Prospector Campground, near Dillon, Colorado, is a fantastic spot for those looking to soak in stunning mountain views while enjoying the great outdoors. With spacious sites that come equipped with picnic tables and fire rings, it’s perfect for gathering around the fire after a day of adventure.

This campground is known for its proximity to Lake Dillon, making it a prime location for fishing and hiking. Visitors have raved about the beautiful trails that wind through the area, offering breathtaking scenery and a chance to connect with nature. One camper noted, “Take in the views, the hikes, and all of the natural splendor that this area has to offer!”

While the campground doesn’t have electric hookups or showers, it does provide clean vault toilets and a place to fill water jugs. Campers appreciate the laid-back vibe and the chance to unwind in a tranquil setting, with some sites offering a bit more privacy than others. As one reviewer put it, “Campsites are spaced out and have plenty of space.”

Just a short drive from Dillon, you’ll find plenty of amenities and activities to keep you entertained. Whether you’re looking to hike, fish, or simply relax and enjoy the scenery, Prospector Campground is a solid choice for your next outdoor getaway.

## Overview

 At an elevation of 9,000 feet, Prospector Campground is in the heart of Summit County in the White River National Forest. The sites offer open views to Dillon Reservoir and several mountain ranges, 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.
## Recreation

 Dillon Reservoir, often referred to as Lake Dillon, is the greatest draw to this campground. At 3,233 acres and 26.8 miles of shoreline, Dillon Reservoir is an ideal spot for fishing, boating, and sailing. The reservoir supports a healthy population of rainbow trout and brown trout. Occasionally, a few cutthroat trout make their way into the lake from feeder streams. Opportunities for hiking and biking include more than 7 paved miles of the 50-mile Summit County trail system. From the reservoir, 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. For those wanting a bit more solitude, hiking in the Ptarmigan Wilderness area is a wonderful escape from the crowds.
## Natural Features

 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. 
## Contact Info

 For facility specific information, please call (801) 226-3564. 
## Nearby Attractions

 Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, Breckenridge, and Copper Mountain ski resorts are all located within 10 miles from Dillon Reservoir. These resorts stay open year round.
## Charges & Cancellations

 Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.

Prospector Campground

Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Dillon, 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. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.

Dillon

The Best Camping Near Dillon, Colorado

The Prospector Campground in White River National Forest is on the Shadow Mountain Road, off the east end of Dillon Reservoir, easily accessible from I-70 heading toward Keystone and Arapahoe Basin. It's well-managed, with the plentiful toilets getting twice-daily service from the genial hosts. Like most National Forest campgrounds, reservations can be made on line, a good idea during busy summer weekends. In addition to the gorgeous scenery, what was impressive about Prospector is the size and spacing of the campsites ... you're not right on top of your neighbor, but you're still on a level pad with a fire ring at every spot.

Large sites near Dillon

We live on the other side of the lake, so this is nice if we just want to get out of the house one night. $20 a night, the campground is quite large so a lot of spots are a ways from the bathroom. Some great lakeside spots, most spots are not on the lake however. Large spots with picnic tables, firepits and outstanding views. The views are the best here, not a ton of shade in most spots. Easily accessible for any type of vehicle.   Short drive to town but still a peaceful setting. Rock climbing nearby. Watch out for the micro bursts of wind!

Large campground close to towns

Located on Dillon Reservoir, Prospector Campground offers a nice balance of feeling remote while being conveniently near some really neat towns.

When at the clean and well maintained campground, you can hear a little highway noise and see a few signs of civilization across the lake but overall you feel like you are "getting away".  If you do decide you need a little "city", Dillon, Frisco and Sliverthorne are a short drive away.  Breckenridge is also just 20 minutes away.  

Located perfectly as a base camp if you want to hit some nearby 14ers but also has some great hiking trails all of its own. 

Never had anything but positive interactions with camp hosts and the bathroom facilities are always clean.

Highly recommend!

Great location for a variety of activities!

The sites at Prospector are well-spaced offering some privacy even though the trees between many sites are still small.  But on the bright side, the shorter trees allow for a great view overlooking Lake Dillon, for now.  The majority of the sites including ours, are spacious with a fire ring and picnic table provided.

Despite the pine beetle infestation, a few stands of mature trees remain throughout the campground including our site (64), allowing for hanging a clothesline and hammock as well as serving as a nice wind break from the N/NW for our tent.

The campground offers water faucets, trash dumpsters, and vault toilets throughout.  Firewood can be purchased from the friendly campground host.

During our time in camp, we didn't see much wildlife although the host informed us upon our arrival that a moose had been frequenting the sites nearer the lake in recent days.

Here's the [link](https://www.recreation.gov/camping/prospector/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&amp;parkId=70569) for more info and to make reservations.  For sites near the lake, reservations should be made at least a month in advance, but for many of the other sites it's not necessary.  Including taxes and fees, it was just over $26/night (tent).

Beautiful views!

We drove to the mountains from Denver without a solid plan on what we were doing/where we were staying. The weather forecast was iffy but we needed a break from the city so we packed the car up and went. We drive around checking out different camp grounds in the area and came across Prospector, and we were thrilled. We had THE most perfect site with an incredible view of the lake and the mountains- seriously perfect. It was private, and quiet, had a fire pit at our site and toilets just up the road (saw at lest one other on the other side of the grounds). There was a pathway to the lake and the grounds were only about 10-15 mins from town but felt much further with how secluded it was. Easily one of our new favorite spots.

What a Gem! 

Prospector is one my favorite camping experiences I have ever had! We were headed from Moab to Denver and had a few camping areas on our radar. We chose this at random and were lucky enough to get a site for a Friday and Saturday night overlooking the reservoir. Some wildflowers were blooming and the views of the mountains and water were out of this world! We were in site 54; the site across from us (53) is the best site in the whole place; very large site up above the water with unobstructed views. Sites 51, 53, 55, and 58 are all set up above the water and were really nice sites. All of the sites were pretty large and spread out so they weren't on top of each other. A beetle infestation had led to deforesting of the area apparently, so there weren't many mature trees. The upside was being able to take advantage of the views. Sites had a picnic table and fire pit. Vault toilets, no showers. Potable water spouts were spread around (our site happened to be right next to one, which was convenient). The sites in our loop were set high above the water, with a trail that led down to and along the reservoir. Firewood available for purchase there, and the camp hosts were very nice! It is a bear area, so be sure to secure food. We were told some moose were around down by the water as well, but we didn't see any wildlife.

We went into Frisco (what a great town!! - if you like craft beer don't miss Outer Range Brewing co), and hiked in Breckenridge (Mohawk Lakes Trail), stopped in to walk around Breckenridge and had beers there after our hike.

Prospector sits at 9,000 feet elevation, so be prepared for that! Nights and mornings were chilly but not bad (mid June).

http://adventuresneaker.com/2017/11/14/las-vegas-to-denver-road-trip-fruita-frisco-and-breckenridge-colorado/

VIEWS!  Close to Dillon, Frisco, and Breckenridge

This campground is one of five Forest Service campgrounds around Dillon Reservoir, also referred to as Lake Dillon. There is a group campground called Windy Point near Prospector.

In loop D, you'll have lake views along with mountain views at sites 51 through 64. Of course, everyone has mountain views. Sites 55 and 58 are pull through sites and, in my opinion, have the best water/mountain views. Site 66 is also a great site if you want a deep, secluded site but it doesn't look like it has a water view (unless you walk deeper into the site). 

Throughout the campground, you'll see your neighbors because pine beetles killed lots of pine trees. The pine trees are coming back but most of them are still short. Your neighbors aren't too close because the sites are large. The lack of tall trees helped us get a good view of the water from site 59 even though it is across the road from lakeside sites. The lakeside sites are above the lake, but there is a path to the lake and an 18 mile trail around the lake.

All sites have a picnic table and fire ring. There are no bear-proof lockers, but there are signs about being in bear country. Campground was reasonably quiet. I didn't see quiet hours posted which could be an issue if you get rowdy campers.

There's so much to do in this area even when it's not ski season. Nearby towns are Breckenridge, Dillon, Silverthorne, Copper Mountain, Frisco, Keystone and Araphoe Basin. There's plenty of hiking and mountain biking in the area in addition to water sports. If you want a paved bike path, the Blue River Trail connects all the towns listed above except Araphoe Basin and connects to Vail, Vail Pass and Glenwood Springs.

Need a shower or gym? Silverthorne and Breckenridge have rec centers, and I heard something about showers at Dillon Marina.

We looked at the other Forest Service campgrounds around the reservoir. Lowry is just down the road from Prospector and does not compare well to Prospector. Peak One and Heaton Bay look fine, but Pine Cone is a parking lot by the lake with narrow sites populated by large RVs.

Busy, busy, busy at the end of June! Walking up on a weekend? I don't think so.

Large sites, beautiful  mountain views, views of Dillon Reservoir for a few

This is a great family friendly campground. Look for the sites with a lake view (all though many you have to trade off a view for being next to the bathrooms) a quick hike down will get you to lake Dillion for fishing, kayaking or just enjoying the views.

Amazing lake and mountain views

Great campground with easy access. Nice little getaway from Denver. Easy to access and right near a huge lake. Hiking trails available. Great views at sunset. Camped with a huge group and was able to have space between all tents. Love this campground

Peaceful 

Great camp ground, reservoir is close with great fishing and hiking trails. 

Great

wonderful camp ground  good fishing and hiking near by. the need to buy wood is a bit off setting but plenty of wood laying around to scavenge  if you find the time. 

Great place 

little costly for the site but worth the view




a campground under the million stars. beautiful view of mountains an walk distance from lake Dillon. 

This campground is probably one my absolute favorites! The view in itself is enough to make me want to come back, but the campground was impressive as well. The campground has a large number of sites, all with plenty of room, and all located within reasonable distance from bathrooms and the lake. The campground truly encompasses the idea of camping, which is something we really enjoyed. We had no running water, no electricity, and the bare minimum for a bathroom; it was a great place for us to simply relax, settled down for the night, and enjoy the beauty of the place we were in.

Amazingly beautiful, spacious, and well-kept

This campground has 100+ spots and costs about $23/night. They have picnic tables at each site and where we were, there was plenty of space between us and the next group. We could walk (about 8 minutes) to the lake - without a clear trail from our site.

It it does not require 4-wheel drive to get in

Large campground near Lake Dillon

This is a really big campground. The sites are big, they are spaced a fair distance apart, and the views are big as well. The campground sits above Lake Dillon with views looking west towards multiple peaks. You can see mountains from every site thanks to the campground being in an area of regrowth. The trees are only a couple feet tall in some areas. Sites on the western side also have lake views. I stayed at this campground in May and it wasn’t crowded at all. It was a little chilly, but the sites are large so really great for car camping. I actually stayed here so that I could snowboard at Breck and A Basin. Much cheaper than a hotel, and it’s pretty dang cool to camp and ski in the same day! 

Awesome Mountain and Lake views

The snow on the peaks of the surrounding mountains still inviting to late season skiers when I visited this campground in early June. The crisp morning air refreshing, quickly warming in mid morning.  Because of the time of year my walk-in mid week visit had only a couple of the 100 +sites occupied. Weekends per the camp host were booked in advance.  Primitive yet oversized individual sites, some with amazing lake and mountain views (D Loop). Large metal picinic table, bbq and fire ring at each site. Bath houses have tower toilets. No hookups at this campground. No store but firewood was for sale.

Great Location, Spectacular Views

Great campground by lake Dillon and very close to the town but seems like you are miles from them.  Campgrounds and restrooms were very clean and they aren’t to close together.  Close to hikes and lots of fishing. 

Great campground, close to town

We reserved our site 6 months in advance to make sure we would have a great view of the lake and mountains. And it paid off! This is one of the best campgrounds I have been to. Close distance to the lake, where you will find all kinds of people laying on the rocks enjoying the sunset, dogs playing in the lake, and kayakers enjoying the water. I highly suggest Prospector Campground in Dillon, Co.

Best view on this side of the mississippi

We had a great stay at Prospector Campground. Host was very nice, bathrooms were extremely clean, and the site is beautiful! We will be back! 

Beautiful and  clean

We stopped at this campground after failing to find sites at Wolcott and Gore Creek. We got in after dark and wouldn't see much, but we awoke to beautiful views in the morning. The facilities were clean. The only issue was that the sites were relatively close to one another and we definitely would have lacked privacy if it had been a weekend 

Beautiful but lacking privacy 

Nice campground

Ultimate Father’s Day!!!

This was very nice campground and very clean. It was pretty close to town which was nice since we had forgotten a couple of things. Firewood was available and the bathrooms were kept very clean and stocked. My only small complaint was the campsites were pretty close together, but it wasn't that big of a deal. Would definitely recommend!

Nice Campground, Close to town 

This is a great campground if you prefer bigger campsites.  Only a few sites have direct views of the reservoir but almost all have beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.  Busy summer but the sites are large.  Lots of loose dirt but it’s what you would expect.  Several trails take you to the reservoir, there is also a short 1.5mi hike at the entrance of the campground.  There is water, good cell service and several bathrooms.

Ample campground - great week!

Loved it, beautiful spot. Clean bathrooms.

Great site, some with shade, some not. Pretty private between spots. Easy drive to paddlebaording on lake.

Gorgeous views, quite neighbors

This was my 1st time staying at this campground, but definitely won't be the last. The scenery is beautiful, setting is peaceful. The campground was well maintained and I thought the sites were spaced a good distance apart, compared to like KOA. I stayed in the C loop and had plenty of trees around my site.

Beautiful scenery & well maintained

Awesome well kept campgrounds within walking distance of Lake Dillon. Our original spot (#63) in loop D was too small for our small 10ft base Pop-up, and no good level ground. Fortunately for us our friends couldn’t make it but was too late for them to cancel. They were in another loop so we went and took their spot. It was much better!! 
As we walked through the campgrounds we saw MANY wonderful spots with gorgeous views that we will try for next time for sure. The sites are far apart too so you have some privacy. 
One thing to know. There are NO ELECTRICAL hookups. This site says electric but nope, No electric or water hookups FYI. 
The restrooms also have no running water. Just your generic outhouse hole in the ground toilet, but kept very clean! Great price and well kept grounds! 


We loved it

If you get there early, grab a water view spot. We got there later and couldn’t. This campground is great because there are so many spaces. Great location too. 

Great for a night on the road

We found this time of year (fall) a great time to visit this campground.  It’s pretty busy in the summer but not as much during fall.  The sites with water views are very nice.  We had site #51 and we loved it.  This campground is easy to get to, is close to Dillon, Frisco, Silverthorne and Break, and it has the best views of the Dillon reservoir.  There are a few ways to get down to the reservoir from the campground.  Makes for a nice quick hike.  There is also a short hike at the campground entrance that give you great views.  The site was clean and the hosts are active.

Great views of lake Dillon

We loved the activities and the lake, my one complaint would be it is really crowded and there is not much privacy. 

Great location, fun hikes! 

Not all sites have that awesome lake view. But the Mountain View’s are spectacular. This is a large campground with 107 sites. When you book you can see that just a few sites in the 50’s have that lake view. There is an RV water full at the entrance. A trail to the lake. Windy point trail is not far and an easy walk from our campsite. 


Great Lake views

OMG!  What a beautiful campground.  I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for big rigs.  We have a 38' Class A and it was tight.   Got in a out safely,  but I think it all depends on the site you pick.  Site 39C was awesome,  private,  secluded,  couldn't see any neighbors.  We were able to pull the Class A in forward and easily back it out upon exiting.   Simple walk to the Reservoir, with hiking &amp; biking all around.   We'd love to return,  but won't until we downsize!  

Amazing!   But tight for big rigs!

Great spot with clean facilities but unfortunately hard to find a site. We just happened to luck out. 

Clean but full 

This campground is located near Frisco and Dillon.  Short drive to Breckenridge and Silverthorne too.  Some sites have views of the lake.  Sunrises and sunsets are beautiful!!!  No dump station.  No hookups.  This year no water.  There are toilets and a dumpster.  Some sites are closer than others but, overall they are spacious.  This campground is always busy but considering the offerings of the lake (need to drive to get to marina), hikes, fishing, restaurants and shopping, you can beat it.  Always a fun location for us.

Great location 

Prospector is a great spot to enjoy everything the Dillon Reservoir has to offer. Plenty of hiking and biking trails nearby, as well as some great Disc Golf courses within a 15 minute drive. Breckenridge is a short drive south, and Frisco is even closer. Be sure to grab a beer and a brat at Ein Prosit when you’re in town!

Quiet, great sights, close to Frisco, Dillon, and Breck

We didn’t have reservations on a Thursday, but there were plenty of open sites. We were on our way from Rocky Mountain National Park to Aspen.￼  The young camp host was very nice and since senior citizens qualify for discounts if they have a national park pass, the price of $5 was great.￼

Nice USDA campground

This was my second year in a row camping here on a weekend towards the end of August! The Prospector Campground is a great option for those who want to go camping but still remain close to town and for those who want just a short walk to fish the shoreline of Lake Dillon. It's less than a 10 minute drive from the Dillon / Silverthorne / Frisco area so there are plenty of amenities and resupply options nearby. It is right next to Lake Dillon and even has a short hiking path down to the shoreline. There are a ton of fun things to do within a short drive. The first year I camped there we drove out to Breckenridge to hike the Mayflower Gulch Trail (more info here → https://youtu.be/QBtELSLV5Kc ) and this year we rented a pontoon boat from the Dillon Marina and spent a day out on the reservoir. The campsites at the Prospector Campground are pretty large and can accommodate all sorts of camping styles. We used a tent but we saw a ton of RVs there as well. We had a pretty big group so it was nice that we were able to reserve two adjacent sites online ahead of time. Every campsite has at least a picnic table and a fire pit with a grill grate. The campground has ample dumpsters for getting rid of trash in addition to privy style compost toilets. They even provide toilet paper. There are no bear proof food lockers so you will have to put all of your food items back into your car before going to bed or leaving the campsite during the day. The first year I camped at the Prospector Campground there were potable water spigots but something must have happened to the plumbing because a year later they were disabled. Despite this inconvenience, they did email us prior to our reservation date informing us to bring our own water. I’m sure they’ll fix the spigots in due time but it was just something I thought I should note. The campground was pretty full on both weekends that I camped there so I’d venture a guess that it's not the best option for walk-ins. Also, I should note that fishing is only allowed with a state issued permit.

Great location with cell service and easy access to fishing!

Prospector Campground is located near Frisco /Dillon Co. It's operated by the U.S. Dept. Of Agriculture. Being from the south I was not fully prepared for this camping facility. The high elevation makes breathing difficult if your not used to it. As of 9/10/2022 the water supply, a well, was dried up. The camp host gave us directions to a natural spring for water. Being a tent camper the site was nice. It has a grill, fire ring, and picnic table. Not much shade during the day, few large trees. Vault toilets were well maintained. Please look at the website for R.V. information, (hook ups.) Keep a close eye on weather conditions, night temperatures 
were below 32F/0C.  

I've stayed here multiple times while living in CO.  It's a great place to stay for a few nights.  Great views, close to town if needed, quiet, and tranquil. I've recommended this spot to friends passing through and they loved it!

Amazing Views

We stayed on a Thursday night in our rented campervan. The campground is easy to get to, close enough to the city if you need, the vault toilets were very clean, sites are far enough apart to limit neighbor noise, and we had great cell reception (Google Fi). It rained around dinnertime, but once the storm passed we witnessed an incredible sunset!

The Views!

This camp ground is a large one with a lot of sites. They can be pretty close together but they can feel farther apart than they are. A quick walk leads you straight to the water. By far one of, if not the most, gorgeous campsite I’ve had the pleasure to stay at. 

Stunning  

This is one of our favorite campgrounds near Lake Dillon! This was our first time staying in site 105 for a single night in between stays at other campgrounds. It is a pull-through site that comfortably fit our 29' Class C, Tow Dolly, and Towed Vehicle with room to spare. The site is big and has a picnic table and fire ring. It is a short walk from the site to the pit toilets and the trailhead for the Windy Point and Ridge trails.

One of the best campgrounds near Lake Dillon!

I can't say enough about Prospector. One of my favorite places to camp in Summit County.

  

Take in the views, the hikes, and all of the natural splendor that this area has to offer!

The quiet ambience of Swan Mountain

This spot is amazing! Views are great! Campsites are spaced out and have plenty of space. Camp hosts were good! 

Our favorite thing was the proximity to town. All the views and feeling of being far away without actually being far away

Amazing and close to town! 

The sites are close some with great privacy some with none. There are vault toilets, water to fill jugs but none to hook up to. They sell firewood for $9 at the host sites, $26 a night. Loop D has some view of the lake. No electric. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. There is a nice trail that loops around the campground with some amazing views. 

Today’s date, they were many available campsites but the camp host was a little on the distant reality side of life.  If you have one of the US Park lifetime senior lifetime whatever’s then it’s only $13. There is no water, no electric, no sewer, but they do have pit toilets firewood is nine dollars a bundle. All has to be paid in cash, including site fee.

Second visit in three years

The fam stayed here for 3 nights and we had a nice experience. It was our home base while we took advantage of near by hiking, biking, and other activities. The campground was mostly private with a lot of little trees in-between sites, but there were also a lot of empty spaces near us. We were at spot 44, it was perfect for charging our solar panels. The campground has standard hole in the ground toilets/out houses, but it was obvious they were well maintained and clean. And of course the scenery was beautiful. The camp ground is easy to access and maneuver. Only reason I didn't give it  a 5 star was because I like a little more seclusion. Great time over all!

Photos of Prospector Campground

Real photos from real campers