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.

## 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.

West Dolores Campground

Rico is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Rico. Find the best campgrounds near Rico, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.

Rico

The Best Camping Near Rico, Colorado

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!

Gorgeous spot!

Upgraded from when we started staying there 30 years ago. Good tree cover and large camps with fire rings and table.

Easy access, on river, great base camp spot for the area

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. 

$24/night, no cell service, basic campground

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.

A true San Juan gem 

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

All As Expectd

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.

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.

Photos of West Dolores Campground

Real photos from real campers