Fishing enthusiasts will find direct access to both Jefferson Lake and a creek system with beaver pond tributaries at this National Forest campground. Located within Pike and San Isabel National Forests, Lodgepole - Jefferson operates seasonally from mid-May through late September at $24 per night.

The campground features a loop design with sites spaced differently depending on location. Outer loop sites offer more privacy, while inner loop spots sit closer together and accommodate primarily tent camping. RV sites handle rigs up to 35 feet, though several campers suggest 29 feet as a more realistic maximum given the tight maneuvering space. The 2.5 to 3.5-mile dirt access road presents challenges for larger trailers, requiring slow speeds over bumpy terrain.

Water access requires effort at the hand pump, which reviewers consistently describe as "quite a workout." Vault toilets serve the campground, and some sites sit close enough to experience foot traffic during night hours. The Colorado Trail crosses directly across from the campground, providing immediate hiking access. Generator use occurs regularly, particularly during busy periods.

For alternative accommodations nearby, [Aspen Campground](https://thedyrt.com/camping/colorado/pike-national-forest-aspen-campground) offers a smaller, more intimate setting less than a mile away.

## Overview

 Lodgepole Campground is a creekside destination with incredible Colorado mountain views. The campground is located 3 miles south of Jefferson Lake, one of the highest elevation lakes around, capping 10,685 feet elevation and bordered by steep 12,000 foot peaks. Fishing in both the creek and lake offer promising catches of trout. Another noteworthy aspect of the campground is its access to the Colorado Trail. 
## Recreation

 The best hiking, biking and horseback riding experience is on the epic Colorado Trail, a 471-mile trail that extends from Denver to Durango. Also accessible from the campground is the West Jefferson Loop Trail, a foot path that extends for 11 miles and reaches the Continental Divide. Rainbow, brown, mackinaw and brook trout can be found swimming in the creek. For those who prefer fishing by boat, Jefferson Lake has a boat ramp. It is a no-wake lake. 
## Facilities

 Lodgepole offers more than 30 reservable campsites. Parking aprons are gravel and dirt and the max RV length 30 feet. Amenities include picnic tables, vault toilets, drinking water and grills. 
## Natural Features

 Lodgepole sits in a valley along Jefferson Creek facing Jefferson Hill at the high elevation of 9,900 feet. The single-loop campground is surrounded by groves of aspen and mixed conifer trees. Jefferson Lake, spanning about 182 acres, has deep, cold waters and freezes over in winter. 
## Contact Info

 For facility specific information, please call (661) 702-1420. 
## Nearby Attractions

 Visitors enjoy Fairplay, Colorado, a ghost town that was once a frontier boom town. The South Park City Museum contains 34 authentic buildings with 60,000 artifacts.
## 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.

Lodgepole - Jefferson

Join the fun near Jefferson. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. 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 Jefferson, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.

Jefferson

The Best Camping Near Jefferson, Colorado

The Lodgepole and all of the Jefferson campgrounds provide great access to the Colorado trail. I’ve camped here several times, but be sure to catch it in the fall! The colors are amazing. Just a short drive to Jefferson Lake, or you can hop on the Colorado trail just across the road. Not the most secluded sites, but plenty of trees and shade to feel private enough. 

Close to everything!

Overall we enjoyed our stay. the bathrooms were clean and our campsite was very large. Wr loved the easy access to the Colorado Trail as well. The negatives were that we were not expecting so many generators to be running while we were there. Also, the water is drinkable, but there was a sign about how they got cited for not keeping the minimum required water records in May of 2018. We were not 100% sure if the water was safe. We would return again, but will be strategic about what site we book. 



Easy CT access and spacious sites

Dirty and over used is the shortest description.   There were  small bits and pieces of plastic, trash, cigarette butts almost every where I looked.  The strangest part was the wire.  There was so much insulated wire it almost looked like a junkyard.  I guess hunters had used it to hang deer for gutting.  At fist I thought it was string and I continually went to pick it up only to find more wire.  

Dirty

We have previously stayed at Aspen and decided to try this campground since Aspen was full. Our site was very spacious and it was nice to spread out, however, the actual tent spot was really close to the vault toilets. The smell wasn't terrible, but definitely had some foot traffic during the night.

We expected plenty of people given that it was 4th of July. There were a couple very loud large groups and some RV's that ran their generators all day long. Not really the campgrounds fault however.

The water was fine but it was quite the workout to get it pumped. Bathrooms were decent. No real complaints about anything, we just missed the smaller campground at Aspen. 



Spacious but noisy

We stayed in the ‘over flow’ or dispersed camp sites and not the reserved spots. It’s a little ways in, but not bad. Probably not good for a stock car but an SUV with decent clearance should do fine. 
The site we found was in terrible condition, which is sad that people leave the camp site that way. There was trash every where, beer cans, broken pieces glass, parts of an old tent, and toilet paper. I realize that’s not anyone’s fault but just humans who are inconsiderate. The sites, for being dispersed are pretty close to each other. But there’s some beautiful views and lots of wildlife. 

Just ok

We loved it here. There a few things to note for campers interested in the area. The dirt road on the way in 2.5-3.5miles is BUMPY. Really not a big deal unless you have a travel trailer, which we did- it was some slowwww going for a while. 

The spots are spaced well on the outside portion of the loop. On the inside of the loop they are closer together and mostly tent only spaces. Trailer sites are small for sure- I wouldn’t trust anything over 29ish feet in here. 

The drive from Denver is exceptionally easy right up 285, there is water at the campground though we heard the pump was quite a workout. 

Now- on to the important stuff....awesome
Lake to fish in? Check. Access to the beautiful CO trail steps from the campground?  Check. Quaint river full of fish and beaver pond tributaries? Check. Beautiful forest? Check. 
This place is one of those places you come to stay for a few days without leaving- but who would want to?  Everything we love about our state is here. 

Photos of Lodgepole - Jefferson

Real photos from real campers