Tent camping near Lake City, Colorado provides access to high-elevation wilderness in the heart of the San Juan Mountains at approximately 8,700 feet. The camping season typically runs mid-June through early October, with nightly temperatures dropping significantly even during summer months. Many dispersed camping areas require high-clearance vehicles to access the more remote sites where creek-side camping is common.
What to do
Explore ghost towns: Near Alta Lakes Campground (Dispersed), visitors can discover abandoned mining structures. "We camped behind the brothel, which is one of the only buildings still fully standing. You can't explore any of the buildings, at least not legally, but you can see them and experience what used to be," reports one camper at Alta Lakes.
Fish alpine lakes: Small mountain lakes around the region offer fishing opportunities despite limited catches. At Priest Lake Dispersed Camping Area, anglers report modest success: "We switched to a smaller dry fly to mimic what was hatching and we caught one fish. A super small brook trout, very pretty and very feisty."
Creek-side relaxation: Many campsites sit directly alongside flowing water. At Red Mountain Creek, campers appreciate the natural setting: "The creek and its sound is beautiful. The view of the mountains are awesome too," though they note ATV traffic creates some noise throughout the day.
Stargazing: Clear mountain skies provide excellent night viewing opportunities. A Priest Lake camper notes, "The stars were BEAUTIFUL! This is a great spot for stargazers too."
What campers like
Accessible wilderness: Despite remoteness, some areas offer surprisingly good access. "Dirt road to high alpine setting, big views and lakes - mountain camping at its finest!" describes one Alta Lakes visitor, while another notes contrary to expectations, "a LOT of different sources state that you need high clearance to get up here...not the case as we passed a few Prius' making the climb up the road."
Natural sound barriers: Camping near water features provides ambient noise that masks other sounds. At Angel Creek Campground, campers appreciate "moving from our original site to a different one closer to the beautiful sounding river."
Bear boxes: Several sites provide secure storage for food. "Nice little campground with large bear boxes for food storage. I felt it's at a good location to venture off each day from," notes a camper at Angel Creek.
Vault toilets: Most established campgrounds maintain basic facilities. "Super clean bathrooms. First come first serve," reports one Angel Creek visitor, while another mentions, "Great bathrooms, no exactly running water but water towards the entrance next to the river."
What you should know
Weather patterns: Summer afternoons often bring storms, with rapid temperature changes. "Even at the end of July it got really chilly up on top of the mountain," reports a camper at Alta Lakes, while another describes: "When we were there there was a lot of wind so we were at the top of the valley and the wind would just rush up and you could hear it coming."
Site availability: First-come, first-served camping fills quickly, especially on weekends. At Silverton 20A - Dispersed, visitors recommend arriving early: "The spot we set up at had a fire pit and more than enough space for two Jeeps with RTTs."
Road conditions: Access routes vary significantly in quality. "Make sure you enter from CO 52 then turn right onto 20A, if you enter 20A near the Silverton Lakes RV resort you will climb for couple miles on a 4X4 trail with switchbacks," advises one Silverton 20A camper.
Seasonal closures: Campground status changes throughout the season. A visitor to Alta Lakes in June 2025 reported: "The road to the lake is closed, the sign said it was due to deteriorating conditions."
Tips for camping with families
Lake swimming: Some alpine lakes warm enough for summer swimming. According to a visitor at Alta Lakes, it offers "safe swimming for children and all round good times."
Easy fishing access: Shallow lakes provide safe areas for kids to practice fishing. At Priest Lake, "The kids enjoyed being able to fish though with little supervision since the lake is really quite shallow and it's very close to the sites."
Wildlife viewing: Many campgrounds offer opportunities to spot animals. At Cebolla Creek Campground, visitors appreciate the natural setting, though note it's "right next to the county road so cars can be seen and heard passing by."
Short hiking trails: Multiple sites offer easy walking paths suitable for children. "There are little walking paths around the Priest Lakes that are very short and easy," reports one camper.
Tips from RVers
Limited larger sites: Most areas accommodate smaller RVs rather than big rigs. At Red Mountain Creek, "It is a pretty large area so even lots of big RVs were here," though the site remains primarily used by smaller vehicles and tent campers.
Leveling challenges: Prepare for uneven terrain at many sites. An Angel Creek camper notes the campground has "newly level standard sites; decent space between sites," but adds that many areas have "not the flattest of parking spots if using a rooftop tent or car camping without anything to level with."
Water access points: No hookups exist, but some campgrounds offer water access. At Angel Creek, campers report finding "water towards the entrance next to the river," though this is for collection rather than hookup.
