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Established Camping

Clear Lake

CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Clear Lake, near Georgetown, Colorado, is a charming campground that serves as a great base for outdoor adventures. With its picturesque setting and easy access to nearby hiking trails, it’s a popular choice for those looking to explore the stunning Guanella Pass area.

The campground features designated sites equipped with picnic tables and fire rings, perfect for cozy evenings around the fire. Visitors have noted the clean vault toilets and hand pump water, making it a comfortable spot for a night under the stars. One camper mentioned, “I had one bar of cell signal (Verizon),” which can be handy for those who want to stay connected while enjoying nature.

For outdoor enthusiasts, Clear Lake is just a short drive from the trailheads for Mt. Bierstadt and Silver Dollar Lake, offering breathtaking views and excellent hiking opportunities. The area is surrounded by beautiful aspen forests and mountain scenery, making it a picturesque backdrop for your camping experience. Just keep in mind that the campground can get busy on weekends, so arriving early is a smart move if you want to snag a good spot.

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Location

Clear Lake is located in Colorado

Detail location of campground

Directions

Four miles south of Georgetown on Guanella Pass Road

Coordinates

39.6517037208975 N
105.708558649466 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Connectivity

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  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile
    No Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    Verizon
    No Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T5G
    Good Coverage

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Phone Service
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Pets
  • Fires

Contact

General Info


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Reviews

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3.5

out of 5

10 Reviews

Reviewed Jul. 20, 2025

clear lake campground

easy to get to. 23$ fee per night. nicely kept - every camp site had a firepit and picnic table and bear-proof storage container. bathrooms on site (bring your own toilet paper/hand sanitizer). pump for well water. classic campground. no complaints!

Site2
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Clear Lake by Courtney M., July 20, 2025
Reviewed Aug. 22, 2023

Simple, great location

I arrived before noon on a Sunday and half the spots were empty. I picked site 6. Could hear the hum of nearby water plant, but it was not bad. Otherwise quiet. Vault toilets and handpump water. I had one bar of cell signal (Verizon). Other campers were quiet, didn't notice them. Great basecamp - I did several day hikes, including Mt. Bierstadt which was just a 15 minute drive away. The road to get here is paved the whole way - not at all sketchy like another reviewer said (don't need high clearance or 4WD)

Site6
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Clear Lake by Anna S., August 22, 2023
  • Review photo of Clear Lake by Anna S., August 22, 2023
  • Review photo of Clear Lake by Anna S., August 22, 2023
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Jul. 13, 2023

Beautiful campground location

NOTE: The address that The Dyrt has is wrong. The entrance to this site is about 2 miles further down the road from where it takes you, past the big electrical plant.

This campground was in a very nice location. We stayed for one night passing through the area on a road trip. The sites have nice separation, although some are considerably bigger than others. Site pads were not standard, so if you have a bigger tent you have to hope you get one of the bigger sites. Standard metal fire rings and large picnic tables at each site. One pit toilet with a separate male/female toilets. No hand sanitizer, so bring your own! The only reason I didn’t give this 5 stars is that I thought the price of $27 was a little expensive for the amenities. That being said, I would totally stay here again.

Site5
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Clear Lake by Rachel W., July 13, 2023
  • Review photo of Clear Lake by Rachel W., July 13, 2023
Reviewed Nov. 22, 2021

Great central spot for travelers

Beautiful campground on a gorgeous pass. This is a small campground and the sites are not very far apart but it is great for water lovers or those that are looking for easy access to the pass. It is easy to access from I-70 so it is great for travelers passing through Colorado looking for an easy site with pretty views. I would recommend trying for this spot during the week as on the weekends in the SUmmer when the Pass is open it is full nonstop. 

There are clean pit toilets and level spots but the road around the campground is pretty tight so it’s not great for large rigs. More for vanlifers or tent campers. There is firewood available when the weather/restrictions allow it. 

Clear lake is just down the road, so it is just a bike ride or walk away but it is at elevation so keep that in mind.

Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Clear Lake by Hayley K., November 22, 2021
  • Review photo of Clear Lake by Hayley K., November 22, 2021
  • Review photo of Clear Lake by Hayley K., November 22, 2021
  • (9) View All
Reviewed Sep. 22, 2019

Needs some help

Stayed here a week.Bathroom was dirty. Toiletpapet always on the floor. Toilet seat needs to be repaired in men’s bathroom. Also toilet paper in different places of campground from campers. It is not worth the $19.

Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Aug. 8, 2019

Beautiful site, very busy

Our site (#2) was perfect. Beautiful and mostly private. Bathrooms (Vault toilets) were very clean. Unfortunately, with it being an all “first come, first serve” camp ground, there was a lot of traffic in and out all weekend. We had some people try to snag a spot on our site, and they were very insistent that they had rights to do so, because there was a parking spot available. It started to get a bit heated when we declined their request for squatting on our site. Not so relaxing. Our neighbors were there to party hard, lots of language and up until 2-3 in the morning. Definitely didn’t adhere to the quiet time guidelines 10pm-6am. Made it hard for our kiddos to sleep and we had to keep explaining that they were never to use that language. I was super sad. We decided this type of camping wasn’t for us, and would be finding a more remote site next time. If you don’t mind a lot of traffic, loud neighbors (possible) and sharing your site with a random stranger...you will love this place. It was very beautiful, fresh air, and clean bathrooms, the dumpsters were nice too...keeps the trash smell out of your car. Also, great hiking nearby. We did the silver dollar trail, beautiful!!!

  • Review photo of Clear Lake by J L., August 8, 2019
  • Review photo of Clear Lake by J L., August 8, 2019
  • Review photo of Clear Lake by J L., August 8, 2019
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Jun. 1, 2019

Smaller campground on Guanella Pass

There are many camping options on Guanella Pass, and I can’t say this is the best option but it isn’t bad. It’s a nice little campground near a lot of hiking and lakes. The sites have all the necessities, are sized well, and are surrounded by mostly aspen forest. I arrived after dark on a weekend and still snagged a spot. It made for a good place to spend the night before hitting the trails in the morning. I did the Silver Dollar Lake and Murray Lake Trail which takes you to 3 alpine lakes. Bierstadt Trail is also just up the road, which goes to the summit of 14er Mt Bierstadt. There is a closer campground to these hikes, but Clear Lake is a couple hundred feet lower in elevation so it is a little warmer. Although this campground is named Clear Lake, it is not on Clear Lake so there are no sites with views of the lake or creek. There is a picnic ground next to the lake instead with day sites.

  • Review photo of Clear Lake by Karl G., June 1, 2019
  • Review photo of Clear Lake by Karl G., June 1, 2019
  • Review photo of Clear Lake by Karl G., June 1, 2019
  • (11) View All
Reviewed Jul. 9, 2016

Awesome yank it over campground

We left Denver on Memorial day weekend without a reservation and were ready to settle for whatever we could find. We drove a couple miles past Georgetown and found this first come first served gem. It's a small loop based campground with about 8 spots. The spots are large, there is parking for a couple cats and there is a fire pit and picnic table at each site. The bathroom was clean. The water pump worked. If you are taking a very large group and the campground is full there are off the road spots just past.

  • Review photo of Clear Lake by Erin S., July 9, 2016
  • Review photo of Clear Lake by Erin S., July 9, 2016

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Clear Lake Campground located in Colorado?

Clear Lake Campground is located on Guanella Pass, approximately 2 miles from Georgetown, Colorado. The campground is situated past a large electrical plant and can be accessed from I-70, making it convenient for travelers passing through Colorado. The campground sits in a beautiful mountain setting, primarily surrounded by aspen forest, creating a picturesque camping experience in the Colorado high country.

What hiking trails are near Clear Lake Campground in Colorado?

Clear Lake Campground serves as an excellent basecamp for hiking in the area. It's located on Guanella Pass with convenient access to numerous trails, including the popular route to Mt. Bierstadt, one of Colorado's more accessible 14ers. The area features multiple lakes and hiking opportunities of varying difficulty levels. The campground's location makes it ideal for water lovers and those looking to explore the scenic alpine terrain of Guanella Pass.

Do I need a reservation for Clear Lake Campground or is it first-come, first-served?

Clear Lake Campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservation system. This small loop-based campground has approximately 8 spots that can fill quickly, especially on weekends and holidays. For the best chance at securing a site, arrive early in the day, preferably before noon. Many campers have had success finding available spots even on summer Sundays, but holiday weekends can be particularly competitive.

Is dispersed camping allowed at Clear Lake in Colorado?

No, dispersed camping is not allowed at Clear Lake itself. This is a developed campground with designated sites that require a fee (currently $23 per night). Each site comes with amenities like a fire pit, picnic table, and bear-proof storage container. For dispersed camping options, you'll need to look elsewhere on Guanella Pass or in the surrounding national forest areas where such camping may be permitted.