Looking for the best campgrounds near Mesa Lakes, CO? 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.
Cobbett Lake
10 min away
The Peaceful Palisade Place
47 min away
$26 - $41 / night
"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."
$43 - $137 / night
"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!"
$26 - $72 / night
"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"
"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."
$26 - $190 / night
"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."
$22 - $24 / night
"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."
"A lush forest surrounding beautiful Cottonwood lakes 1 &4 great fishing access good for kayak / small boats ."
"We found we had privacy and still had great hiking spots near by. May need a car that has AWD if you’re going up the hill to more dispersed spots as we had difficult in our smaller car."
"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."
GuideThis is a great spot for free, dispersed camping! As others have stated, it is a bit rough getting into but I saw, regular street cars pulling into the …”parking lot”. Most were simply going over to the reservoir to fish or hike. I was up on the next to the highest spot and wasn’t bothered by any of this activity. The higher spot was too intimidating for me to pull my camper up to but later found there is another road up to it that’s not as steep(still daunting for most! One camper stayed a few nights in the…”parking lot” so If say that’s an option if you don’t want to head up any hills…. Bring lots of leveling blocks. I used all of mine to get my camper fairly level…
GuideThis is an Awesome CG heading down off Kebler Pass! I arrived mid-day Friday and plenty of sites available! It’s a smaller, clean CG right along the river! There’s hiking trails near by also - a great find!
ScoutMy least favorite part about this place is that they strictly forbid EV charging. Why? If I’m in a big camper with two a/c running plus big TV, fridge, etc then I’m pulling just as much power as my EV charger would. Plus it is so much more convenient charging overnight. I won’t be back to this place for this reason alone.
GuideAug 25 '25: directions to BLM 174 were right on target and areas to disperse camp is spacious with many level areas. At camping entrance there are two porta potties. Temps at arrival around 89 was overcast w/ short rain shower. No issues as terrain dried quickly. Only stayed one night and would definitely revisit is passing through again. There must be a project near by with construction trucks passing down road across from were campers were parked. Lastly keep fur babies on leash and close. There are coyotes. Heard them around 7pm and at sunrise.
Scoutthis site was easy to find and not too far from the main road but very quiet. we arrived at night and there was plenty of spots. we camped in the car just for the night but plenty of flat land for tents and we say a fire pit. only a 15 minute drive to the black canyon national park north rim. note: signs say no camping 12/1-7/15
ScoutIt was a great spot once I finally found it. Waze took me through privately owned land. Google had it right. There’s a T in the road just outside of De Beque. Don’t go on the road marked no outlet! Make the right instead.
ScoutI brought my dog up there yesterday. We car camped overnight without any issues. Only saw a couple of cars, and one group camped 3/4 mile from me. I had a lovely time checking out the bouldering and climbing. While there we couldn't find a clean or easy route to the top of the hill, it made for an interesting charge over loose impediments and various cliff bands. If you go this route, I recommend hiking boots and a pretty good level of mountaineering ability as you could potentially slip or get in a tough cliff band.
Only bummer is that there is no burn season right now (mid-August), so we just enjoyed the night sky.
GuideVisited here back in early season May 2025. There are probably less than 10 spots when you go all the way up the long drive, all with great views, most are on the small side. We ended up making camp in the large open area.
Would recommend 4wd for the last part of the drive to the sites.
TravelerStayed four days, and had an awesome experience. Beautifully maintained park with all amenities you could ask for. The ladies in the front office were accommodating, and the maintenance team were fast and professional!
Camping near Mesa Lakes, Colorado, offers a fantastic escape into nature with stunning views and plenty of outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a cozy tent site or a comfortable RV spot, there are several campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Mesa Lakes, Colorado, is a great way to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends. With beautiful campgrounds and plenty of activities, you're sure to have a memorable experience!
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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