San Isabel National Forest encompasses Molly Brown Campground, a US Forest Service facility that operates seasonally from late May through early September. Located within a pine forest setting, the campground provides drive-in access to sites that accommodate RVs up to 40 feet, though campers note the access road can present challenges.
The campground sits close to Turquoise Lake, with some sites offering nearly waterfront positioning. "You can't go wrong with a site here, close to the lake and trails," observes Sue G.. Sites feature generous spacing with trees providing natural separation between neighbors. The facility maintains clean restrooms and provides drinking water, though no shower facilities are available on-site.
Fishing and swimming activities center around the adjacent lake access. A nature trail runs nearby, and mountain biking and hiking paths extend partway around the lake perimeter. The campground includes a dump station and allows pets throughout the facility. Firewood is available for purchase, and cell service reaches most areas.
Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for weekend stays and prime summer months. Several reviewers emphasize the difficulty of securing sites during peak periods. The most desirable campsites sit along the outer edges of the campground loops, closest to the water. Sites near the access road receive more traffic but remain functional options.
The facility operates under camp host supervision, with rates ranging from $30-33 per night. For campers exploring the broader region, sites outside Leadville provide additional options. Summer temperatures can climb significantly during the day, while nights bring considerable cooling at this elevation.
Description
Overview
Named after the "unsinkable" Molly Brown on the Titanic, Molly Brown Campground, on the eastern shore of Turquoise Lake, sits in a shaded lodgepole pine forest. The campground offers access to boating, fishing, and hiking. The famous Molly Brown lived in the town of Leadville, just 5 miles east of the campground. She became wealthy from her husband's mining success and took on a life as a philanthropist, socialite and activist.
Recreation
The 1.2-mile Turquoise Lake Nature Trail is a gentle loop trail through the forest and down to the shoreline of Turquoise Lake. This trail connects to the 6.4 mile Turquoise Lake Trail that parallels the shoreline from the dam to May Queen Campground. It is recommended that hikers pick up a trail guide prior to departure to learn about the flora and fauna along this trail. On the lake, sailing, boating and canoeing are always enjoyed. Anglers seek out mostly mackinaw and rainbow trout.
Facilities
The two-loop campground offers single family sites. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and trash collection are provided. Firewood is for sale at the Host site.
Natural Features
Campsites are perched along the scenic waters of the lake. Nearby is the Mount Massive Wilderness area, a 30,540 acre stretch of forest land which encompasses Colorado's second highest peak, Mount Massive at 14,421 feet. Much of the wilderness is above timberline with many alpine plant communities and permanent snowfields.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (661) 702-1420.
Nearby Attractions
The town of Leadville, a historic gold and silver mining town, is a fun place to explore with the family. Drive on the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway to Independence Pass, one of the highest paved passes in Colorado. Continue over the pass to the town of Aspen, a well-known ski resort town.
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.
Fee Info
Extra Vehicle Fee $10.00
RV Road Trip Guides
Location
Public CampgroundMolly Brown Campground is located in Colorado
Directions
From Leadville, Colorado, head west on County Road 4 and turn right on County Road 9C. Follow signs to Molly Brown Campground on the right.
Address
LEADVILLE RANGER DISTRICT
810 FRONT STREET
Leadville, CO 80461
Coordinates
39.2663889 N
106.3497222 W
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 31 usersLast on 3/28/26
- VerizonLTEGood CoverageVerified by 60 usersLast on 3/28/26
- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 34 usersLast on 3/28/26
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 31 usersLast on 3/28/26
- VerizonLTEGood CoverageVerified by 60 usersLast on 3/28/26
- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 34 usersLast on 3/28/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Big Rig Friendly
Contact
General Info
Reservations
Drive Time
- 1 hr 45 min from Denver, CO
- 1 hr 55 min from Boulder, CO
- 2 hrs 30 min from Fort Collins, CO
- 2 hrs 31 min from Colorado Springs, CO
























