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Facilities

Established Camping

West Dolores Campground

Warning 1 Alert is In Effect

There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!

Camping Options: First-Come, First Served sites are also available at this campground.

West Dolores Campground, near Dolores, Colorado, is a peaceful retreat tucked away in the San Juan National Forest. This spot is perfect for those looking to unwind amidst nature, with sites that offer a mix of sun and shade, making it comfortable throughout the day.

The campground features picnic tables and fire rings, ideal for cozy evenings under the stars. Visitors have noted the clean facilities, including well-kept pit toilets, and the availability of drinking water, which adds to the convenience of your stay. One camper mentioned, “The site was clean, and the hosts were very friendly,” highlighting the welcoming atmosphere here.

For outdoor enthusiasts, the nearby West Dolores River provides a beautiful backdrop and opportunities for hiking along scenic trails. Many campers appreciate the proximity to the river, making it a great base for exploring the surrounding area. Whether you’re setting up a tent or parking your RV, West Dolores Campground offers a serene escape from the hustle and bustle, with plenty of natural beauty to soak in.

Description

National Forest

San Juan National Forest

Overview

West Dolores Campground is located on the West Dolores Road (Forest Road 535), which branches north from Colorado Highway 145 about 20 miles northeast of Dolores. It is a great place to relax and enjoy the outdoors by hiking, biking and fishing.

Recreation

The West Dolores River offers fishing for brown, rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout. A day-use parking area is available on-site. Several parcels of private property are found along the river. Visitors are asked to stay on the trail and not trespass. Mountain biking is allowed on Forest Roads 532 and 535. Forest Service Trail 624 begins three miles south of the campground.

Natural Features

The campground is situated on the banks of the West Dolores River, which has its headwaters in the nearby Lizard Head Wilderness. A shady forest of spruce, ponderosa pine and Douglas fir covers the campground. The campground is at an elevation of 7,800 feet.

Nearby Attractions

Southwestern Colorado, part of the Four Corners region, contains more than 4,000 archaeological sites and 600 cliff dwellings. Mesa Verde National Park is an hour and a half south of the campground, close enough for a day trip. Other sites within the region include the Anasazi Heritage Center in Delores, Canyon of the Ancients and Hovenweep National Monument. Burro Bridge campground is loacated 19 miles north of the campground offering Horse camping and a trail from the campground into the Lizard Head Wilderness.

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

West Dolores Campground is located in Colorado

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Dolores, travel 21 miles north on Highway 145 and Forest Road 535 to the campground entrance, 1 mile from Mavreeso Campground.

Address

CO Hwy 145 (FS Road 535)
Dolores, CO 81323

Coordinates

37.6597222 N
108.2761111 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

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

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • 30 Amp Hookups
  • Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Reservations


Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

7 Reviews

Reviewed Jun. 14, 2021

Shaded and peaceful

West Dolores was beautiful, peaceful and nearly perfect. The only caution I would give is that although the campground information on Recreation.gov correctly states that there are water spigots throughout the campground, the written rules we were given on arrival expressly forbid filling RV tanks with water from the campground. Only one spigot is threaded and the rest have a sign stating that water should only be used for drinking, not washing. This is mainly an issue because although there are very decent pit toilets, there are no sinks or hand sanitizer stations provided.

Site52
Month of VisitJune
Reviewed Jul. 8, 2020

Peaceful

Loved being to close to the river. There were nice hiking trails nearby. Loved that the vault toilets had lighting. There was plenty of drinking water. The site was clean. The hosts were very friendly.

Site15
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of West Dolores Campground by Meghan A., July 8, 2020
Reviewed May. 25, 2020

All As Expectd

My family has frequented the West Dolores for over 35 years.  It has evolved and now has electricity.   It's close to the river, and the different size spots are good for both tent and camper.  It's spread out so you have privacy and it gets the right amount of sun during the day so it's always comfortable.  It's a good mid point to base up to The Meadows, Fish Creek, or back down to Dolores or over 145 down to Rico. 

#EnterpriseBarandGrill

Reviewed Oct. 1, 2019

A true San Juan gem

Having stayed in the Telluride area many times, the west fork of the Dolores River was a welcome reprieve from the leaf-peeping crowds in late September who flock to the upper reaches of Lizard Head Pass. 

After passing the Mavreeso Campground and finding the gate already closed for the season, we were happy to pull into West Dolores, where a sign greeted us saying that it would be open, but with very little amenities, until the snow came. Didn't see a host or firewood, but paid our money in the envelope regardless. There were a few sites still available on a Saturday night at this time of year.

Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of West Dolores Campground by Lindsey S., October 1, 2019
  • Review photo of West Dolores Campground by Lindsey S., October 1, 2019
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Reviewed Aug. 2, 2019

$24/night, no cell service, basic campground

Your basic woodland campground, picnic tables, fire pits, pit toilets, etc. No cell service. Fire wood sold by host. $24/night for single sites. Seems pretty booked up for the weekend but I got a single night site next to the river on a Wednesday night early August with no reservation.

  • Review photo of West Dolores Campground by Kaelin P., August 2, 2019
  • Review photo of West Dolores Campground by Kaelin P., August 2, 2019
Reviewed Jul. 2, 2016

Gorgeous spot!

This campground is in the midst of some amazing scenery! Super close to great hiking and the on the West Dolores River. We had a picnic table and fire ring. Loved our time there!

  • Review photo of West Dolores Campground by Heather B., July 2, 2016

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does West Dolores Campground have RV hookups?

    According to TheDyrt.com, West Dolores Campground has 30 amp electric hookups.

  • What is the max vehicle length at West Dolores Campground?

    West Dolores Campground allows vehicles up to 65 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at West Dolores Campground?

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

  • Is there cell phone reception at West Dolores Campground?

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

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at West Dolores 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 West Dolores Campground. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at West Dolores Campground, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

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

    There are 10 campsites at West Dolores Campground and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts