Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Leadville, CO has a lot to offer. There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your Colorado camping adventure.
Peak One Campground is located on the Dillon Reservoir near the town of Frisco, offering an abundance of recreational activities. The reservoir is encircled by Swan Mountain and the dramatic Gore and Tenmile Ranges. This campground is an ideal setting for guests seeking recreation and relaxation. Due to the pine beetle infestation and removal of hazard trees, there is little or no shade in the campground.
Dillon Reservoir, often referred to as Lake Dillon, is the greatest draw to this campground. At 3,233 acres, and with 26.8 miles of shoreline, it is an ideal spot for fishing, boating, and sailing. Anglers will find that the reservoir supports a healthy population of rainbow and brown trout, with an occasional cutthroat trout finding its way into the lake from feeder streams. Opportunities for hiking and biking in the area abound, including more than 7 paved miles of the 50-mile Summit County trail system. The Old Dillon Reservoir trail is a favorite. This short, easy trail has spectacular views of the Tenmile Range and the Continental Divide. The Old Dillon Reservoir was built in the 1930s to supply water to the original town of Dillon, which is now covered by the new Dillon Reservoir.
In the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the 2.3 million acre White River National Forest is a place of serenity and adventure, boasting 8 wilderness areas, 4 defined seasons, and 10 peaks surpassing 14,000 feet in elevation. Described as being more vertical than horizontal, nearby Eagles Nest Wilderness Area, designated in 1976, is a playground of craggy cliffs, sheer rock faces, alpine lakes, and deep, forested valleys. Visitors will find foot travel across this pristine area challenging and often strenuous, but will be rewarded with spectacular scenery. Wildlife in the area abounds. Bighorn sheep navigate rocky ridges and bull elk bugle at dusk. Scenic rivers sustain populations of cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout. Alpine regions provide habitat for pika and ptarmigan. These species, along with many others, depend on surrounding undeveloped wilderness, clean streams, and diverse forests to live.
For facility specific information, please call (801) 226-3564.
Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, Breckenridge, and Copper Mountain ski resorts are all located within 10 miles of Dillon Reservoir. These resorts stay open year round.
Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.
$50 - $54 / night
Baby Doe Campground is situated on the eastern shore of Turquoise Lake in the shade of a lodgepole pine and subalpine fir forest. This family-friendly campground is a popular summer destination for boating, hiking and fishing.The campground was named for Elizabeth McCourt, whose nickname was Baby Doe. She made a name for herself in the Colorado mining community in the 19th century when she took on the rugged work of a miner.
The 1.2-mile Turquoise Lake Nature Trail meanders along the shoreline 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 Sugar Loaf Dam to May Queen Campground. Trail guides are available at the trailhead located about a mile south, at the entrance to Molly Brown Campground. On the lake, boating, sailing, canoeing and fishing are favorite activities. Anglers fish for stocked cutthroat, rainbow, brown and lake trout. A boat ramp is located about a mile south of the campground.
Campsites are perched along the scenic lakeshore. The Mount Massive Wilderness Area, a 30,540 acre stretch of primitive land boasting Colorado's second highest peak at 14,421 feet, is nearby. Much of the wilderness is above timberline with many alpine plant communities and permanent snowfields.
Venture to Independence Pass for a scenic drive with breathtaking views of the Rockies and surrounding alpine tundra habitat. At 12,095 feet, it is one of the highest paved mountain passes in the country and marks where the Top of the Rockies National Scenic and Historic Byway crosses the Continental Divide.
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.
$27 / night
Camp Hale Memorial Campground sits at an elevation of 9,200 feet, offering guests a wonderful setting for recreation and relaxation. Camp Hale is historic because the 10th Mountain Division, an unit of 15,000 men, trained here in mountaineering and skiing techniques during WWII. Some saw combat in Italy during the war. Most of the buildings have been torn down, but foundations and other "footprints" remain. The 99th Infantry Battalion (Viking Battalion) also trained at Camp Hale. There are interpretive signs along US Rt. 24, explaining the history and accomplishments of Camp Hale.
With the headwaters of the Eagle River nearby, anglers will find pockets of solitude, casting lines for rainbow and brown trout. The waterway was named by the local Ute Indians who thought there were as many branches of the river as there were tail feathers on an eagle. Several ponds south of the campground offer good fishing opportunities. The Colorado Trail crosses within walking distance of Camp Hale, and gravel roads provide easy walking and bike paths within the area.
In the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the 2.3 million acre White River National Forest is a place of serenity and adventure, boasting 8 wilderness areas, 4 defined seasons, and 10 peaks surpassing 14,000 feet in elevation. Wildlife in the area abounds. Bighorn sheep navigate rocky ridges and bull elk bugle at dusk. Scenic rivers sustain populations of cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout. Alpine regions provide habitat for pika and ptarmigan. These species, along with many others, depend on surrounding undeveloped wilderness, clean streams, and diverse forests to live. This campground sits among a sparse growth of young Lodgepole pine in a wide, flat, open valley.
The resort town of Vail is a popular destination for visitors to the area, offering downhill skiing, world-class fly fishing, dining and resorts. There is a multitude of outdoor and indoor opportunites in this mountain town.
Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.
$24 - $26 / night
**Bear activity has been increasing. For this reason a food storage order__is in effect at__all developed campgrounds__on the Eagle/Holy Cross Ranger District, and the Piney Guard Station, Tigiwon Lodge, Mount of the Holy Cross Overlook, Homestake Road FSR 703, and Nolan Creek Road.__This order requires__all food and refuse to be stored in hard-sided vehicles, approved bear-resistant containers, or supended at least 10 feet clear of the ground at all points and four feet horizontally from any supporting tree or pole. This order has been issued to provide for public safety and wildlife conservation. Hopefully it will reduce wildlife habituation problems.__The Gold Park campground is located along Homestake Creek in the Homestake Valley in a forested setting. There are 12 camp sites available.Holy Cross Wilderness is nearby; all wilderness regulations must be observed when traveling in the wilderness (foot and horse travel only). There are several trailheads into the wilderness within driving distance of the campground and the Homestake Reservoir is about 3 miles further west on Homestake Road.There is a printable Recreation Quicksheet for this campground which is complete with directions, details, and other information about this campground.
Located just outside of downtown Buena Vista, BV Overlook offers a variety of nightly accommodations with an amazing view of the Collegiate Peaks. We welcome you to stay with us in your RV or van, enjoy tent camping, or cozy up in one of our tiny homes, cabins, or glamping accommodations. All accommodations include access to the bathhouses, community fire pits, recreation room, laundry, outdoor games and Wi-Fi. We look forward to hosting you.
$40 - $180 / night
Bear activity has been increasing. For this reason a food storage order is in effect at all developed campgrounds on the Eagle/Holy Cross Ranger District, and the Piney Gaurd Station, Tigiwon Lodge, Mount of the Holy Cross Overlook, Homestake Road FSR 703, and Nolan Creek Road. This order requires all food and refuse to be stored in hard-sided vehicles, approved bear-resistant containers, or supended at least 10 feet clear of the ground at all points and four feet horizontally from any supporting tree or pole. This order has been issued to provide for public safety and wildlife conservation. Hopefully it will reduce wildlife habituation problems. The Halfmoon Campground is located at the top of Tigiwon Road #707 near the boundary for the Holy Cross Wilderness in a forested setting; all wilderness regulationsmust be observed when traveling in the wilderness (foot and horse travel only). This campground is located at the trailheads for several hiking trails and is heavily used by hikers who are climbing Mount of the Holy Cross. Due to the nature of the Forest Road to the campground and the short parking spurs within the campground, the Halfmoon Campground is not suitable for most RVs. There is a printable Recreation Quicksheet for this campground which is complete with directions, details, and other information about this campground.
Sitting deep in the forest to the west of Leadville, Turquoise Lake takes its name from the Turquoise mines that produced the semiprecious stone in Leadville's not too distant past. A spot prized for its fishing, camping, and hiking, Turquoise Lake provides some of the most beautiful views on the Leadville Ranger District. The east end of the lake hosts the majority of campgrounds, while the west end of the lake hosts the popular May Queen Campground near the Timberline Lake trailhead, which accesses the Holy Cross Wilderness. To the southwest of the lake rises the Mt. Massive Wilderness, along with such beautiful hikes as Native Lake and Windsor Lake. Snow in these areas can stay well into midsummer, and possibly longer. Turquoise Lake is heavily visited, especially during the summer months. Reservations for those campgrounds on Turquoise Lake that take reservations are often filled early, especially for holiday weekends. Camping is only allowed in developed campgrounds in the Turquoise Lake Area. There is no dispersed camping available.
Come join our family at friendly Arrowhead Point Campground & Cabins. You’ll feel right at home in our welcoming atmosphere. Whether you’re playing a round of horseshoes, joining in on a volleyball game, surfing the web on our free WIFI network, or stopping in for an espresso drink at our Espresso Bar, you’ll be glad you chose to stay with us. Located on the beautiful Collegiate Peaks Scenic Byway in Buena Vista Colorado, Arrowhead Point is the Home of The Original 1800’s Pony Express and Stage Coach Stop. The 23 acre property still contains the bunkhouse, stable and tack room from the 1800’s when it was one of the 165 way stations on the Pony Express route. Come see! We’re committed to making your stay with us an enjoyable and memorable experience. Come see why so many of our customers come back to visit year after year! We know that your vacation time is valuable to you. Our job is to make sure that every guest enjoys every day with us here at Arrowhead Point Campground & Cabins. You’ll love our welcoming and helpful environment, and will quickly see that we offer Buena Vista Colorado camping at its finest. “There are no strangers – only friends we haven’t met yet!”
Guide
The campground has spacious spots. Ours was large enough for a popup and very large tent. Our site was also a short walk down to Lake Dillon which was perfect for the kids and dogs to splash around in. Close proximity to Frisco is great too if you want to get some pizza for a meal.
Guide
Site #3 was a good spot right on the water. Water was stagnant and not worth getting in. Would be good for fishing. Spot was hot during the day but cool at night. Lots of mosquitos.
Guide
This is a review for the actual campground. As another review mentioned, there are dispersed sites up the road and many are nice but I stayed at the campground. There is a stream on one side of the campground and most of the sites are on that side of the loop. The sound is wonderful to sleep to. On the other side of the loop is where I stayed because the view was incredible. The camp host was great, everything was clean and well cared for and there was plenty of space between the sites so it didn't feel cramped. This is a first come first served campground.
Traveler
The campgrounds are spacious, with plenty of room between campsites. When we went the reservoir was full, and came right up to our site. The views are incredible and the bathrooms are clean. The only downside was the lack of shade.
Traveler
It wasn’t packed, even on the 4th of July. We were able to find spots no problem. The area is gorgeous and quick access to tons of off roading trails. People around are respectful, and there are tons of spots to camp at without feeling too close together. We had a blast. Only downside is the fact that a lot of the campsites are covered in broken glass.
PS - The stars at night are incredible!
Leave no trace 🥹
ScoutLake side camping, odd number campsites
Scout
Really enjoyed staying at this park, site was incredibly long but a bit skinny but did the trick. You can hear the river running almost everywhere in the park
Met great folks there, staff was very nice too.
Traveler
I came here planning on staying a couple of nights, but I think I'm going to go ahead and stay an entire week. This place is fantastic. I don't think I've been anywhere that is this nice for free before. Absolutely beautiful, well cared for, nice people. What more could you ask. Even the pit toilet was clean and well stocked with toilet paper. There are plenty of places to hike and explore and close to BV as well. AT&T 4G and 5G great reception.
Traveler
Spent 3 beautiful nights here. Got here on Memorial Day and the campground was almost empty. Clean restrooms and beautiful views, very accessible and close to the road, saw deer, moose, and lots of birds from my site
TravelerThe campground is in a great location. Bike trails to all the towns nearby, and Frisco Adventure Park is located at the entrance to the campground. Sites are well spaced and private. Gave it 4 stars because bathrooms are closed and there is no potable water available in the campground.
ScoutThis place is beautiful. Easy to get to. Has cell service and wonderful for mountain biking. It also has a host that definitely is not dog friendly. He says he has been bitten multiple times and honestly, I get why the dogs did it. I know he thinks he’s doing the right thing but he’s over the top. But hey, if you don’t have any dogs this place might be for you. I doubt I’ll ever come back.
Scout
This campground is an absolute dump run by dishonest crooks. We stayed here in October on a night that it got below freezing and snowed. We were put in a cabin that had a 2-inch gap between the bottom of the door and threshold. The heater was more like a hair dryer and didn’t warm the cabin. It was 40 degrees in the cabin so we didn’t sleep. The floor crunched while walking on it and the platform bed was metal. When we got off the bed there was a loud bang. When we tried to get a refund from the owners she blamed us and said the problem was we didn’t understand rustic cabins. We have stayed in rustic cabins in the cold months for 10 years and never experienced this. There are many places in Buena Vista…take your business elsewhere.
Scout
My wife and I recently had the most magical four days at this Yurt, and we cannot stop raving about this hidden gem!🌲✨
From the moment we arrived, we were blown away by the stunning surroundings—the perfect blend of tranquility and adventure. The yurt itself was not only cozy and well-equipped but also nestled in a picturesque spot that felt like a private slice of heaven.
The attention to detail was outstanding. The thoughtful amenities, from the well-stocked kitchen to the comfy sleeping quarters, made us feel right at home. We enjoyed quiet evenings by the warm wood stove, gazing at the star-lit sky through the yurt's skylight—a truly enchanting experience.
The hosts were incredibly accommodating and friendly, ensuring we had everything we needed for a seamless stay. Their passion for the outdoors and commitment to sustainability added an extra layer of appreciation for our Yurt experience.
The hiking trails nearby were a nature lover's dream, offering breathtaking views and a chance to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It was the perfect retreat to reconnect with each other and with nature.
If you are a couple looking for a romantic getaway, Sawatch Basecamp Yurt is an absolute must-visit. Thank you to the hosts for creating such a unique haven in the wilderness. We're already planning our next escape to this piece of paradise!🏞️❤️
ScoutNice views and still close to town. Toilet didn't have toilet paper one night, so I would bring your own. Some sites are kinda close to each other, but everyone was respectful and I had no issues. Would stay there again in an instant.
GuideThis BLM campground has free sites and pit toilets that are kept clean. It’s a great location above Buena Vista and great views. FCFS but people moved in and out daily.
ScoutIt was my first time camping, and this place is very beginner-friendly.
The site provides water and restrooms. The site is close to trails and fishing spots.
GuideThis place was very much like a reservable campground but without water or electricity. It’s technically on BLM land so it’s free this year but that’s changing starting next year. This campground is open till December 1st! The reception for my Verizon phone was only 1 or 2 bars and when my fellow camp set left on Sunday, I have SOS no service. The camp host was so strict on parking it borderline harassment. The sites offered beautiful views, the sky was great for stargazing, and sites were spacious. There are picnic tables, fire pits with grills attached, and 2 vault toilets.
GuideStayed at campsite 11, Sept. 8-9 and loved the location further from most other sites and pushed back to the edge of the wilderness with less traffic. The max parking in that spot was only 2 cars and the camp host was VERY strict about not having more. The camping has picnic tables, fire pits with grills, and 2 vault toilets. The views were beautiful and the night sky was great for stargazing!
Guide
Camped September 24 - 27. First come first served sites. 31 sites, had the place to ourselves. Wild turkeys and Steller Jays. Well maintained. Some shooting in the distance. Very serene otherwise.
ScoutPulled up on a Friday afternoon not knowing there were multiple festivals going on in Buena Vista but there were a few spots left. The Camp host helped me find a site that ended up being a Group site but said its first come first served. The outer sites were nicely spaced from your neighbor. Site 8 is large and you have lots of room to move around and great views! Bathrooms were clean and close to our site. The Camp host is very nice and helpful but is very strict on following the rules- especially keeping your dog leashed at ALL times, even when laying down at your camp site. He will check.
My AT&T service was not good throughout the entire town.
Guide
We got there the Sunday before Labor Day and stayed all week. People were leaving so the park was fairly quiet. Full hook ups were nice to have. The temps were getting below freezing at night. Nice change from the Texas heat. The morning we left it was 23 degrees so protect your water lines. Great place to stay and ride out of park. Camp host were very friendly and we look forward to going back next year.
Guide
Lovely campground, very well maintained with great trails all around. No mosquitoes (early September).
Guide
We got lucky and were able to stay here without a reservation on a holiday weekend. The campground host was very hospitable and friendly, and the area was clean and quiet. Leadville is about 20 min away and has any supplies you could need.
TravelerOverall the location and amenities here were great. It could have been better cleaned (lots of leftover dog hair from previous guest).
Legend
Happy meadows campground. 8 reservable spots. $20 per night. Right on south platte river. Amazing views. Restroom, water and wood for sale Just off tarryall road in lake george. Easy access. No pull through locations for big rigs
ScoutBeautiful spot- quiet neighbors. picnic tables at some sites. We were able to set up our tent a hundred feet or so from the pull in and get great views of mountains and stars.
Ranger
You'll pass several free dispersed campsites along this long mountain road as you make your way to this pay-campground. A river runs alongside the campground. There wasn't a camphost during my 2-night stay, but a ranger did his round each day around noon. Vault toilets were well-maintained. No cell service.
Camping near Leadville, Colorado, offers a mix of stunning views, outdoor activities, and a chance to unwind in nature. Whether you're into hiking, fishing, or just soaking in the scenery, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Leadville, Colorado, is a fantastic way to enjoy the great outdoors. With a variety of campgrounds and activities, there’s something for everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Leadville, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Leadville, CO is Turtle Rock Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 35 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Leadville, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 46 glamping camping locations near Leadville, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
