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.

Lake Deweese state wildlife area

Westcliffe is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. Find the best campgrounds near Westcliffe, CO. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.

Westcliffe

The Best Camping Near Westcliffe, Colorado

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. 

Great fishing and mountain views

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 :)

Beautiful

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

Great spot

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.”

Beautiful, but Poorly Maintained

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. 

Photos of Lake Deweese state wildlife area

Real photos from real campers