Matterhorn Campground, near Montrose, Colorado, is a charming spot that offers a mix of tent and RV camping in a picturesque setting. With its close proximity to Telluride, it’s a convenient base for those looking to explore the stunning San Juan Mountains.

This campground features well-maintained facilities, including flush toilets and showers, which campers appreciate after a day of hiking or exploring. Many visitors rave about the walk-in tent sites, which provide privacy and breathtaking views among the Aspens. As one camper noted, “The best walk-in tent sites with amazing views, privacy and plenty of Aspen trees” make for a memorable stay.

While the campground is easily accessible, some reviewers mentioned that it can get a bit noisy due to nearby highway traffic. However, the beautiful surroundings and the opportunity to relax by a stream make it worth it. Plus, you can enjoy the vibrant fall colors if you visit in September, as the Aspens turn a stunning gold.

For those looking to venture out, the area offers fantastic hiking trails and the chance to visit nearby ghost towns. Whether you’re here for a weekend escape or a longer adventure, Matterhorn Campground provides a welcoming atmosphere and a great launching point for outdoor activities.

## Overview

 Matterhorn Campground is located along the San Juan Skyway (Colorado Highway 145), near the quaint town of Telluride, at an elevation of 8,500 feet. Visitors enjoy the area for its beautiful scenery, hiking and off-road opportunities.
## Recreation

 The Galloping Goose Trail #449 can be accessed from the campground. This 8.4-mile trail leads past a restored train trestle, over two trail bridges and along segments of the historic Rio Grande Southern Railway. The trail is open to hiking, biking and horseback riding. Many scenic driving routes, both paved and off-road, can be found in the area. Additional hiking trails crisscross the surrounding mountains. Lizard Head Wilderness is about 3 miles from the campground.
## Facilities

 The campground offers single-family sites, each equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Some sites are accessible and some have full RV hookups. Flush and vault toilets, drinking water, showers and trash collection are provided.
## Natural Features

 Most sites on the outer edge of the campground are wooded. Sites on the inside are more open. Most sites have pleasant views, especially the walk-to tent sites, which have unobstructed and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. 
## Contact Info

 For facility specific information, please call (928) 537-8888. 
## Nearby Attractions

 The charming and historic town of Telluride is just 7miles away, offering dining and lodging options, live music, shopping, museums, galleries and plenty of summer activities. A free, scenic gondola connects Telluride with nearby Mountain Village, a small town with additional shopping and dining opportunities. On the gondola, visitors are awarded a panoramic view of the town and surrounding mountains.

Matterhorn — Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre And Gunnison National Forest

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we had full hookups, spotty Verizon service, good in between place to go to ghost towns, ride thru the mountains and visit telluride,,$48 a night without access pass, 

nice full hookups national forest campground

Deluxe Camping in Telluride, and by that I mean that they have flush and vault toilets, showers, drinking water, trash collection and hook ups for your RV or tent.   If you have no “roughing it” bone in your body this is the campground for you!  

I went here to check out the site since I had heard it was so improved and yes indeed I was impressed by the amenities.    

Each site had the typical fire ring and picnic table and with two loops you can choose from either a more wooded feel or more open feel depending on your preference.   

Tent sites here have a nice even feel to them clear of obstructions and sharp rocks which for me meant an easy 5 minute set up of my camp.    That to me means that I can immediately start enjoying my stay without having to work hard to just prepare my site.   

I chose site #12 which was an unimproved tent site, one of only a few they have.   I didn’t feel just because I was at a campground that had electricity I needed to pay for it since I didn’t need it.   There is a cost of $8 just for electricity.  I paid $18 for my site.   

My views here were nice and there were not a lot of people at the site mid week, however when I spoke to someone in town (only about 10 minutes away) they said this campground is the weekenders destination during September before it closes and during summer is busy throughout the week with vacationers.

At night this place was a little chilly in September but during the day the weather was ideal.   I had a light jacket I carried with me for hiking and I made sure to have my 40 degree sleeping bag for night when temps dropped.   

The views here area spectacular much like all of those in Telluride area.   In the distance you always will see a snow capped mountain and in September you start to see the fall leaves emerge with their golden tones.   

The only negative I could see from this campground was in cell signal for those looking to not be “roughing it” being plugged in with AT&amp;T was a little tough.   I had to leave the camp and go toward town before I picked up on signal and even then it was a bit spotty at times.



Glamping about as far from roughing it as Telluride Gets

Right off the highway, but easy to forget. Beautiful view. We stayed right next to a stream which made for easy relaxing. well cared for facilities with showers. A little pricey at $24 for a tent site but a great stay nonetheless. 

Great stay!

Nice campground, but pretty cold on Labor Day weekend. Very clean bathrooms. Close to Telluride, so it’s a good alternative to spending $400 a night at a local hotel! The whole area is gorgeous and I wish we’d had more time for hiking!

Telluride Film Festival

Great place to stay with hot showers and awesome views. Close to the free gondola in Mountain village as well

Great site

This is a very well maintained and managed campground. Good for tent camping or RV as they offer full hookups for just a few bucks more. 

Cozy campground minutes from Telluride 

Matterhorn campground has the best walk-in tent sites with amazing views, privacy and plenty of Aspen trees. Some of the other campsites here are appealing because they have power outlets for RV's although many of those sites don't have much shade or privacy. I think the best camp sites here are 4, 12, 13, 16, 20, 21, and 27 (12 &amp; 13 are walk-in).

The best things about Matterhorn are the walk-in tents sites & RV hookups.

This little USFS campground is beautiful and close to Telluride. Very clean and well maintained. A bit noisy due to truck traffic and cars on 145 steep grades. However, neither my wife or I are bothered by traffic noises. We would stay there again

Chasing the Aspen Gold

Nice small campground outside Telluride on Hwy. 145. Very clean. Hosts were very friendly. The Aspens were gold. Stayed September 28, 2020

Camped in the Aspens

Very nice FS CG, close to hwy so access is good.  CG host onsite, 28 sites total, 8 sites are full hookups.  Most are reservation only.  Two restrooms, one is flush toilets and showers and other by tent walk-in sites is a vault toilet. CG is run by RRMof A.  Cell limited to none but my Starlink worked great. Dumpsters and water spigots. Best deal here for me was the non electric site with senior pass...$13 and free showers!  

Great CG in the high Colo mtns

Nice campground, can be reserved through recreation.gov. We were happy to have hot showers as we were on day 4&amp;5 of our camping across Colorado honeymoon and it had rained nights 1-4. There were two camp hosts both of the ladies were nice. The outer spots on the backside of the loop are tucked more into the woods which would have been lovely but they were not available when we reserved our spot at the last minute. It is fairly close to the highway but there  is a creek close and drowns out most of road noise at night. Nice trail close to walk. Our last night a camper pulled in late and kept his generator on all night which was annoying but the camp hosts spoke with him the next morning! 

Clean, Hot Showers 

This place is close to Telluride Mountain and fairly close to Telluride. You can take two gondola rides from Telluride Mountain down into Telluride. The campground is nestled in the trees with a few open sites in the middle. The camp hosts were very friendly and kept the place tidy. There is firewood for sale. The main bathroom has running water, flush toilets and hot showers, which I honestly can say was pretty great. We were at site 15 which was pretty small but we were able to get in there with our rooftop tent on a truck. Some sites are next to a stream but also close to the highway. There are a few pull through sites.

What was not mentioned in other reviews is there is a dirt road above the campground called Priest Lake Road which leads to Priest Lake that has tent sites on the lake and then further up is Trout Lake. Trout Lake has a boat ramp and you can paddle board there. I wish I had known that, as I would have brought my paddle board. 

The Galloping Goose Trail is right behind site 15 and apparently goes all the way to Telluride.

Clean Campground, Hot Showers a Plus

Matterhorn Campground, located near Telluride and nestled in the heart of the San Juan Mountains, offers an excellent balance of comfort and outdoor adventure. This well-maintained campground is perfect for campers seeking easy access to Colorado’s stunning alpine scenery without sacrificing convenience.

The campsites are clean, spacious, and equipped with picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets. Some sites even offer electric hookups, making it a great option for RV travelers. The surrounding area is breathtaking, with panoramic views of rugged peaks, lush forests, and wildflower-filled meadows.

One of the campground’s standout features is its proximity to the Uncompahgre Wilderness and nearby trails, such as the iconic Ice Lake Basin or Blue Lakes hikes. It’s also just a short drive to Telluride, where you can enjoy its historic charm and famous gondola rides.

The elevation keeps the temperatures cool, even in summer, and the nights are peaceful—perfect for stargazing. The campground is accessible via a paved road, which is a bonus for those with larger vehicles.

Whether you’re here for hiking, fishing, or simply soaking up the mountain views, Matterhorn Campground provides a great basecamp for exploring Colorado’s high country. With its mix of amenities and natural beauty, it’s a solid choice for both novice and seasoned campers alike.

Comfort Meets Adventure

There are Two mountain lakes about a mile away and stream next to campgrounds.
They also have a shower.
Cell signal is present but sketchy.


Close to fishing 

Great location! Showers a big plus. Sites vary from private to not so much, shaded to sunny and small to larger. Water was on! Road dirt and a bit potholy. Flush toilets at the shower location, one vault toilet otherwise.

Photos of Matterhorn — Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre And Gunnison National Forest

Real photos from real campers