Peak One Campground offers tent camping, RV sites, and yurt accommodations near Breckenridge at an elevation of 9,000 feet. Located along the shores of Lake Dillon (also called Dillon Reservoir), the campground serves as a central base for exploring White River National Forest. Summer temperatures typically range from 70°F during the day to 40°F at night, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms requiring proper rain gear and weather awareness.
What to do
Hiking trails nearby: From Baby Doe Campground, campers access various mountain trails with spectacular views. "Turquoise Lake is beautiful with fishing, boating, and hiking available. Short drive from Leadville," notes one visitor who recommends "bring warm clothes for nights because it gets chilly at night."
Mountain biking access: Several campgrounds connect directly to mountain bike trails. At Peak One Campground, visitors mention "It's ideal for mountain biking and water leisures. We saw a lot of sailboats and paddle boards." Sites are "wide spread out, spacious, and huge" making them suitable for groups traveling with bikes.
Historical exploration: The Camp Hale Memorial area offers camping with historical significance. A camper notes, "Crazy to think of the 15,000 or so soldiers training here during WWII." The site serves as a starting point for exploring the former military training grounds with educational displays about the 10th Mountain Division.
What campers like
Spacious campsites: Visitors consistently praise the generous site spacing at Burning Bear Campground. A reviewer observed, "Each site has a fire pit, trees for hammocks, parking spaces picnic table near the fire pit. Fire pit has a grate." The campground's organization allows for privacy despite its popularity.
Night sky viewing: Many campers mention excellent stargazing opportunities from their sites. "The night sky was stellar!" reports one camper at Peak One. Another visitor staying at a dispersed site along Notch Mountain Road found "the best part about the site were the stars at night - I saw multiple shooting stars."
Clean facilities: Several reviews highlight well-maintained bathrooms. At Baby Doe Campground, "Clean facilities and close to the lake. Really beautiful woods all around with soft pine need floors... great for camping!!!" Another visitor mentioned that "Bathrooms always clean" was a key factor in making it one of their favorite places.
What you should know
Weather preparedness: The high elevation of campgrounds near Breckenridge means rapidly changing weather conditions. A camper at Halfmoon Campground advises, "Use extreme caution choosing when to hike in regards to weather; hikers are exposed for a long time across scree fields and a windy ridge."
Road conditions: Many access roads require careful driving. "The road was dirt, bumpy, rocky and has several low dips that would definitely fill after rains, but it was totally passable in my low-clearance 2WD old pickup," notes a Halfmoon Campground visitor. Several campgrounds require driving on forest roads with variable maintenance.
Reservation challenges: Peak One fills quickly, especially for summer weekends. One visitor cautions, "I, like most folks we spoke with after our experience, were not aware that you could book a site 3 months in advance and then have it be given to someone else who comes in earlier than you."
Tips for camping with families
Choose campgrounds with amenities: Families often prefer sites with reliable facilities. At Gold Park Campground, one parent noted, "For my 8 year old a toilet and a campfire was a must. The camp host is super nice and keeps a great campsite. The pit toilet was clean and did not smell."
Look for kid-friendly exploration: Sites with natural features for children to explore are ideal. "We were able to hike along the creek and sit on the boulders and watch the fly fisherman and then hike up the hill on the other side of this campsite. Lots to explore to keep the kids busy," mentions a Gold Park visitor.
Consider yurt camping: For families new to camping near Breckenridge, yurt options provide comfort with outdoor access. These structures require less setup than traditional tents while providing better protection from mountain weather changes and cooler nights.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for solar: RVers using solar power should consider sun exposure. A visitor to Camp Hale Memorial reports: "We stayed in site #17, a nice spot for our trailer with solar panels, but it might be rather exposed if you don't have some kind of shade. Other spots perfect for our trailer with views are: sites 11 (near toilets), 14 and 15."
Size limitations: Most campgrounds have restrictions on RV size. Echo Lake Campground is "best suited for tent or small trailers" according to reviews, while Kenosha East Campground can accommodate "a small trailer or camper van" but larger RVs would need to use dispersed sites located near the campground.
Water availability: Many campgrounds lack hookups or potable water. "There is no water, but we made sure we brought plenty. There is a river nearby if you need non-drinking water," notes a Camp Hale visitor. RVers should arrive with full tanks, particularly for extended stays.
