The San Juan National Forest near Purgatory, Colorado ranges in elevation from 6,900 to over 10,000 feet, creating diverse camping environments with ponderosa pine forests at lower elevations and spruce-fir zones higher up. Summer temperatures typically reach 75-85°F during daytime with nighttime lows around 45-55°F. Trail systems throughout the region connect multiple campgrounds with varying levels of amenities and accessibility.
What to do
Trail riding from multiple access points: At Target Tree Campground, riders access nearby equestrian trails with minimal elevation gain. "Beautiful well kept campground. Nearby highway is a little noisy. Friendly campground host," notes David R., highlighting the accessible location for day rides.
Mountain biking on connected trail systems: Lower Hermosa Campground offers direct access to popular biking routes. "We loved this campsite. The bathrooms are currently open and super clean! It's also a great spot to set up base and go straight to the trails for hiking and dirt biking," explains Sydneu B., describing the versatility of the connecting trails.
Fishing in mountain streams: Several campgrounds provide fishing access in the Hermosa Creek watershed. "Very sweet camp hosts that provided water. Clean bathrooms and large camp spots. There is horse/cattle stalls if you need," reports Toni K., mentioning facilities that support both equestrians and anglers at Lower Hermosa Campground.
What campers like
Proximity to Durango with forest setting: La Plata County Fairgrounds offers affordable camping close to town. "What a find in the middle of Durango. Yes it is dusty and really there is nothing cute about it but you can't beat the location. We had access to the trails by the river," explains marine J., highlighting the convenient location.
Clean facilities despite remote locations: Many horse-friendly campgrounds maintain quality amenities. "The bathrooms are clean, the camp host is an awesome guy. Would definitely stay again," reports Thanh H. about the Lower Hermosa facilities that support equestrian campers.
Budget-friendly options: Cherry Creek Gravel Lot provides free dispersed camping options. "Only free place near Durango in the winter. We called and asked the BLM & Forest Service. Easy access, lots of space. Bumpy access road and highway noise," says Nicole V., noting the cost advantage despite some drawbacks.
What you should know
Varying water availability: Many campgrounds require bringing your own water supply, especially for horses. "A beautiful campground with first-come, first-served sites for $20 a night. Unfortunately, there is no water or trash station. However, you can refill portable water affordably at the Hydration Station in Durango," advises Martin W.
Trail conditions vary seasonally: Spring snowmelt can affect access to higher elevation trails. "Getting up there was not possible in my Travato (in my opinion). I've got some Falken Wildpeaks so traction was not so much the issue as the uneven path up," reports Adam S. about Cherry Creek access conditions.
Limited services at remote sites: Little Molas Lake Campground operates with minimal facilities. "Vault toilet, no water or dump station. There was 1-bar 5G Verizon, and 2-bars AT&T 4G that were both spotty; cloud cover between the lake and Silverton caused occational intermittent connectivity," details RaD_Travels about the high-elevation connectivity challenges.
Tips for camping with families
Choose sites with level terrain: Some campgrounds offer more family-friendly setups. "Wonderful camp host. This is a pack in pack out camp ground with vault/pit toilet. No water or shower. Sites have picnic table and fire pit with grill," explains David A., describing the basic but functional amenities at Lower Hermosa.
Look for campgrounds with activity options: Echo Basin Cabin and RV Resort provides multiple recreation choices. "This place is the best, we had a blast and there are plenty of things to do for adults and children," shares Ethan C. about the family-friendly environment.
Consider noise levels: Highway proximity affects some campgrounds. "You can hear the highway, but it's not much. Just ambient background noise. I got a spot with shade all day, so that was awesome," reports taren C. about Cherry Creek's balance of accessibility and comfort.
Tips from RVers
Check road conditions for larger rigs: Some equestrian-friendly campgrounds have challenging access. "Good road quality, hard packed gravel, river right next to the sites, 14 day camp limit," explains Chris V. about Anvil Dispersed Campground, noting the suitable conditions for moderate-sized rigs.
Confirm hookup availability: RV services vary significantly between campgrounds. "Sites back up to the maintenance department and they are in and out on ATVs and bulldozers a lot!!" cautions Goldnbullet about La Plata County Fairgrounds' urban setting with hookups.
Consider elevation effects on equipment: Higher elevation affects generator performance at some sites. "Elevation is about 10,300 and posed a problem for our generator that caused severe spark-plug fouling. But, re-jetting the carburetor from a #61 to #58 solved the problem," advises RaD_Travels, sharing technical advice for high-altitude camping.
