout, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, kokanee salmon and northern pike. The lake offers great boating, water skiing and canoeing opportunities. Boat rentals and fishing licenses are available at various locations around the lake. A variety of hiking and horseback riding trails are found in the area. The North Canyon Trail begins across the road from the campground and leads through ponderosa pine and aspen forests on its way through the canyon. A shorter trail leads to a scenic overlook of the lake. East Creek Trail begins a quarter-mile up Forest Road 852, just northeast of the campground. The trail provides access to a lightly used, scenic drainage where fly-fisherman cast for brook trout. Both trails are popular with horseback riders, however, horses are not allowed in the campground.
## Natural Features

 Vallecito Lake, Spanish for \"little valley,\" sits at an elevation of 7,900 feet. Scattered ponderosa pine trees tower over the open campground, offering limited shade. Hillside sites are about 100 yards from the high-water line and offer nice lake views. A thick understory provides privacy between sites. Thickets of willow separate the camping area from the lakeshore. Several short trails lead to the lake from the campground. High peaks of the San Juans are visible to the northwest of the campground. 
## 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.

Graham Creek Campground

Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Bayfield, CO has a lot to offer. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Bayfield is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Find the best campgrounds near Bayfield, CO. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.

Bayfield

The Best Camping Near Bayfield, Colorado

This campground is by far the most beautiful "in your backyard" view yet! Our site was in the woods over looking a small prairie and large lake. On the opposite side of the lake there were several mountains which made my morning breakfast amazing. We saw several deer at night run through the prairie. The campground  is primitive with no flushing toilets or showers. There are water pumps and vault toilets throughout the campground. This place is hard to find from the main highway to Durango and our car GPS didn't know where to go. Luckily we printing off directions so it was all good. If you aren't fishing or kayaking, which we didn't do, there isn't really a whole lot to do at this campground. There is a trail which seemed nice but other than that it was pretty much just an overnight stop on our road trip.  I suggest bringing a canoe/kayak to take out on the lake! Overall, amazing views and nice manager!

Best camping view yet!

Nice campground. Vault toilets, water, picnic tables, fire rings. Great if you want to camp and then fish the lake. We just angled from the shore. We should have brought a canoe or kayak. Some “civilization” on the other side of the lake. We went the week before Labor Day. Basically had the camp to ourselves.

Some raccoons did attempt to steal our car... or they were after the marshmallows in the backseat.

Camp and fish 

This is a very pretty campground. If you take the long way around the resivour the way google will take you, the road does become a little difficult and is dirt but our altima made it through. Do not go the long way through the other campground, follow the directions on the offical page and take the short way around the lake!

Phone signical was suprisingly okay with Verizon and Sprint.

Visited in June.

Beautiful! 

Great campground! This is an RV friendly campground. So if you have a traditional tent, I would reccomend the sites near the camp host. Camp hosts were super friendly! We were in site 19. Deer would cross our campsite every night at dusk. Don’t miss the turn! The road gets really sketchy after graham creek and north canyon campgrounds. So turn left when you see the sign 

Perfect little get away

This was a great place to spend a few nights. Sites are private and beautiful. There is good access to hiking and we rented kayaks at the local marina. Only wish we had more time here. 

Simply the Best

While a bit dusty, this campground is well maintained, nicely laid out, and has nice access to the lake. 

Photos of Graham Creek Campground

Real photos from real campers