Gunnison National Forest's Erickson Springs sits along County Road 12 on the Kebler Pass corridor, a stretch of unpaved road connecting Colorado 133 to Crested Butte. The campground runs alongside Anthracite Creek, and that proximity to water is the detail reviewers mention most. It's a smaller site. The road itself is a factor worth planning around: dusty in summer, and according to one reviewer, "slimy mud after a rain or snow" on the pass drive.
Fishing in Anthracite Creek draws some visitors, though reviews note it's not particularly productive. Hikers have access to Dark Canyon, which leads into the Raggeds Wilderness, and the Dark Canyon Trailhead (Dispersed) area sits just north of camp. Mid-summer temperatures can run hot at this elevation, so shade and site selection matter. The campground is listed as allowing alcohol and providing toilets, though at least one recent reviewer flagged that drinking water has not been reliably available for years, making self-supplied water an important consideration.
Paonia is the nearest town for resupply, and campers using Erickson Springs as a base for tent camping spots near Gunnison National Forest will find this corridor well-positioned between the North Fork Valley and the Elk Mountains. Paonia State Park Campground provides an alternative roughly five miles northwest. Note that pets are not permitted. This campground works best for self-sufficient campers comfortable with rustic conditions and unpaved road travel.
Description
Overview
This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsErickson Springs is located in Colorado near Marble
Coordinates
38.956703 N
107.26681 W
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Access
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
Features
For Campers
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
Drive Time
- 1 hr 38 min from Grand Junction, CO
- 3 hrs 47 min from Denver, CO
- 3 hrs 57 min from Boulder, CO
- 4 hrs 35 min from Colorado Springs, CO









