176 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping areas near Mesa Lakes in western Colorado include a mix of developed Forest Service campgrounds and dispersed options in Grand Mesa National Forest. The region includes several established sites like Jumbo Campground, Island Lake Campground, and Little Bear Campground, as well as remote dispersed camping along Forest Service Roads 105 and 100. Most campgrounds provide vault toilets and drinking water, while the dispersed areas typically offer more primitive tent and RV sites with minimal amenities but greater privacy.
Road conditions in the Grand Mesa area vary dramatically by season, with many campgrounds operating only from June through September due to heavy snowfall at elevations exceeding 10,000 feet. "The road was very rough but doable by moving along very slowly," noted one visitor about Forest Service Road 105, a popular dispersed camping area. Winter access is extremely limited, while summer brings comfortable temperatures even when valleys below experience extreme heat. Most developed campgrounds like Jumbo feature a mix of reservable and first-come sites, with electric hookups available at select locations. Cell service throughout the region is spotty, with some areas having minimal coverage and others completely without signal.
Several visitors highlighted the exceptional fishing opportunities as a primary attraction of the area. Grand Mesa contains over 300 lakes and reservoirs, with many campgrounds positioned near prime fishing waters. Island Lake receives consistently high ratings for its paddle-friendly waters and trout fishing, though campers frequently mention problematic mosquitoes during summer months. The landscape features a mix of dense spruce forest and open meadows with aspen groves that provide stunning fall colors. Wildlife sightings are common, with campers reporting encounters ranging from chipmunks to bald eagles. Some dispersed areas experience cattle grazing activity, with one camper noting, "We looked outside to see several cows munching on the remains of our campfire." Most campgrounds in the region fill quickly on summer weekends, particularly those with lake access or electric sites.
"Great walking path along the river for evening or morning stroll. Tucked in the canyon, surrounded by cliffs."
"Add $9 daily for Colorado State parks. Full hookups (near I70/some road noise), and Electric only, and, Tent Pit long-drop toilets (fly haven)
Lovely park on banks of Colorado river."
from $26 - $41 / night
Check Availability"Located on the Colorado River. Winery’s & Distillery’s close by. Clean restrooms & laundry, a general store with just about everything you might have forgotten."
"Super clean and close to endless Colorado adventures!"
from $42 - $140 / night
Check Availability"Jumbo is set at at the park for Mesa Lakes. There are multiple little lakes, walking paths and hiking trails. This is also one of my favorite places to snowshoe in the winter."
"They’re positioned a little close together for my liking but, the immediate access to two beautiful lakes, endless hiking and mountain biking trails more than made up for the close proximity to other campers"
from $26 - $72 / night
Check Availability"We went searching for a free camping spot near Gunnison and got horribly stuck in mud on roads that were too awful for our car, even with 4wheel drive."
"I pulled up early on a Friday morning and managed to snag a spot pretty close to the lake. Fantastic view and right next to the walking trails."
"Campground Review: We stayed at Ward Lake on Colorado's Grand Mesa. Ward Lake sits at about 10,000 feet. So, depending on time of year, it can get a little chilly."
"A very nice camp ground for tent campers, very few people, beautiful scenes and within a very short distance of good hiking."
"Located adjacent to Island Lake, this campground is beautiful, but watch out for the mosquitos! We took a non electric pull-through as a stopover for the night. Our 35 ft 5th wheel fit easily. "
"The campground is tucked away and a little hard to find. We chose it because it had electric hookup, had availability on Labor Day weekend and it was near a lake. We were on site #2."
from $26 - $190 / night
Check Availability"A lush forest surrounding beautiful Cottonwood lakes 1 &4 great fishing access good for kayak / small boats ."
"Some have views,but all are so close to the lake, it doesn’t matter. Great base camp for high a fourteener or other lake hikes up Cottonwood pass."
"There is a nice lake that you can fish on and the visitors center is just on the side of the lake. There were quite a few sites but we were tucked back a little."
"Beside that, the Forrest and lakes were wonderful. The fishing was great. Lots of folks catching there limits. The campsites are hit or miss if you are tent camping."
from $22 - $24 / night
Check Availability"You can camp at a designated campground right on the lake, or you drive up 24 and find a lot of dispersed camping available - all the way up to the little lakes (great for fishing too)."
"While it's easy in the Chaffee County and Arkansas River area to get your dosage of mountain beauty and river time, Twin Lake gives you the opportunity to combine STELLAR mountain views and the calm of"
"Our site was hidden by trees off a short dirt drive which wasn’t too bad."
"We spent two weeks near vela resevoir. No fish but lots of mushrooms. The first trees are inoxicating. We are disappointed in the virtual take over by atvs."
GuideStayed in early Sept ‘23 and it’s still one of my favorite campsites. Our site was very private with trees between us and our neighbors. No real view from the site of the canyon, but an incredible spot for stargazing. Pretty primitive site but the whole park is pretty primitive. One of my favorite NPs!
TravelerThis site is part of a large dispersed camping area. This specific site had plenty of trees and the coolest fire pit.NA
TravelerOur gps wanted us to take either a private property route or a waterway that wasn’t a road so Mae sure to look at your route before you go. There’s a few spots that were mostly full when we got here but they’re pretty open and fairly level.
GuideGot our hdt in. Only two dips in the road that got close to the jacks. No cell service on att
TravelerThe parking where the want you to park were not wide enough for our 34ft toy hauler and two slides. So we parked above and the view was spectacular. It’s an OHV riding area which my husband loved!! He rides!!! But for the purpose of an overnight it’s awesome!! I will put up pictures from our toy hauler deck
TravelerSite was awesome, no complaints there!!! Road is rough, make sure to have high clearance and patience.
There was construction on the road below the sites that started pretty early in the morning, so that was a bummer.
TravelerAbsolutely incredible site, gorgeous views and so much wildlife.
Perfect until we heard what sounded like a man screaming and getting closer and closer to our site around 10 pm. Scared us so bad that we booked it home, packing up in under 3 minutes. It was especially scary because we were the ONLY campers on the road for at least 15 minutes.
Hopefully it was just an owl, because we will definitely be back!!! Would be 5 stars if not for getting the daylights scared out of me.
TravelerThis campground is right on the river, with nice canopies over the picnic tables and pit toilets. Saw lots of fish jumping as well!
RangerMuch of the surrounding area cannot be camped on from March 15-July 15 to conserve the sage grouse habitat. This is available. It is a small, dirt, parking lot just outside a gate. We had the place to ourselves on May 30, 2026. The view to Crawford was great. No restrooms.
The Grand Mesa National Forest near Mesa Lakes, Colorado sits at elevations exceeding 10,000 feet, creating a distinct alpine climate with brief summers and extensive winter seasons. This high-altitude camping area features over 300 lakes scattered across the mesa landscape, with seasonal access typically limited from late June through September. Most campgrounds at these elevations experience dramatic temperature swings between day and night.
Fishing at Twin Lake: The still, remote waters provide excellent fishing opportunities throughout summer months. "Amazing views, light rain, and still my favorite forest," notes a Twin Lake visitor, where the isolated setting creates a peaceful experience even during peak season. Access requires high-clearance vehicles on the approach road.
Hiking from Cobbett Lake: Several trail networks connect the Grand Mesa lakes system, allowing hikers to explore multiple bodies of water in a single outing. "There are great hiking trails from lake to lake in the area," mentions a Cobbett Lake camper, highlighting the interconnected nature of the mesa's trail system that extends beyond single campgrounds.
Paddling at Island Lake: The lake offers excellent calm-water paddling access for non-motorized watercraft. "We were able to just strap two paddle boards and a kayak to the roof of the truck and go back and forth," reports a visitor, noting the campground provides free parking at the day-use area with a camping permit, simplifying equipment transport for water activities.
Terrain variety: The upper Grand Mesa camping areas feature a mix of open meadows and dense forest settings. "We loved being surrounded by tall trees on one side and having a long distance view across the meadow on the other side, watching storm clouds approaching every day," explains a camper at the Grand Mesa FS 105 Dispersed Camping area.
Wildlife encounters: Many campers report close wildlife experiences beyond typical sightings. "One morning we looked outside to see several cows munching on the remains of our campfire," notes a dispersed camping visitor. "Apparently they like to eat ashes and charcoal for the minerals because it happened twice!"
Tent site design: Many established campgrounds feature specially constructed tent pads. "The site had a pull in long enough for a vehicle and small camper, along with a pad for the fire pit/picnic table and a pad for the tent," describes a visitor to Island Lake Campground, appreciating the intentional layout of camping spaces.
Road access challenges: Many dispersed and established campgrounds require navigating rough forest service roads. "The road was very rough but doable by moving along very slowly," explains a camper, emphasizing the need for patience when accessing more remote sites. High-clearance vehicles are recommended for many areas.
Campground competition: First-come sites fill extremely quickly during peak season. "I cannot stress this enough, get there early if going on a weekend! We arrived at 2:30 and got one of the last spots," warns a visitor to Cottonwood Lake Campground. Weekday arrivals significantly improve site availability.
Construction impacts: Some campground infrastructure is undergoing improvements through 2026. "Be aware that the campground next to the lake, the day use area, and lower road are all closed through the 2026 season for construction," notes an Island Lake camper, explaining how this affects access to popular recreation areas.
Reservoir-adjacent sites: Several family-friendly campgrounds offer direct water access. "The fishing lakes, swimming lake and playground are all fun aspects my family enjoys," mentions a visitor to James M. Robb Colorado River State Park, highlighting how multiple water features accommodate different activities.
Insect preparation: Mesa Lakes area experiences significant mosquito activity during summer months. "The mosquitos were like mini vampires," warns a Cobbett Lake visitor, emphasizing the need for comprehensive insect protection for comfortable family camping, particularly near water bodies.
Loop selection matters: Different campground loops offer varied experiences based on proximity to features and noise sources. "If I was to come back here I definitely would not stay in loop D maybe 100 yards from interstate on other side of fence/tree line," advises a James M. Robb visitor, noting how location within a campground significantly impacts the experience.
Site leveling requirements: Many campgrounds feature sloped sites requiring additional equipment. "The site was pretty level but we did use some levelling blocks to even things out," notes a visitor to Jumbo Campground, where even designated RV sites often require adjustment for comfort.
Approach road selection: Multiple access routes to campgrounds vary dramatically in difficulty. "Be sure to take the longer road along the south side of the lake from the eastern most turn off of HWY 65 to get to the campground. The norther western route is narrow, steep and very challenging for even the smallest RV," advises an Island Lake camper, highlighting the critical nature of proper route selection for larger vehicles.
Connectivity options: Cell coverage is minimal throughout the mesa, requiring alternative solutions for those needing connection. "We used a Starlink this year instead of messing around with cellular antennas," reports a camper, noting that traditional cell boosters provide limited improvement in this remote region where satellite options work better.
Frequently Asked Questions
What amenities are available at Mesa Lakes camping area?
Mesa Lakes camping area typically offers basic amenities including vault toilets, drinking water, picnic tables, and fire rings. For comparison, nearby Island Lake Campground provides reservable sites, water access, and toilets. Many campgrounds in the Grand Mesa region sell firewood on-site for convenience. Facilities at Cobbett Lake similarly include water access, toilet facilities, and accommodate larger RVs. Mesa Lakes is primarily focused on natural amenities like fishing access, hiking trails, and stunning alpine views rather than luxury camping facilities.
When is the best season to camp at Mesa Lakes?
The best season to camp at Mesa Lakes is summer through early fall, typically from late June through September. Due to its high elevation on the Grand Mesa, snow can linger into June, and winter conditions return as early as October. For comparison, Early Settlers Campground — Vega State Park, at a similar elevation, offers gorgeous mountain camping with optimal conditions during summer months. July and August provide the warmest temperatures and best access to lakes for fishing, paddleboarding, and kayaking. Early fall brings spectacular aspen colors but cooler temperatures, especially at night.
Where is Mesa Lakes Campground located?
Mesa Lakes is located on the Grand Mesa in western Colorado, about 30-40 miles east of Grand Junction. This alpine camping area sits at a high elevation surrounded by pine and aspen forests. For reference, Jumbo Campground is also on the Grand Mesa with similar forested surroundings featuring large pine trees and aspens. The Mesa Lakes area provides access to several lakes and hiking trails, making it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts looking to escape the heat of the lower elevations in the summer months.
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