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Dispersed Camping

Lake Deweese state wildlife area

Lake Deweese State Wildlife Area, near Westcliffe, Colorado, is a stunning spot for those who appreciate the beauty of nature and a bit of solitude. This area offers a chance to camp in a picturesque setting by the lake, surrounded by mountain views and plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities.

Visitors rave about the clean, beautiful sites, especially during summer nights when the new moon allows for breathtaking views of the Milky Way. If you're into fishing or hiking, you're in luck—there are great spots for both right nearby. Just be prepared for a bit of a rugged experience, as this location is more on the primitive side with pit toilets and no other amenities.

Some campers have mentioned the need for a little more upkeep, particularly regarding litter, but many still find the scenery and tranquility worth it. As one happy camper put it, “Tons of camping with varied scenery around the lake.” So, if you're looking for a peaceful escape where you can enjoy nature and maybe catch a fish or two, Lake Deweese is definitely worth checking out.

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Location

Lake Deweese state wildlife area is located in Colorado

Detail location of campground

Coordinates

38.20503089 N
105.46391628 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Stay Connected

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

Site Types

  • Dispersed

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Firewood Available
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets

For Vehicles

  • Pull-Through Sites

DISPERSED CAMPING

Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.


PERMIT might be REQUIRED

We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if Lake Deweese state wildlife area needs a permit.

Contact

General Info


Reviews

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5 Reviews

Reviewed Aug. 25, 2024

Fine for a night

The directions from this app didn’t exactly take me to the campsites. The campsites are along Lake Deweese Rd at the NE end of the reservoir. There are several sites all in very close proximity. There is virtually no privacy from neighbors but it worked from me for a night. It looked like some campers may be permanently occupying the sites.

Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Lake Deweese state wildlife area by Amy L., August 25, 2024
  • Review photo of Lake Deweese state wildlife area by Amy L., August 25, 2024
  • Review photo of Lake Deweese state wildlife area by Amy L., August 25, 2024
Reviewed May. 18, 2021

Beautiful, but Poorly Maintained

We stayed at a campsite here on 5/14/2021. We felt that we weren’t too close too neighbors and could stay up as late as we wanted without worrying we were keeping people awake nearby. Our campsite had trash, bb bullets, and tons of broken glass everywhere from some idiots who didn’t clean up after themselves. While it was a beautiful site, we had some concerns about the dog and our tires with the nails and glass. The reservoir is really beautiful, but again there was broken glass EVERYWHERE to the point that we couldn’t wade in the water or hang near the edge without shoes. If the glass problem (which seemed to be prevalent everywhere) was resolved we would definitely return.

There were stone fire pits (so these can’t be used when there are stage 1 fire bans), vault toilets, and while there was a stone patio table, no chairs so wouldn’t call it a “picnic table.”

Siteunsure
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Lake Deweese state wildlife area by Paige R., May 18, 2021
  • Review photo of Lake Deweese state wildlife area by Paige R., May 18, 2021
  • Review photo of Lake Deweese state wildlife area by Paige R., May 18, 2021
Reviewed Apr. 28, 2021

Great spot

Have been here many times. love it. Tons on camping with varied scenery around the lake

Reviewed Sep. 18, 2020

Beautiful

Clean, beautiful site by the lake. Summer nights during the new moon is a great time to visit. You can see the Milky Way. Nice spots for fly fishing and hiking.

Westcliffe is right up the road, a small absolutely adorable mountain town.

It’s a must see :)

Reviewed Jun. 23, 2020

Great fishing and mountain views

This is dispersed camping. There are pit toilets but no other services or amenities. Colorado State wild life areas (SWA) require a permit that’s ~$40 a year, or if you have a year fishing or hunting lisence you camp for free. The road around the lake is a little rough but we got out 25’ travel trailer back here no problem.

  • Review photo of Lake Deweese state wildlife area by Jess C., June 23, 2020
  • Review photo of Lake Deweese state wildlife area by Jess C., June 23, 2020
  • Review photo of Lake Deweese state wildlife area by Jess C., June 23, 2020

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the elevation of Lake Deweese state wildlife area?

    Lake Deweese state wildlife area is located at 7678 feet.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Lake Deweese state wildlife area?

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