Prospector Campground
Mary S.
Reviewed Jun. 29, 2018

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

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.

Site59
Month of VisitJuly