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Best Campgrounds near South Fork, CO

610 Reviews

South Fork, Colorado provides access to multiple camping environments in the Rio Grande National Forest and along the banks of the Rio Grande River. Established options include the popular Big Meadows Reservoir Campground with drinking water and reservable sites, Park Creek Campground, which operates from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and Forest Road 614 for dispersed camping. Accommodations range from tent-only sites to full RV hookup facilities, with several campgrounds offering cabins for those seeking non-tent lodging options. The South Fork Lodge & RV Park provides electrical hookups, showers, and sanitary dump services for RV travelers.

Camping in the South Fork area follows seasonal patterns with most established campgrounds operating from May through September or early October. The region experiences significant elevation changes that affect accessibility and weather conditions. Forest Road 614 provides dispersed camping opportunities near town but has no amenities or facilities. Several campgrounds along Highway 160 provide convenient access points for travelers. Primitive sites often have fire rings and picnic tables but lack running water. "The app mentioned a steep incline but we managed no issues with a 04 Toyota sienna FWD," noted one camper about Forest Road 614 access.

Riverside camping represents a particular draw in the South Fork area, with several developed campgrounds positioned along the Rio Grande. South Fork Campground provides sites with river views that campers consistently rate highly. "Spots right on the river are pure bliss. Full hookups and the sound of the Rio Grande to lull you to sleep," reported one visitor. Wind exposure can be an issue at higher elevation sites, particularly in dispersed camping areas without tree cover. Lower Beaver Creek and Park Creek campgrounds offer more protected settings. Visitors should note that cell service varies widely throughout the region, with several reviews mentioning connectivity challenges. The town of South Fork provides essential services including groceries and fuel, making it a practical base for exploring the surrounding wilderness areas.

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Best Camping Sites Near South Fork, Colorado (204)

    1. Big Meadows Reservoir Campground (south Central Co)

    16 Reviews
    South Fork, CO
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 245-6521

    $29 - $103 / night

    "It's everything we wanted in a Colorado vacation. The mountains were spectacular. The water was cold and clear. It was perfect. To start, we stayed in site 38."

    "The campground was a bit off the highway and we saw countless waterfalls along the way to the campground entrance Immediately upon getting to our site my heart sank because I realized our site didn't"

    2. Park Creek Campground

    9 Reviews
    Rio Grande National Forest, CO
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (719) 657-3321

    "Park Creek Campground Rio Grande National Forest

    Elevation: 8500

    Directions: In South Fork, Colorado, at intersection of State 149 and US 160, take Road 160 west 7.8 miles to Park Creek campground sign"

    "It will surprise you to know the campground is next to a creek (kinda gave it away in the name), which thankfully drowns out the noise of the highway."

    3. South Fork Lodge & RV Park

    5 Reviews
    South Fork, CO
    1 mile
    +1 (719) 873-5303

    "Great place for full hook up spots in South Fork. They also have great trails close that you can drive to via atv or ohv's. Wonderful views all around from our campsites!"

    "We love South Fork Lodge and RV. Not fancy but run by great people who aim to please!"

    4. Lower Beaver Creek Campground

    5 Reviews
    Rio Grande National Forest, CO
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (719) 657-3321

    "Tho the road to Beaver Reservoir is close by, it is a quiet campground even during the day and pretty much dead silence at night."

    "We ended up pulling into this campground at night when we didn't feel safe driving on the road any longer. Spots were easy to find. Basic setup, table and fire pit. Bathrooms were stocked and clean."

    5. South Fork Campground

    4 Reviews
    South Fork, CO
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (719) 873-5500

    $29 - $42 / night

    "My friend and I stayed at the South Fork Campground for a fly fishing trip.  

    The campground seems to be primarily a RV campground with 50 sites, but they do allow tent camping with 6 sites."

    "The town of South Fork is very small but you can get groceries and gas.  South Fork is on the East side of Wolf Creek Pass, which is a beautiful, steep, drive. "

    6. Cathedral Campground

    8 Reviews
    South Fork, CO
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (719) 657-3321

    $11 / night

    "It’s about 10 miles off the highway down a narrow, dirt road, and there were plenty of empty spots over the Holiday weekend."

    "Great location, easy drive on a road, would maybe have a hard time turning into campsite with large camper. Only negative is no water. It's a really awesome free campground. Great stream."

    7. Grandview Cabins and RV

    3 Reviews
    South Fork, CO
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (719) 873-5541

    "Close to grocery and restaurants, hiking, fishing, ATV! Internet is not great. ATT Cell phone coverage sporadic."

    8. Forest Road 614

    3 Reviews
    South Fork, CO
    1 mile

    "This is a great area that’s near a few private ranches. The app mentioned a steep incline but we managed no issues with a 04 Toyota sienna FWD"

    "I wanted a spot while driving north from New Mexico and this was perfect. sat right above town, it was an awesome little spot."

    9. Palisade

    5 Reviews
    Rio Grande National Forest, CO
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (719) 658-2556

    "Beautiful location on the Rio Grande River. 12 spots, 26$ per night. Flat parking lots for fishing and overflow parking."

    10. Woods & River RV Park

    10 Reviews
    Del Norte, CO
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (719) 657-4530

    "Great place in an awesome location! Stayed for 3 months beginning of 2020 and had a great time! The host is always checking to make sure your stay is everything g you need!"

    "Beautiful grounds along the Rio Grande River with trail and gazebos for a very relaxing and restful stay!"

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Recent Camping Photos near South Fork, CO

207 Photos of 204 South Fork Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near South Fork, CO

610 Reviews of 204 South Fork Campgrounds

  • I
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Mill Creek

    Camping

    Beautiful views, clean toilets and fresh drinking water available

  • G
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Creede, CO Overlook

    Get your camera out, this is picture perfect

    The farther you go, the steeper some of the hills get. I saw a large 5th wheel and a class A near the beginning. The last spot occupied was a capable Toyota 4Runner. Our 2-wheel drive made it to the top of the bald. 2bar for Verizon. I can see a cell tower across the valley, which must be T-Mobile, or I would have a stronger signal. Very short drive into town. Depending on your fitness level, an hour hike into town and back up. We had OHV vehicles drive by. The older the driver, the more they slowed down;) To avoid kicking up dust.

  • Julie K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 30, 2025

    Turkey Springs

    Quiet Spot Among the Trees

    Easy access to flat spots. Tall trees and very quiet. There was trash that we picked up. It looked like there were some long term campers. I would camp there again.

  • Christopher P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 23, 2025

    Del Norte City Park

    Nice city park

    City allows one overnight parking. Dump and water for RVs.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 22, 2025

    Ventana Arch Dispersed Camp

    What a spot!

    Was going to stop at the dispersed camping which is before this one. Decided to continue on and take my chances. So glad I did. Beautiful scenery, so quiet. It’s a mental escape. There are flies here now so have kept the Tune closed up.

  • Bonnie B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 21, 2025

    East Fork Campground

    Need water

    The park was beautiful. We know this is a campground with no connections at the sites but we did expect to be able to fill our tank at the water stations. There is not way to connect a hose at the stations. The host advised we would have to use buckets for water and we were not prepared for that. He also advised Pagosa Springs was in water conservation and did not offer any public water access. We did not stay the two nights we had reserved and went to a different campground.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 20, 2025

    Mill Creek

    Great Basecamp for 14ers

    I stayed here for two nights in July while bagging Sunshine, Redcloud, and Handies. Very nice, quiet campground.

    It’s $20 a night & many sites are reservable but a few are first come first serve. I reserved a Wednesday night and rolled over into a second day FCFS.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 20, 2025

    Pass Creek Road Dispersed Camping

    Nice spot, quick and easy to get to off the main road.

    Traveling through the area and needed an easy location, this fit the bill. Wide open area with fire pit and some wood gathered. Sufficiently distant from neighboring sites. A little local road traffic with dust from ATV haulers. Across the valley from the highway so some road noise but nothing terribly annoying.

  • Bonnie B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Buckles Lake Rd

    Beautiful Views

    Spent one night at a campsite just off of the roadway. So serene and peaceful with beautiful views. Roads in were gravel and in good shape. Definitely want to come back and stay longer.

Guide to South Fork

South Fork, Colorado sits at approximately 8,200 feet elevation where the South Fork and Rio Grande rivers meet, creating a high-altitude environment with significant temperature fluctuations. Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally with many closing after the first snowfall, typically in October. Morning temperatures can drop below 40°F even in summer months, requiring proper cold-weather gear for overnight camping.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Access prime trout fishing directly from Big Meadows Reservoir Campground, where anglers report excellent catches. "We caught our bag limit every time we fished. The campground is nicely treed and the spaces are more private than most," notes Kathi V. The reservoir is known for consistent fishing success throughout the season.

Hiking trails: Take the two-mile trail around Big Meadows Reservoir for scenic views. "There's a short hike to a waterfall that's easily accessible to the base. If you're feeling adventurous, it's fairly easy to climb up to the top," shares Steph C. For more remote hiking, Cathedral Campground offers direct trail access. "There is a nice hike right from the campground. The trail allows motorcycles but it doesn't appear they have been there much," reports Doug W.

Stargazing: Cathedral Campground provides exceptional night sky viewing due to its remote location. "At night, the stars were absolutely stunning! We can't wait to return!" writes Glenna L. The campground's distance from town light pollution creates optimal stargazing conditions.

What campers like

Riverside sites: Many campers value the peaceful sound of flowing water at Park Creek Campground. "Spent one very restful night here. Slept right alongside the river. The sound of the running water put me to sleep quickly," shares Amanda W. The riverside spots are particularly popular during summer months.

Privacy between sites: Campers appreciate the well-spaced sites at Big Meadows Reservoir Campground. "I can't even see my neighbors. The views are spectacular," notes Bob M. This spacing provides a sense of solitude even when the campground is at capacity.

Clean facilities: Despite being rustic, the vault toilets at several campgrounds receive praise. "The vault toilets are the cleanest and nicest I have ever seen!" reports Kathi V. at Big Meadows. Similarly, at Cathedral Campground, Donella L. noted, "This campground had the cleanest pit toilets I have ever seen."

What you should know

Road conditions: Access to Woods & River RV Park is straightforward, but more remote campgrounds require preparation. Cathedral Campground involves "a long, 45 minute, bumpy unpaved road drive after the turn off but mostly worth it," according to Alli P. Forest Road 614 has some challenging sections though "The app mentioned a steep incline but we managed no issues with a 04 Toyota sienna FWD," shares Fernando C.

Wildlife concerns: Bear activity is common in the area, requiring proper food storage. "There is lots of bear scat around so keep your food locked up. There are bear proof garbage cans by the bathrooms," warns Donella L. about Cathedral Campground. During colder months, small rodents can become problematic. "If you go during the colder months, be aware there are hundreds of mice and rats around," cautions Alli P.

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities are available at South Fork campgrounds?

South Fork Campground offers 50 RV sites with full hookups, plus 6 tent camping sites. The campground includes an office, community room, and riverside spots along the Rio Grande. South Fork Lodge & RV Park provides full hookup spots with reasonable rates and access to nearby trails for ATVs and OHVs. Public campgrounds like Highway Springs feature more basic amenities including fire rings, picnic tables, vault toilets, and bear-proof food lockers. While facilities vary by location, most campgrounds in the area offer at least pit toilets and designated camping spots with tables and fire rings.

What is the closest airport to South Fork, Colorado for campers flying in?

The closest commercial airport to South Fork is San Luis Valley Regional Airport (ALS) in Alamosa, Colorado, approximately 40 miles east of South Fork. This small regional airport offers limited flight options. For more flight choices, Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO) is about 85 miles southwest, while Colorado Springs Airport (COS) is roughly 175 miles northeast. Denver International Airport (DEN) is the largest option in the state, about 250 miles away, offering the most flight connections but requiring a longer drive to reach Cathedral Campground or Poage Lake Primitive Campsite near South Fork.

Where are the South Fork campgrounds located in Colorado?

South Fork campgrounds are located in the Rio Grande National Forest in southwestern Colorado. Park Creek Campground is situated 7.8 miles west of South Fork at the intersection of State 149 and US 160. Highway Springs Campground sits just outside South Fork along State Highway 160, nestled above the Rio Grande River. Other nearby options include Upper and Lower Beaver Creek Campgrounds, which are approximately 10 minutes off the main road from South Fork, with Upper being more secluded and closer to the reservoir.

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